SHAQ...Good, Lucky or Both

I know this is a NFL blog, but deal w/ it.

Shaq has always had fun in the sun and it's not a play on words just because the Diesel is now playing in Phoenix. Look at his career, companions and locations of his teams. Start w/ Orlando and his sidekick Penny Hardaway. Penny was good back then and along with a thin, young and scary O'Neal, they made it to the NBA finals. Then off to LA with a super young Kobe by his side. With that tandem they soaked up the sun and 3 championship rings. Kobe and Shaq start to bicker...how does Miami sound?...oh yeah and lets throw in Dwayne Wade also... yet an other All Star, at the least, and another ring! Tired of Miami, injuries & losing? Can I go to Phoenix?..., sure Shaq why not, and how about this... you get to play w/ Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemare, hope that works for you. Listen, the Big guy has maybe the best disposition of any superstar in recent history and oh by the way has been the Most dominate player, or at least dominate big man of his time, but really has anyone had such a NBA life of luxury? A wise man once told me that a real man makes his own luck. Well if that's the case Shaquille O'Neal is WAY more of a man and Irish than any of us knew. This guy is / was a true stud, but Orlando, LA, Miami & Phoenix with Penny, Kobe, D-Wade along with Nash & Stoudemare... it's a pure Joke. Kudos to Shaq, his agent and the very powerful four leaf clover he has hidden somewhere deep deep down.

Glenn Younes

Tag You're It

Players and agents HATE the Franchise tag, for the most part, and I'm not too sure why. No, I'm not stupid, I understand that it's not a long term deal and the if and buts are all about. Players say "if I have a long term deal w/ a huge signing bonus, which is guaranteed, and I get hurt I still get paid”. True. But what many fail to realize is that 1: if a player is good enough to get tagged, they will get another deal w/ their or another team once healthy. 2: if the injury is one they can't come back from, the long term deal with that huge bonus may have been forfeited anyway, or at least part of it. Being tagged means the team wants you and can’t come to terms for a longer deal. The Player gets a HUGE one year deal, in the TOP 5 at that position. Let me give a few examples. Suggs of the Ravens will get about 8 million in 2008. Stacey Andrews OL for the Bengals will make 7.5 million, while Dallas Clark TE Colts will be in the 4.5 million range. The HUGE one year pay is very similar to a big bonus, with the opportunity to agree on a long term deal the next year and get another huge deal w/ a true bonus. When a player signs a long term deal it’s front loaded w/ bonus money and a small yearly salary and back loaded w/ no guarantee and high pay. High pay late the player may never even see because the team will adjust the contract to make it more cap friendly. Long story short, in a perfect world a long term deal with huge money all over the place would make all players happy, but this as an alternative is a good, fair and profitable one.

Glenn Younes

Flight Plight

Sure the flight to the Pro Bowl, for East Coasters & Mid Westerners, is a day long event but hey... it's Hawaii for crying out loud. There has been chitter chatter, rumors and maybe even hard evidence that the NFL Year End All Star Game will be moved after the 2009 Pro Bowl. The move may be a rotation of 4 locations or the site of the Super Bowl, among the ideas. What I can tell you, as a visitor of a few, despite the travel the players LOVE Hawaii. It's a way to get away, take the family and friends away and feel AWAY. Hell it's an island in the middle of the ocean, how can you not. HI is one of the 50 but has the image of a far off place, because it is. Which is what the players, coaches and fans want and need. I guess what I'm saying is, YES, Hawaii is far, YES, Hawaii is expensive and YES, Hawaii, to many, is a huge pain, but the league should NOT move the Pro Bowl. More players will bail on the event and it will lose much of its luster. Half the allure of the Pro Bowl is that it happens in a far off place. Any ol' body can take a trip to Tampa, but Hawaii is special. The Pro Bowl is special & the players, coaches and family that make it to Hawaii feel special too.

Glenn Younes