Monday, March 20, 2006

Special Master Rules Against Seahawks

Surprise, surprise!

* * * UPDATE INFO FROM SANDO - 8:09PM EST * * *

Hutch deal guaranteed if Hawks match

NFLPA attorney Richard Berthelson just explained to me over the phone exactly what happened in the Steve Hutchinson case and what it means. Basically, it means that Seattle has to guarantee the $49 million in Hutchinson's contract if the team matches the offer sheet from Minnesota. The Seahawks have until 9 p.m. PST do match or lose Hutchinson to the Vikings. If and when Hutchinson becomes a Viking, his deal with Minnesota will not be guaranteed. But it will be guaranteed if the Seahawks match the offer.

Here is what happened according to Berthelson:

The Vikings made an offer to Hutchinson that specified that he must be the highest-paid offensive lineman on his team for the duration of 2006 or else the entire $49 million is guaranteed. The offer specifically said that he had to be the highest-paid guy at the time he signed the offer sheet. The Seahawks wanted to change the terms so that the money would be guaranteed only if Hutchinson were not the highest-paid offensive lineman on his team at the time Seattle matched the offer. Seattle then went about reworking Walter Jones' contract so that Hutchinson's offer would average more money per year, thereby making Hutchinson the highest-paid guy if and when Seattle matched. "Their plan was to argue that the offer sheet the Vikings had given to Hutchinson should be interpreted to be saying he only had to be the highest-paid player at any time in the year," Berthelson said. "It was a pretty fractured interpretation of the language and the special master didn't buy it. The only way for Seattle to win was for the special master to agree to that interpretation."

Berthelson added that it was a "longshot" for the Seahawks to win this hearing today "because the plain meaning of the words used and the circumstances surrounding it leads to the inescapable conclusion that the Vikings meant for him to have to be the highest-paid offensive lineman for the whole year beginning with the offer sheet."

Berthelson said a special master can allow changes to a contract only if the player agrees and/or the changes benefit the player.


* * * ORIGINAL POST * * *

From Sando:

"Special master" Stephen Burbank ruled against the NFL Management Council and the Seahawks today in their attempt to match the Vikings' offer to LG Steve Hutchinson under altered terms. That means the Seahawks have until midnight tonight EST to match the Vikings' offer to Pro Bowl LG Steve Hutchinson, or he will become a Viking.

A clause in the offer called for the full $49 million to become guaranteed if Hutchinson weren't the highest-paid offensive lineman on his team in 2006. The Seahawks tried to get around that be reworking the deal of LT Walter Jones. They had also apparently tried to alter terms of the offer in some way.

"Special master Stephen Burbank has determined that the additional language that the Seahawks proposed to include in the Steve Hutchinson contract would alter a principle term of the Vikings' offer sheet," league spokesman Michael Signora said today. "The Seahawks have until midnight Eastern to decide if they'll match the original offer sheet."



One guy over there posted something that summed up what I was thinking:

Bnemhaus: It sure seems like this opens Pandora's box. I can't imagine what kind of clauses we'll start seeing now. I'm shocked.

Bullseye...im gonna become an agent now and start putting in secret clauses that cause my clients to get a 100 million dollar raise if they are in a Blue uniform...

12 comments:

  1. Gotta say, I thank the NFL for taking our side...they did try, and they knew this is important

    The Hutch situation is IMPORTANT...

    If you read my comment and Bnemhaus' comment I added at the bottom of the topic, its obvious why the NFL tried to help us

    This case either will change that clause to abolishment, or open the door for a ton of ridiculous clauses and render the TTag useless---which in this case, it is.

    Sad day for the Hawks and the NFL...and it should be interesting what happens by midnight tonight with the situation, when we get a confirmation as of whether or not the Seahawks will match.

    I sound like a reporter...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anyone ever play the drinking game quarters? This is going to make the 3 shot rules in quarters seem like childs play. I'm going to trademark the following contract clauses ASAP:

    1. If the player is alive he may select up to 15 women, per game, from the stands for a one night stand, or the contract will triple.

    2. The team must strike the letter 'Q' from the alphabet, or the contract's values quintuples.

    3. The player will received the deed to the moon if the player makes the team.

    4. The city will rename itself after the player's dog.

    5. The team will provide the play a uniform made out of goal and a jet pack, or the contract doubles. 

    Posted by bokonon

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  3. Yay. I know I'll be looking forward to the revision of the CBA that will be titled, "The Hutchinson Rule". Thank you Minnesota for making the Transition tag worthless. There will be nothing stopping teams from including clauses that say things like 2nd highest paid, or 3rd highest paid, or whatever ranking on the pay scale that fits your team, but not the original team.

    That being said, the Seahawks could very well be better off. They can sweeten the deal with Abraham, sign peterson, get a corner, and still probably not be done with free agency. Womack playing LG probably wont be a disasterous dropoff, imo. 

    Posted by gumbostu

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  4. I personally like the one with naming the city after a dog! lol...

    I dont have a dog...but i want 3...and i already have their names picked out:

    Vega, Jocelyn, and LeCharles

    Las Vega? Jocelynapolis? Les Charlangelas?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I say we do the same thing with Nate Burleson with a ridiculous clause, obviously not the poison, as that would hurt us too...

    and Gumbo said it best:...fits their team, but not the original team...

    its sad, really...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ya know, maybe the FO was simply contesting it to avoid allowing Condon to set precedence? I wouldn't put it past the big brains, I came up with it.

    That said, I agree with Stu, $$ better spent elsewhere, let Chop or Davin Joseph play G for much less, they'll still be next to the best T in the game. 

    Posted by JoSCh

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  7. God, I hope tomorrow brings news of Peterson, Keyshawn and Abraham signing with Seattle! 

    Posted by alba

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  8. What a can of worms this guy opened up. So, can we give bonuses if a players makes his home on Whidbey Island? Lets see the Vikings match that.

    Lets hope Abraham can handle coming here. I know he wants to go to Atlanta (very understandable) but I hope that if the Jets do trade him here that he'll be happy. 

    Posted by Alan

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  9. The Vikes obviously did their homework, and wrote the specific timing into the deal. You gotta tip your hat to their lawyers and contract writers.

    Seattle somewhat smugly let Hutch test free agency with the intention of matching whatever offer he got, no matter how ridiculous. The Vikes found the loophole they needed to get what they wanted.

    Touche' our newest hated rival.

    We shall continue this battle on the hallowed grounds of Qwest field sometime next season! 

    Posted by alba

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  10. More is coming out about why Hutchinson wanted out of Seattle. Apparently, the Hawks (most likely previous management) promised him that a contract would be worked out during the year, and nothing happened. Not that it excuses everything, but it might explain a little more.

    The Vikings did a great job finding an out for Hutchinson. Luckily for them, the Special Master agreed with their interpretation. I'm only going to say it once though, THIS IS NOT THE LEAGUE SCREWING THE HAWKS! Not that anyone has said anything yet, but I just wanted to nip it in the bud.

    All of that being said, I wish Hutch the best. he was an important part of our team, and did his job even though he may have been unhappy with his situation. God Bless Hutch, I hope you do well in Minnesota. But not better than the Hawks.
     

    Posted by PaulieP

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  11. No, Hutch has stated a million times he didnt want to talk contract during the season...millions of times he has said, wait until the season over...

    that, im 100% positive about 

    Posted by adp

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  12. Good luck in Minnesota Hutch it will be fun rooting against you as we kick your ViQueen asses next year. Hope Burleson comes here he's a home town boy and his younger brother and i went to high school together. 

    Posted by meezy

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