Are the Falcons ready to show Brent Grimes the money?
Cornerback Brent Grimes is set to make $10.281 million in 2012, but reportedly would like a long-term deal. (Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com)
BIRDLAND – As July 16 approaches and the Saints seem to be bungling a new deal for quarterback Drew Brees, I’ve been getting a lot of questions – via the comment page and twitter.com – about Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes.
Best I can tell, all is quiet on the Grimes’ front. We reached out to his people this week and haven’t heard back from them on or off the record yet. Usually, they are very good about keeping us in the loop, but this is the slow period for everyone.
Smitty is off getting ready to play some golf at Lake Tahoe. Dimitroff is likely cruising around a bike trail somewhere. Roddy White hasn’t even gotten into a Tweet-fight recently as he’s been mourning the move of Ray Allen from his beloved Celtics to the Miami Heat. Reggie Roberts, the Falcons VP PR man, is somewhere hiding out. (He’s dodging me. I think he’s scared to play our annual skins golf match. He clearly doesn’t want ANY this year! Hate to call him out in public, but sometimes drastic times call for drastic measures.)
Here’s what we know about the Grimes situation:
Brees and Grimes are not in the same situation.
BREES is an “exclusive” franchise player – not free to sign with another club – is offered the greater of (i) the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year as of the end of the Restricted Free Agent Signing Period on April 20; or (ii) the amount of the Required Tender for a non-exclusive franchise player.
GRIMES signed a non-exclusive franchise tender which will pay him $10.281 million this season. From the new collective bargaining agreement: “The Nonexclusive Franchise Tender shall be a one year NFL Player Contract for (A) the average of the five largest Prior Year Salaries for players at the position . . . at which the Franchise Player participated in the most plays [formerly, “games”] during the prior League Year, which average shall be calculated by: (1) summing the amounts of the Franchise Tags for players at that position for the five preceding League Years; (2) dividing the resulting amount by the sum of the Salary Caps for the five preceding League Years . . . ; and (3) multiplying the resulting percentage by the Salary Cap for the upcoming League Year . . . (the “Cap Percentage Average”) . . . ; or (B) 120% of his Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater.”
All of that legalese means, as best I can tell, is the that the exclusive tag ends up with a higher salary than the non-exclusive tag. Also, there is no transition player tag under the new CBA.
Also, the Falcons are too tight up against the cap right now to do a major deal. Because of that, it’s reasonable to conclude that they want Grimes to play under the tag and they’ll revisit extension talks during the upcoming season.
In the past, Dimitroff has taken care of some players they wanted to keep in-season: (Jonathan Babineaux, Michael Jenkins and Tony Gonzalez last year.)
The Falcons only have $2,834,837, fourth lowest in the league, under the cap, according to the NFL. They appear contractually land-locked for the season. That’s just enough room to add on two players at the veteran minimum late in training camp.
We haven’t heard from Grimes since he signed his tender shortly after the Falcons made the move to get Asante Samuel. He told us that he’d get his side of the story out.
San Francisco safety Dashon Golden came out on SiriusNFLradio and said he’s ready to play 2012 under his tender.
“All these one-year/one-year (contracts) is not what any player would want. We know what we put our bodies through and what we do for our teams. But it’s all good. There’s no love lost or anything like that. I just hope something will get done. If not, I’ll still be a 49er.”
But sometimes these franchise tag deals can get messy.
The normally mild-mannered and businesslike Dunta Robinson had a major franchise tag blowup when he was in Houston. He held out before signing the tender and then wrote “Pay Me, Rick” on his shoes. He was referring to Houston general manager Rick Smith, who tagged Robinson.
Also, there was Logan Mankins’ dealings with New England in 2010 under the former CBA.
We don’t know what caused the Grimes’ camp to flip flop. In early March, they had no plans to sign the tag. Then in late April, Grimes signed the tender.
The Grimes camp appears set to play under the tag, while hoping to iron out a long-term deal.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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104 comments Add your comment
Rick
July 12th, 2012
12:41 pm
Never had a problem saying he is one of the best “Seen” I recognize talent and say as such. Just like I recognize the Falcons are loaded……….come on cha cha. The real problem is that you dont want to pay him……..simple! Pay the man, stop holding back!! Here is the kicker, when you do pay him you wont be able to pay others around him because the AINTS have really made this a hot mess. Waited to long and now you have to gut the team to pay the man. Get your paperbags ready, looks like old times are coming back……….hehehehehehe
AlanFalcon
July 12th, 2012
12:44 pm
1st, lets see which CB gets thrown at the most and 2nd, lets see if Grimes plays the year without screaming injury- This year will tell us a lot about his make up and desire to be one of the best that he so wants to be recognized as.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
12:46 pm
EVERYONE, please stop answering this troll. He comes here and tries to turn a Falcon blog into a Saints blog. If you guys want to talk Saints football then accompany him to a Saints blog. Everywhere we try and talk Falcon football Saints fans show up. They’re a borderline criminal organization. The team and its fans have no respect for the game, the rules of the game (and with their drug thefts, no respect for the rules of the nation) or for themselves. Let them go……to a Saints blog.
