The “30 percent rule” is one of the aspects of the uncapped year that makes my feeble brain hurt. It’s also doing damage to teams like the Panthers that have quality young players they would like to re-sign.
Writing for the Charlotte Observer, Charles Chandler notes that Carolina is practically prevented from extending long-term contract offers to Pro Bowlers DeAngelo Williams and Ryan Kalil.
The rule states that player’s base salary in 2010 can’t be more than 30 percent greater than it was in 2009.
“Basically, your hands are tied,” said agent Ben Dogra who represents Kalil. “There’s no question in my mind, after Ryan just made his first Pro Bowl, that if the rules hadn’t changed, he’d already have a brand new deal now.”
The teams could get around the rule by giving players massive signing bonuses and guaranteed money, but that’s a tough sell for agents to pull off. Jets center Nick Mangold, Giants receiver Steve Smith, and Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata are three other players in limbo.
Through no fault of their own, the timing of this uncapped year is costing these players money and they probably won’t get their deals until a new CBA is reached.