When to renegotiate?

[kesg]

Does anyone have any opinions on whether, and when, to renegotiate a contract at the end of the current season and, if so, for how many years to extend the contract? If it depends on a number of factors, what are they?

Some observations, which may or may not be on the right track:

1. At least with younger players, this decision is a trade-off between higher salaries for long-term contracts and greater cash expenditures with short-term contracts because of signing bonuses. I tend to go for the longer, more expensive contracts on the theory that I don't have to pay the salary unless the player is worth it.

2. Maybe one factor is team depth. It is easier to let an expensive player go if a younger, less expensive player is ready to take his place.

3. Maybe another factor is the availability of free agents. It is easier to let an expensive player go if you can replace him with a less expensive free agent. Also, it depends partly on position. In free agency it seems that you can shake a tree and a dozen good wide receivers will fall out, yet it seems very difficult to get a good center, guard, tight end, or defensive lineman.

TIA

[BLeonard]

When it comes time for me to renegotiate, I look at the following:

A: How old is the player and how much is he wanting?
B: Do I have the talent currently to step in if he leaves?
C: If I don't have the talent, can I get it in Free Agency or the Draft?
D: What does my scout say?

Personally, at the end of the season, before clicking on "Start a new season," I look at all of my potential Free Agents and who else is available in their position. By signing everyone I want to keep before clicking "Start a New Season," the only players that pop up as far as negotiations are concerned are the ones I have already decided to do without. If I can replace the player with a quality, cheaper player in the Free Agent pool or on my bench, I do so. I like to go into my drafts thinking that the most a player I draft is gonna do is return kicks or punts in their first season.

As for how long I extend a contract, rarely do I sign a player to a contract longer than it would take him to get to 35 years old. Unless it's a kicker, it looks like after they hit 35, it's downhill.

-Bill

[kesg]

On the age thing, they actually start going downhill prior to Age 35 (although you don't notice it much if they are starters or significant contributors), but they start going downhill really fast once they hit 35.

More generally, I have since learned that in addition to the factors you mentioned, whether to re-sign a player is also a function of whether you are making or losing money (and therefore need to trim payroll). This is especially true on the higher levels (I usually play manager). Nothing will mess you up as bad as going for the short term fix at the expense of financial stability.

One last point about renegotiation and the draft: I have found that certain positions are easier to fill in the draft than others. More specifically, you can almost always find a good running back, tackle, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback, safety, kicker, or punter in the first three rounds. On the other hand, it is hard to find a good tight end and quarterback (under version 2.198, perhaps not in earlier versions) and even harder to find a good guard, center, or defensive tackle. To be sure, these last three positions seem to develop faster with playing time.