It’s alright. Let’s see them hang around when we whoop that a$$ this year…with or without the presence of Mr. Brees…..then they can talk all they want…but they won’t….
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
12:48 pm
Ha ha, you people crack me up calling Seen This Before 4 a “troll!” You fools go from blog to blog calling him out… Then you try to say “he’s the problem.” You live for this… Laughs keep coming, and the lies keep flowing! This blog is like the Nixon White House, y’all and your “Enemies List!” Scary stuff!
You’re right. He’s not a troll. You are. Because you live to bash the Falcons, and the fans. Go find a bridge and some billy goats to terrorize….you’re an obsolete fairy tale…
Rick
July 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
We take care of talent and when Grimes helps makes this secondary one of the scariest in the NFL this year he will be able to set his price and get paid. I have no doubt about that! I think with Asante being in the fold we will get a chance to see how good Robinson is playing on the inside and wrecking havoc with big hits. This defense will be scary this year and we will make much noise on the D side of the ball!
mad-catfish
July 12th, 2012
1:21 pm
@Rick: You know where your reasoning on the Saints CAP space falls completely apart? (Which is par for you.) When you figure out that your team’s CAP space is about the same where the Saints CAP space is. Yet you don’t have a Drew Brees to sign. But currently, you haven’t signed Grimes to a long term contract cause you don’t have the CAP space. Reason that one out.
DLed notes that Brees and Grimes aren’t in the same boat, but the funny thing is, that come next Monday evening, it’s Brees who will have a long term contract, and Grimes who won’t.
SeenThisB4
July 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
Your defense won’t be scary to Brees. He’ll dissect it like he did last year, probably set another single season passing record on your defense again this year.
Bucky Badger
July 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
Seen…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Are the Falcons ready to show Brent Grimes the money? | football-feed.com
July 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
Rick
July 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
Catfish go get caught! Take note that our GM had a back up plan and we got Samuels and we can drop dead weight on the roster plus we have Gonzalez contract coming off the books next year so signing Grimes wont be a problem. He can play under the Franchise and prove he deserves long term, so your wack statement does not stick. But your GM has a back up plan, Chase Daniels.. hehhhehe I typed that with a straight face! Lol.
Rick
July 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
Seen is he signed yet?
Rick
July 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
And another thing at least Grimes is guaranteed to be in camp. You holding out HOPE that you have a deal by Monday. And remember you had to let go one of the best guards in the NFL just so you could continue to diss Drew about money. Hows that for logic? I am not a cap specialist I depend on Dled to guide me through it but I do know our roster looks pretty darn good without letting one of our best players go, plus a receiver. Pipe down cha cha!
Cejay
July 12th, 2012
2:25 pm
@Rick
” Get your paperbags ready, looks like old times are coming back”
hahahahahahahaha, now thats funny. How do you aint’s fans come on here time and again, and take these verbal beatings. hahahaha you being here is proof positive you fear the Falcons….why else do you come here ? I would NEVER stoop as low as to show up on a stinking aint’s blog! They’re not worth my time or effort !!!!lol
Cejay
July 12th, 2012
2:29 pm
How are you aint’s fans going watch football and be the stars in Swamp People at the same time !!!! lol
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
JSS – That’s an agent view. Team view would take into account his age.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Chance – They could use all of that space on him, but like I poiint out, there are a lot of other contract decisions.
Crickets.....
July 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
@ 10:14 am “…..and your team doesn’t play just itself during the season.”
Well now, I’m not sure about all that. With all the scandal talk it seems the Saints sure played themselves.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 12th, 2012
2:38 pm
Chubb Rock — Let me check the spam folder.
tjhook
July 12th, 2012
2:47 pm
Where is Gene Oakerlund to call these (tongue) wrestling matches . . .
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 12th, 2012
2:48 pm
OK, let’s leave Seen alone.
Should/Will the Falcons show Grimes the money?
Willy
July 12th, 2012
2:54 pm
Does any of this contract conflict have to do with him asking not to play towards the end of last season because he wasn’t feeling 100%?
Rick
July 12th, 2012
3:05 pm
Yes
Rick
July 12th, 2012
3:06 pm
As in yes we can agow him the money. Its a passing league.
