the Poston saga continues

PFT: Postons will want paid

by Nick

POSTONS WILL WANT TO GET PAID

Notwithstanding all the ass clapping in the NFL community about the Poston brothers losing their star client Orlando Pace of the Rams, don't think the Hard Ass brothers will not tried to get paid their fee incident to Pace recently signing -- listing himself as his agent -- the $7.02 million franchise tender offer with the Rams. In a article written by Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the suggestion is made that Pace could have saved himself almost $210,000 in agent fees (if the Postons charged him the maximum NFLPA-allowed fee of 3%) by sh-t canning the Torture Brothers before signing his new contract.

We hear, however, that if Pace does not pay, the Postons will most likely attempt to recover their fee from The Mammoth One (or as much as they can get) via the grievance process promulgated by NFLPA regulations -- their argument primarily being that the signature by Pace on the contract sans agent was merely a formality and a byproduct of the ongoing negotiation process (is asking for a $27 million signing bonus negotiation or hallucination?), thereby entitling the Postons to their fee.

In fact, this strategy can be confirmed by recent statements of Carl Poston, which he stated: "'I've encouraged him to come in. I've instructed him to sign the one-year tender. But I can't make the big fellow come in. He's frustrated with the team.'''

Our prediction: Pace doesn't pay. Postons file a grievance. Pace and Postons eventually settle. It will interesting to see if the Brothers Harsh will be as tough in getting their own fee as they are in trying to get dough for their clients.
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-09-17-2004, 05:31 PM
Postons in the News

by evil disco man

The Postons are currently in disputes with about half a dozen NFL teams. Here are five of the teams and their disputes with the Postons.

SAN FRANCISCO
Linebacker Julian Peterson is franchised and headed for a holdout. The ***** are offering him the richest contract in team history, including a $15.5 million signing bonus. The Postons are reportedly seeking a $30 million bonus.

ST. LOUIS
Five-time Pro Bowler Orlando Pace is franchised for the second year in a row. The Postons are seeking a $27 million signing bonus and the Rams are offering a $13 million signing bonus. Pace reportedly wants to play for the Browns, who do not want to give up two No. 1 picks, the price for a franchise player. The Postons asked for a seven-year, $71 million deal for Pace. The Rams have offered a seven-year deal worth $42.5 million. Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt called the Postons' proposal a ransom note. "A ransom note? How can you call that a ransom note when Peyton Manning got a $98 million contract?" said Kevin Poston. "Do you really think that Peyton Manning is worth $30 million more than Orlando Pace? Orlando helped Kurt Warner become a two-time MVP. He helped Marshall Faulk become the league MVP."

OAKLAND
The Raiders had to franchise Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson, above, and are bracing for a holdout. He reportedly wants a bigger bonus than Poston client Ty Law received in 2001 ($14.2 million) from the Patriots.

WASHINGTON
The Postons and LaVar Arrington say the Redskins rushed Arrington into a deal that omitted an agreed-upon $6.5 million bonus for 2006. Union chief Gene Upshaw is trying to broker a deal, but the dispute is headed to arbitration next month. "We did nothing wrong on the Arrington contract," said Kevin Poston. "What we agreed to was not ultimately in the contract. A $6.5 million bonus was missing, and they rushed LaVar to sign it so they could meet a salary-cap deadline."

NEW ENGLAND
Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law, above, recently called coach Bill Belichick a liar for allegedly promising him a guaranteed amount of money and then reneging on it. He will play this year at his cap-rich number of $10 million and then the two sides could be back at it again in the off-season. "The numbers don't lie," said Law. ". . . The Postons do everything possible to get fair market value. I'm going to live and die by the Postons on and off the field."

- Mary Kay Cabot The Plain Dealer
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-07-18-2004, 10:57 AM
Contract season puts Postons into play

by RamWraith

Contract season puts Postons into play
Howard Balzer writes for Sports Weekly, email him at [email protected]

Around several NFL precincts this summer, it could very well be considered the summer of the Postons.
Rather than talking about possible Super Bowls, who's looking good in training camp and just simple football talk, contract negotiations promise to take center stage.

With July 15 here and the opening of camps within the next two weeks, fans will be reading way too much about contract issues but most notably those involving agents Carl and Kevin Poston in ...

� Cleveland, Jacksonville and Carolina, where they represent tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., the seventh overall selection in April's draft, as well as wide receiver Reggie Williams (ninth overall) and cornerback Chris Gamble (28th overall);

� Oakland, St. Louis and San Francisco, where three of the league's five unsigned franchise players play: cornerback Charles Woodson, tackle Orlando Pace and linebacker Julian Peterson. All have the Postons as their agent;

� Washington, where a grievance is expected to be heard in August regarding a $6.5 million roster bonus allegedly not included by the Redskins last December in a renegotiated contract for linebacker LaVar Arrington. Yes, Arrington is also represented by Carl Poston.

