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That was an interesting turn of events. Don’t want to get to grassy knoll here, so I will put my tin foil hat away. Here is what I’m thinking . . .
As you all know, D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired today.
I don’t think Ferguson was retiring before they asked him to take a pay cut.
He was in the weight room a few days ago, at the Jets complex, when Mike Maccagnan approached him about a pay cut, according to Rich Cimini. Why would Maccagnan approach Brick about this, and not deal with his agent on this matter? That seems odd to me, but that’s another story.
Why would Ferguson be working out at the team’s complex if he was intent on retiring.
He can certainly afford a gym membership at Equinox in Summit.
In my opinion, if he was going to get the $10.4 million in salary he was scheduled to receive, he was suiting up this year.
But with a significant pay cut, it wasn’t worth it to him. He’s already collected $67 million in salary over 10 years in the league. To play for a let’s say $5 million this year, about half of that after taxes, isn’t worth it to him.
I’ve talked to older players over the year who has told me that they will play, but not for a low salary. It’s not worth it anymore. The older you get, the harder it is to recover after games – it takes longer – the dings hurt a little more.
So to a guy like Brick, it’s worth the sacrifice for $10.4 million or something close to that, but not with a sizable pay cut.
And the elephant in the room is the Darrelle Revis contract, which calls for the cornerback, who is good, not great at this point, to make $17 million this year.
If you are Brick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mo Wilkerson, you are thinking, “what the hell. You are nickel and dimeing me, but paying that cat $17 million?”
The Jets are telling people they say this Ferguson retirement coming.
From a PR standpoint, that is a good position. It doesn’t make it look like the got left holding the bag.
And the way Brick has handled this is brilliant, and I will tell you why.
This is a really smart guy who is going to have myriad opportunities off the field in retirement.
If the end of his Jets career was messy divorce, it kind of poisons the well with the team and its fans.
Like the nastiness of the Revis’ divorce in 2013 when he was traded to Tampa Bay, with the Revis’ camp destroying the Jets, especially the owner, through their many surrogates in the media.
The point I’m making is Brick has handled this brilliantly from a PR standpoint, and will reap the benefits for years to come.
Whether it’s the Ring of Honor, endorsements, business opportunities, his foundation, broadcasting, you name it, this guy is going to be gold in the Tri-State area and with the Jets Nation.
He’s going to be the quintessential Jets ambassador moving forward.
He left the team on great terms publicly – no mudslinging, no vitriol.
Even if he was ticked about the pay cut behind the scenes, he’s not going to go public with it.
And retired near the top of his game. I think he can still play, and I don’t think he slipped as much as some have said. A little, not a lot.
Instead of throwing a public tantrum about being asked to take a pay cut, he took his helmet, and quietly went home.
And that goodwill will be rewarded in spades moving forward.
April 8, 2016
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