Rick
July 12th, 2012
3:07 pm
Show
JSS
July 12th, 2012
3:10 pm
@ Big Ray…
I never made personal with you (out respect of your overall long-time fairness on the Hawks blogs)… But hey, you want to go there? Don’t worry, that’s an “asked and answered” statement… Grimes, always had my respect… Turner, always had my respect… Roddy, once he started working on his craft, earned my respect… It is begrudging because he still tries to be a side show… I respected Forney when he was here because I saw him play at a high level with was only one arm! I respect what Gonzalez did before he got here… But I’m not going to lie and act like he is the same man who use to split cover 2 zones with ease and no MLB would dare trail underneath him to bait a QB to throw a shallow cross… You do remember that shallow cross don’t you? Urlacher read it and played it he was baiting a 1st or 2nd year rookie, not a 4th year Pro Bowl QB! There are plenty of people I respect in the Falcons organization… The “so-called” voice of “all” Falcons fans, no they are not on that respect list… And if that ticks you off to no end, that is your problem… It is sure is not mine! If you want to wallow in the pen with “Momma Joke Tellers,” The self-professed “intellectual ninja” who claims that he knows Dimitroff inner most thoughts personally, or the just bizarre bottom feeders who come here day and night making light of the worst disaster in this Nation’s history since the SF earthquake, be my guest… The world will keep spinning…
stizz
July 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
No, they shouldn’t. I’d be inclined to believeTD has more sens than to invest more than 25M in three corners. We don’t even know if he’s back to 100%. Let the season play out and let him walk. He’s going on thirty looking for his biggest contract and we still have Franks and Walls waiting in the wings.
Rick
July 12th, 2012
3:35 pm
Look what you did you hurt JSS feelings…….
JSS
July 12th, 2012
4:18 pm
@ Rick…
Wrong again, want to go for the trifecta? Like “I” said, “the world will keep spinning!”
Falcon James
July 12th, 2012
6:00 pm
DOL- LMAO with this article. Didn’t know you had it in you to be so funny. I think you missed your calling. LOL.Thank you for taking time to write this!
Falcon James
July 12th, 2012
6:36 pm
Back to the Grimes. He like Mighty Mouse and by far and away the best DB the Falcon have had in a long time. Even give-up-the “Big Play Ray Buchannon” could not hold a candle to Grimes. Dunta was supposed to our savior, and I know a lot of people like Dunta. Whether or not you say it was BVG or that our defensive scheme did not fit to Dunta strenghts, I don’t think he has lived up to what we paid for. Grimes on the other hand has proved himself year after year. I remember watching him play in preseason his first year and wondering where he had been hiding. He is not just good, he is really good! I am glad to see the Falcons gave him the $10M. I agree with another poster that this should have been done 2 years ago. I alse agree that he plays with wreckless abandonment and for that reason, I will be very saddened if he gets hurt. But I don’t think he will play any different. Grimes, by far, is a high priority signing for a long term deal. The Falcons managment know this and for that reason, I believe the deal will get worked out before the end of the season. I would not be surprised if this was not a reason for the “flip-flop” and a commitment was made. I think Grimes is as much a Falcon as Montana was a 49er. He wants to play for this team and am pretty sure he has a commitment for a long term deal. With that, is it football season yet? Let’s play ball.
Falcon James
July 12th, 2012
6:46 pm
One more comment, I don’t know for sure, but I was told from a realiable source that had first hand knowledge but spoke on condition of anonymity that White had a dead battery on his cell phone and lost his charger. Apprarently someone hid it in they locker to keep Roddy from embarrasing himself on Twitter.
Falcon James
July 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Firsttimer
July 12th, 2012
7:24 pm
Do not worry about Grimes until next year. If he walks, I agree we still have Franks and Walls waiting in the weeds. In today’s NFL unfortunately you lose good players to free agency. If he truly wants to be a Falcon it will show in next year’s negotiations.
kevin
July 12th, 2012
8:45 pm
Brent Grimes ain’t Drew Breese!
Laughing out Loud
July 12th, 2012
8:59 pm
Mr. Blank, Coach Smith and Thomas are classy men who run a professional football organization well. I trust them to take care of their players and pay them their due, if they can afford to pay. It’s so easy for fans to “spend” other people’s money and to make outrageous demands as to what the team management ought to do, but in the end it is the management’s responsibility to work effectively for a successful team.Go Falcons! We love to watch you! We love when you win. but we love you win or lose.
