Sunday's Random Thoughts

Only In America
Vince Carter opted out of a contract with the New Jersey Nets that would have paid him $16 million in 2007-08. In of itself that seems ridiculous for a one-dimensional player (scorer) who doesn't show up every night and tends to play soft (read: falling in love with his jumper too much).

It get worse - New Jersey has stated it wants to re-sign him - perhaps at $20 million a year. Rod Thorn needs his head examined if he thinks that's money well-spent.

CC 180
A few weeks ago, we stated the Tribe should trade CC because they wouldn't be able to resign him. We felt his asking price - likely to be in the 17-20 million a year range - would be too high for the Indians. It goes even higher with every win he accumulates this summer.

After what we have seen in the first half of the 2007 season, it is evident CC has finally established himself as a true #1. Put him on the Tribe teams of the mid/late 90s, and a couple World Series banners would likely be waving in the wind at Jacobs Field right now. He is now what they so badly needed back then - a true #1 you can put out on the mound in games #1, #4 and #7 of a playoff series.

Therefore, we now advocate the Indians re-signing the young star at his likely price, and deal Haffner instead. It is simply easier to find a very good DH than a true #1 starter - especially when you consider CC is just now entering his prime years. Whatever the Indians are offering Haffner, they should lump it into a contract offer for CC. If I had to lose one - it would be Haffner. That's a no-brainer. Expecting the team to sign both is unrealistic.

CC is much more valuable, and although it would blow up the team's salary structure to have one player making so much, it is a risk worth taking when you consider his age, past performance and team needs.

He's the team's first true #1 starter since Gaylord Perry of the early 70s. CC's weight is the only red flag we can find in his game.

Grady Sizemore
He's one of the game's best young players, but he does need to cut down on his strikeouts. There is no reason what he can't shorten his swing at times - especially with two strikes. His propensity to over swing will keep him from being a true .300 hitter. That being said, he, along with CC and Victor Martinez, give the team one of the game's strongest trio of young stars in the middle of the diamond.

NFL #1 Pick Salaries
The NFL and the Players' Association should follow the lead of the NBA and reduce those outrageous rookie salaries - specifically for the high #1 picks that enter the league, the next time they revisit collective bargaining. College kids who haven't played a down in the NFL do not merit $10-20 million singing bonuses - especially when you consider the percentage of high draft picks that don't earn in.

That money should go to the current players, who have produced, and to the veterans who retired years ago and are now battling the league and the players' union for financial and health benefits.

Agents will fight this to this end, but players who have been around and produced should want the system changed. The NBA players were at the forefront of such salary structure changes in the 90s. The NBA's #1 pick overall, I believe, makes approximately $25 million over a five year period. The NFL's #1 pick makes twice that or more if he stays healthy.

The NFL is a perform first league with no guaranteed contracts. The union should fight for guaranteed contract next time around and use the #1 pick salaries as a bargaining chip with the league.

It is nearly criminal that such a collision sport does not have some semblance of guaranteed contracts protecting the players.