Respect for Chancellor.
The start of NBA and NHL free agency last week provided an annual chance to compare just how different the player economics of those sports are compared with the NFL.
The reality remains bleak for NFL players.
In the NBA, Chris Paul ($160 million, Houston), Lebron James ($154 million, Los Angeles Lakers), Nikola Jokic ($146.5 million, Nuggets) and Paul George ($137 million, Oklahoma City) lead the way. But the lower-rung free agents are also cashing in.
Oklahoma City’s Jerami Grant stayed put for $27 million. Avery Bradley remained with the Los Angeles Clippers for $25 million. And Doug Mcdermott will get $22 million to join Indiana.
In the NHL, John Tavares signed for $77 million in Toronto, John Carlson received $64 million to stay in Washington, James van Riemsdyk joined Philadelphia for $35 million and James Neal signed with Calgary for $28.75 million.
According to the industry website Spotrac, only one NFL player signed a free-agent contract that included more than $50 million guaranteed — Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a fully guaranteed $84 million deal. Only seven players signed deals that included more guaranteed money than Oklahoma City’s Grant.
It is the classic applesto-oranges comparison. Pro football is a far more physical sport than hockey or basketball.
Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung, who spent 2016 with the Broncos, took to Twitter last week to opine on the financials.
The highlights … “Considering football’s level of brute, immanent physicality, high (roster) turnover as well as the short life cycle of its participants, it would seem to me that NFL players are in the most need of fully guaranteed contracts.”
“It’s up to us, the players, to decide if we want league ownership to finally respect us as partners. Truth is, there is NOTHING preventing agents from negotiating a fully guaranteed salary for an NFL player (see Kirk Cousins deal).”
“Players want guaranteed money? Great! Rewrite the CBA. That’s right, we need an overhaul not a revision or an extension. Why?”
Credit to Okung for his reasoned analysis. He didn’t blame union chief Demaurice Smith. He didn’t rip specific owners. He didn’t criticize commissioner Roger Goodell.
The NFLPA should make sure Okung has a seat at the table for the next collective bargaining agreement talks.
Guaranteed contracts have always been a nonstarter for the NFL owners. But what if the union presented a plan that included short-term contracts that were fully guaranteed? Cousins’ fully guaranteed deal is for three years. He could hit the market again for his age 32 season.
The plus for guaranteed, short-term contracts for the players is they get more kicks at the free agent can. The minus for players is one major injury during said short-term deal would impact their future market.
Supplemental draft intriguing. Five players have entered Wednesday’s supplemental draft: Tailback Martayveus Carter (Grand Valley State), linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu (Oregon State) and cornerbacks Adonis Alexander (Virginia Tech), Sam Beal (Western Michigan) and Brandon Bryant (Mississippi State).
A team that drafts a player will forfeit its selection in the same round of the 2019 draft. The Broncos have not used a supplemental draft pick since the summer of 1989 (Alabama tailback Bobby Humphrey in the first round).
Every NFL team was represented at Beal’s pro day last month. Projected to go in rounds 1-2 next year, Beal entered the supplemental draft when he did not earn enough academic credits to be eligible to play. Beal (6-foot-1, 190) broke up 10 passes last year.
Alexander (6-3, 207), who entered the draft after being declared academically ineligible, is expected to be drafted. Alexander was also suspended twice during his Hokies career.
Around the league
Information central. A hat tip to the Broncos’ media relations staff for its 676-page 2018 media guide. How thorough is the book? It has sections for largest margin of victory (43 points) and defeat (52 points), the Broncos’ record after their bye week (21-8), biggest comeback and blown lead (both 24 points) and an 83-page section on the team’s playoff history.
Seattle strong safety Kam Chancellor’s retirement is pending after his social media announcement. Chancellor suffered a neck injury against Arizona last November. What a terrific player. At 6-3 and 225 pounds, he was overlooked in the draft (fifth round) and then became a hybrid safety/linebacker/wrecking ball for the “Legion of Boom.” He was named to four Pro Bowls and had two years of at least 100 tackles. At only 30 years old, here’s hoping Chancellor stays in the game in some capacity.
Texans’ tight end issue. The Broncos aren’t the only team with an uncertainty at tight end. Houston starter C.J. Fiedorowicz was forced to retire after three 2017 concussions and he was the Texans’ only catch-and-block option. Veteran Ryan Griffin is more of a receiving tight end, leaving the Texans to rely on third-round pick Jordan Akins and sixth-round pick Jordan Thomas.
Replacing Thomas. The good news for Cleveland — it has four offensive line positions solidified entering camp. The bad news — there isn’t a front-runner to replace Joe Thomas, 10-time Pro Bowler/sixtime first-team all-nfl. The candidates are Shon Coleman, second-round pick Austin Corbett, undrafted free agent Desmond Harrison and if things fall apart, journeyman Greg Robinson (a former second overall pick).
At least he’s not Hue Jackson. Oddsshark.com celebrated the Fourth of July holiday by posting odds on which coach will be fired before season’s end. The Broncos’ Vance Joseph was tied for fourth at plus-1,000 (bet $100 to win $1,000). Jackson is first at plus-350, followed by Miami’s Adam Gase (plus750) and Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis (plus-1,000).
Ryan O’halloran: rohalloran@ denverpost.com or @ryan ohalloran