Falcon James
July 13th, 2012
7:11 am
I agree Blank, Smith and Thomas are classy men. That being said, they have had several busts that they overpaid. Baker, Edwards, and Dunta come to mind. They have had several good decisions, Turner, Ryan, Julio come to mind. My point is that Grimes has outshined the busts. Although, I am completely aware that there is a business element in play, a salary cap, and other contracts coming up, I hope that these three see the value on holding on to Grimes. It would have been nice to hold to Lofton, but the business aspect of the game would not allow it. My prediction is that Grimes will get a long term deal, hopefully with the Falcons, but it may be that he gets one with another team. I just think he has earned one.
Falcons’ Brent Grimes likely won’t get an extension until after the season – Pro Football Zone
July 13th, 2012
8:01 am
[...] to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, everything’s been quiet when it comes to cornerback Brent Grimes getting a long-term [...]
PlanB
July 13th, 2012
10:07 am
Like “This Gets Old”, I don’t understand why so many of you acknowledge SeenthisB4, hiramsaint or the many other NO fans. I enjoy talking with you Falcon fans about the strengths and weaknesses of the players, coaches and mgmt. The trades, drafts, FA sigings and the many other things football fans love to discuss about their team. Then why do we spend most of our time on our blog arguing with these guys. I quit reading these guys but they are taking most of our space. What is the use in arguing with them about who was and is best. The records are there for the past and both teams should be embarrased about them. What will happen in 2012, we will not know until the game is played. If they post and you don’t respond, they will go away.
Falcon James
July 13th, 2012
2:35 pm
These clowns represent the best of the best Saint fan on the planet. They come to this blog, because inside every Saint fan, they is a Falcon Fan trying to get out. The problem they have is nobody wants them as a Falcon Fan so they are stuck. DOL said it best that we should cut them slack. They are uninformed, uneducated, and underachievers. We should feel sorry for them and take them under our wing, but in all honestly they are a waste of time and energy. I agree that they should be ingnored, but even if you get your message out, they will still keep posting because they are ignorant and have no life.
Big Ray
July 13th, 2012
3:10 pm
So the Aints just threw the bank and ol’ Breesy.
I’m predicting an injury this season. It just sounds right…
Jean Claude Killy
July 13th, 2012
3:11 pm
@JSS ,, Who you callin a Fool FOOL,,, You just made it personal with everyone with that remark,,, ,,LOL,, you something else ya know that..
Big Ray
July 13th, 2012
3:19 pm
JSS ,
What in the devil are you talking about? Personal biz, earthquakes, Gonzo slowing down….dude I don’t even remember talking to you, but then again I have noticed a lot of “Ray” posters on the Hawks blogs (and some have pretended to be me). On top of that, the computer I’m currently using is not just available to me, so there’s that as well.
Anyhow, I couldn’t follow your rant (and dang, I know you’re pissed because it was all one paragraph, LOL). If you got beef with me, oh well, get in line but bring your lunch.
Jean Claude Killy
July 13th, 2012
3:46 pm
@JSS again,
You dont have to follow B4 around,, dude is ubiquitous,,, if there is a Falcons blog,,, he’s on it like stink on Sh__-,,, Kinda like you., I do have more respect for B4 than I do you,, at least he’s passionate about something,, i.e. the aints,, I cant figure out why your here LOL
Big Ray
July 13th, 2012
4:12 pm
Ah, now I see what the fuss is after scrolling back a ways. Heh. I’ll tell you that was not me, but people believe what they want to, so I’m not going to lose sleep over it.
That said, I guess somebody took umbrage with your approach. Was bound to happen sooner or later, and this is, after all, a blog. Any opinion levied is liable to, in turn, be opined upon. You’re right, the world keeps spinning, bruh.
hiramsaint
July 13th, 2012
5:14 pm
big ray , rick and james , my boy , nah nah nah nah -we have a qb and you don’t
Painkillers, Bounties, Wire Tapping...my oh my
July 13th, 2012
5:26 pm
Well good for Brees…he helped me win $$$ in fantasy football and I’ll probably try to draft him again this year…still think he’s a hypocrite in his refusal to condemn the bounty program but no doubt he is the 2nd or 3rd best QB in the game right now.
JSS
July 13th, 2012
5:26 pm
It’s still spinning…
@ That fake 1968 Grenoble skiing wannabe…
Come back and blog at me after you take your daily dose of IVIG! Then you might have a vague memory… Or just go and prop up in your drool corner and mumble some gibberish!
hiramsaint
July 13th, 2012
5:28 pm
jean claude killy- a rose by any other name ! now if only matt meltdown could be as accurate ! lol lol lol FOOL
Falcon James
July 13th, 2012
6:21 pm
hiram, your village called and say missing they idiot. You might was to call them.
hiramsaint
July 13th, 2012
6:50 pm
might was ???? c’mon son , i told you how not to go through life !