Ken Hamlin speaks the truth about free agency

by Brandon Worley on Mar 7, 2008 5:22 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Ken Hamlin has dealt with different aspects of free agency the past two years and he gives ESPN the Magazine his thoughts on the process. It's a short piece that gives a little insight into free agency from a player's point of view. He talks about teams making a big show of bringing him in for a visit and even about how one player flat out told him not to come to a certain team. One quote that stood out to me was Hamlin's view on how a contract is not the only deciding factor in the NFL:

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS. "You want your family to be set, but you don't want to be rich and unhappy. We consider everything: whether the team can win, who you'll be playing with, how you'll fit in, even the other teams in the division."

Obviously Hamlin's views are not shared by everyone in the NFL (ahem, everyone on the Oakland Raiders) and it's good to think that he would not sell himself out for just a big payday. Hamlin is more interested in long term stability and says just that.

FRANCHISING SNEAKS UP ON YOU. "I've never heard anyone say he wants to be franchised. You just have to hope it leads to a long-term deal."

The franchise tag is very limiting for the player but I think the Cowboys just did not have a choice, knowing that they were desperate to sign both Flozell Adams and Hamlin. Franchising Hamlin was just the right decision financially for the team.

Terrell Suggs has filed a grievance against the Baltimore Ravens regarding the franchise tag he was given; Suggs was franchised as a linebacker. The issue at hand is the Ravens play a 3-4 defense and Suggs essentially has the duties of a defensive end in the 4-3. I am sure that the Dallas Cowboys are keeping an eye on this right along with DeMarcus Ware. If Suggs wins it would directly affect contract negotiations between Ware and the Cowboys. The price difference between top defensive ends and linebackers is not that far apart but it is not that close either. The Cowboys are heading into the 2008 season looking to work on the contracts for Ware, Terrell Owens and Ken Hamlin among others; every penny will count.

Julius Jones visits with the Seahawks. Is this the end of Shaun Alexander?

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Brandon....check your JuJo link.....

It mentions nothing about Seattle or Shaun Alexander....btw...Seattle just paid big bucks to TJ Duckett....you can forget about that move anyways.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Mar 7, 2008 5:51 AM CST reply actions

Here's a link on JJ in Seattle

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/f...

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Mar 7, 2008 7:47 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks for the link Deke.

Heres the qoute from the DMN blurb:

Julius Jones' tour continued as the unrestricted running back visited the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday.

As far as Shaun Alexander goes...If Seattle does sign JJ, then there is now a surplus of running backs on that team, and Alexander might be the odd man out.

What I liked about the comments on your link Deke is the guys that are saying Julius is a health risk. He has been completely healthy the past two years. Unfortunately, he didn't live up to his potentential.

You find out life's this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game - life or football - the margin for error is so small.

by Brandon Worley on Mar 7, 2008 8:22 AM CST up reply actions

Suggs a DE

I can see Suggs' point, but then what position do the two DE's on the line play? Do 3-4 ends then become tackles? I don't see that happening.

by BigE on Mar 7, 2008 7:57 AM CST reply actions

Great point e!

This is an interesting debate and it is kind of beyond me as a middle class navy man. Linebacker franchise: $8 million. DE franchise:$8.8 million. When getting into the millions and millions of dollars who care about an extra 800k? I guess you your family to look after.

You find out life's this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game - life or football - the margin for error is so small.

by Brandon Worley on Mar 7, 2008 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

How curious are you to know...

What player on what team told Hamlin "don't bother coming here" ...! WOW!

Can you imagine the setting? Some hallway of the stadium, or the parking lot, or maybe the guy was giving him a ride back to the airport...

But to actually say something like that speaks volumes about the difference from one locker room to the next. I'd imagine the Cowboys' locker room in 2000 was bleak.

Yet another reason to count our blessings.

Cowboys and Tar Heels

by DalaiLuke on Mar 7, 2008 1:21 PM CST reply actions