Big Market vs. Small Market

Just a trend I've been noticing lately. Some of the big market teams, such as the Jets and Raiders have been dishing out huge contracts this offseason. They obviously believe the CBA will be done away with soon.

On the other hand, most teams have had money, yet they have been conservative. With small and middle market teams making up the majority of cities that have NFL teams, I think it is more likely there will be a new CBA hammered out sometime before we reach that ever-dreaded uncapped season.

The amended CBA has been fairly dysfunctional the last couple seasons, raising tension between owners and players, and in effect, the NFLPA. It is possible that the NFLPA will cave in to the owners and move toward a resolution that mimics the successful CBA from the '90's.

With a new resolve in mind, I don't think the current salary cap will turn backward, though I do believe it could come to what would seem like a halt for a season. For example, if they hammered out a new deal now that is to effect the '08 season (hypothetical; not possible), it could be set up to where the cap doesn't increase much in the first season, as the huge cap increases have been a big part of the problem. In effect, teams like the Jets, Panthers, Colts, Redskins, and Raiders would eventually be in trouble, with teams like the Jets, and Raiders forcefully putting themselves in that position over one season.

Basically, which way do you think this is going to pan out??? This is worth a lot more than "what free agents we have signed". If we have to compete with the deep pockets of New York and California teams, we'll pretty much just have the draft to look forward to every offseason. Hopefully something can get done without owners locking players out, and we, as a small market team can see balance return to competitiveness in free agency.

Some really good points man.

As Starkiller says, we are one of the teams that have to support the lesser market teams but we still are being cautious in FA. We have some cap room to play with but are not trying to break any banks. If the cap goes away, sure, the Texans could afford to go nuts like Washington has in the past but I don't think our owner is dumb enough to go on a mad spending spree when the cap may or may not be going away and even if it does go away I doubt it would be for long.

You're right about Oakland not being a big market, but Al Davis ranks with Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones on owners that are more involved with the management of their team.

The point I was trying to make is that some clubs think the CBA will be done away with while others don't, and are stocking up on free agents by offering them huge contracts. If you look at how these contracts are structured, most are cap friendly for the first year or two. Obviously, Houston is a team that thinks a new deal will be hammered out, and are trying to put themselves in position to be competitive with any new deal that is made. As you said though, if the NFL does go uncapped...

If we lose the cap it'll end up like the English Premiership with only 4 teams i.e:arsenal,liverpool,man Utd,Chelsea capable of winning a championship. And believe me,it sucks, unless you happen to support one of them.

I really hope a new deal gets put out and not go the way of no cap. With us being a "smaller franchise" I think we would be in some trouble. Kind of like the NHL situation with Detroit or the MLB situation with the Yankees. Alot of money to go around.

There was a peak of interest in the Titans when VY came but now after his season the media doesn't talk much about him anymore.

The cap is not going anywhere. Besides if you look at Forbes and other places the Titans hang around the middle of the pack in revenue and value. It may be a smaller market but this franchise brings in money and is worth quite a bit. We have money. Bud just don't like spending it.