The Winslow contract should be the least difficult, along with Williams and Gamble, considering that first-round picks are slotted according to where they are selected in the round. The Postons might try to claim that Winslow was rated No. 1 on some team's draft boards, but that argument is essentially one-sided. First, he wasn't picked No. 1, and second, when was the last time we heard an agent say he would accept less for a player because he was selected higher than expected? Next question.

Where many of the contract stalemates occur is on a player's second contract and when that player has excelled at a high level. That's where the Postons' demands enter the stratosphere and make it near impossible for a team to negotiate.

After the Rams received a $71 million proposal for Pace in March that included a $27 million signing bonus and another $7 million in guaranteed money (almost as much guaranteed money as the Colts gave quarterback Peyton Manning), president of football operations Jay Zygmunt said: "It's just a waste of time dealing with him (Carl). It makes no sense. Anyone can ask for anything; that's easy to do. Why not ask for a billion dollars? It wouldn't matter."

Zygmunt noted how often the situations put the player at odds with the team.

Look no further than the relationship between cornerback Ty Law, another Poston client, and the Patriots during the offseason.

When either of the Postons talk to the media, which is rare (and they did not return a phone call...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-07-15-2004, 01:46 PM
Rams, Pace can resume talks

by RamWraith

By Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/14/2004

With the start of training camp less than two weeks away, a key piece of the Rams' puzzle still is missing. But the status of All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace, who has been designated the team's franchise player for the second year in a row, could be tidied up soon.

Beginning today, the team can resume contract negotiations with Pace, whose agent is Houston-based Carl Poston. Talks ceased March 17 because under NFL guidelines, the Rams would have lost the right to apply the franchise tag on any player over the length of a contract that Pace may have signed before July 15.

Both sides are seeking a long-term deal, with the main sticking point being the amount of the signing bonus: The Rams have offered $13 million; Poston initially asked for $27 million in a seven-year, $71 million proposal, but later indicated that he would seek a bonus of about $20 million.

Pace, however, asserted later in March that he and the Rams might not be so far apart. A few days after a Post-Dispatch story cited two team sources who said the Rams would be willing to boost the bonus to $16 million or $17 million, Pace telephoned the reporter and said that if the Rams were to make such an offer, "I think we can get something done."

Less than a week later, Poston said, "If that's what he wants to do, fine. It's his decision." Attempts to reach Poston and Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt, who handles contract negotiations, were unsuccessful on Wednesday.

Pace, 28, boycotted the team's minicamps, offseason conditioning program and training camp last year in a contract dispute; he later was named the Rams' franchise player. He also missed minicamp this past May and again was absent from the offseason workouts.

Pace is a six-year NFL veteran from Ohio State. The Rams selected him with the first overall pick in the 1997 draft. Pace, 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, soon became the key cog on the offensive line. He has been invited to the Pro Bowl the past five seasons, a span in which the Rams posted a 56-24 regular-season record and appeared in two Super Bowls.
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-07-15-2004, 05:31 AM
Pace weighs in on his stance in contract talks

by RamWraith

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Thursday, Sep. 09 2004

There may be no way to close the negotiating - and monetary - gap between
Orlando Pace and the Rams. But at least Pace has learned to make the most of
his time away from the Rams in terms of conditioning.

"I feel light years better than I did last year," Pace said Thursday. "Just
losing about 20 pounds. I feel a lot quicker, a lot fresher."

Pace reported at 325 pounds Sunday, about 20 pounds lighter than last season,
when he also boycotted all team activities and skipped training camp in a
contract impasse. After his initial practices last season, Pace felt winded.
Three practices into his 2004 season, that hasn't been the case.

"I feel great," Pace said. "Compared to last year, it's like night and day.
After taking a few reps, you're a little winded as everybody is, but not nearly
as bad as last year."

Pace trained a little differently this offseason, but the major factor in his
improved conditioning was an improved diet.

"I cut down on my fried foods," Pace said. "I tried to cut down on my soda, and
things like that."

Even at the heavier weight last year, Pace played surprisingly well at the
start of the season. So in theory, he could be even more impressive in his
trimmer, better-conditioned state.

"I watched (practice) tape, and it looks like he's been here all camp," coach
Mike Martz said. "Honest to goodness it does. No mental errors. He's quick.
He's physical. ... He's not sluggish.

"At this time last year, he was very sluggish. The conditioning was a factor
for him last year. So I'm very pleased with where he is. He's obviously been
very conscientious about being in shape and ready to go, and it's much
appreciated by all of us."

If only things could go as smoothly on the negotiating front.

"I'm always hoping that they can get a deal done - for security reasons, and
things like that," Pace said. "The possibility's still there. But I think at
the end of the year, they'll try to hammer something out, or else I'll be
franchised again."

Pace's "end-of-the-year" comment was curious, because now that he has signed
the one-year, $7.02 million tender offer, the sides actually can begin
negotiating again.

Under league rule, any talks came to a halt following a March 17 negotiating
deadline. Since Sunday, when Pace signed the tender, the sides can talk again.

A few weeks after the Rams' playoff loss to Carolina on Jan. 10, the Rams
offered Pace a seven-year,...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-09-10-2004, 05:19 AM

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the Poston saga continues

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