Deuce pushed back his roster bonus date (1 Viewer)

[BayouSaintGirl]

2 bad knees for a running back is a tough order to come back at 100%. I think if any one can do it, It could be Duece. I hope he comes back and never losses step but I am a bit skeptical that it will happen. It could be that he thinks he needs that month to proove not only to the Saints but to FA that he is still worth the big Bucks.

 

[BREES4PRES]

I think the FO shouldn't look to much into the injury if he is coming along on his rehab after all look what happened in 06, Brees coming off injury= championship game. Deuce coming off injury = one of his best seasons + championship game, besides half the moves we made this OS have been players coming off an injury and I gaurentee NONE of those guys would say sure hold my million for another month. Deuce is a class act all the way.

 

[longtime lurker]

http://blog.nola.com/saintsbeat/2008/03/mcallister_saints_delay_bonus.html

An excellent read....he aint going anywhere!

 

[VVextreme]

Saints should have tried to get him to push it back till after the draft...

 

[BigHossTheBoss]

If we are bringing Deuce back, don't lower his pay. The guy earned his money and it's not like the Saints are cash strapped. Why risk alienating him?

 

[Necrocajun]

He's going to be around for at least the 2008 season, even if his contract isn't renegotiated. Don't forget that it would be MORE EXPENSIVE in cap room to cut him now than keep him on the roster. The Saints are going to give Deuce at least one more year in my opinion.

 

[RoadTrippin']

besides half the moves we made this OS have been players coming off an injury and I gaurentee NONE of those guys would say sure hold my million for another month. Deuce is a class act all the way.

I have no idea why people are saying that Deuce's agreement on this issue shows that he is a "class act." A smart businessman maybe, but it really does not go to show that he has excpetional character.

Having said that, I do believe Deuce is, in fact, a class act. I just base my belief on his past conduct -- this particular contract position does not factor into it one way or another for me. He is doing what he thinks is best for him -- not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

[Saint3232]

I have no idea why people are saying that Deuce's agreement on this issue shows that he is a "class act." A smart businessman maybe, but it really does not go to show that he has excpetional character.

Having said that, I do believe Deuce is, in fact, a class act. I just base my belief on his past conduct -- this particular contract position does not factor into it one way or another for me. He is doing what he thinks is best for him -- not that there is anything wrong with that.

I completely agree, Deuce is one of he classiest guys to play for the Saints, but this doesn't show good character b/c he does not have the opportunity to demand anything. He has two blown knees and will get very little attention on the FA market. I'm just as happy as anyone that he is still on the team, but its his donations to charity and time spent rebuilding New Orleans and Mississippi after Katrina that shows his class. I'm not saying deuce just did this for the money, he more than likely wants to retire a Saint, but i am betting that pushing back this bonus was his only choice.

 

[REALCHRISM]

The fact that he pushed back his bonus may lend credence to the fact that he was about to be cut. Usually when someone agrees to push back their bonus, it is not to be a month further along into rehab, but usually to give both sides another month to negotiate a deal. I would think both sides are working on a restructure and Deuce did not want to force the team's hand (and thus be cut).

I totally agree. A lot of people seem to be criticizing the OP on the long Deuce thread and I do not think that's fair. It does not seem like he was creating a shock post or anything of the sort.

My personal opinion is that we may only be delaying the inevitable. I truly think this team will seek to add a RB in this year's draft. And I think Deuce days with the team may be numbered. A lot of people clamoring for Deuce to stay on the team seem to be putting their love of Deuce ahead of what may be best for the team. If the FO decides that Deuce is healthy and can be effective that'll be great. But if the FO decides that Deuce's time has come and gone, we have to trust the decision and hope that we can do well. The thing I hate is that people love Deuce so there's a sort of blind committment to him on the part of some posters. Deuce was not running well last season before the injury and some of us would rather contend that he "deserves" a chance to demonstrate whether or not he still has it or not than to acknowledge that it is even 'logical' to argue that his returning back to form is probably not likely (though not impossible). In other words, we are being more idealistic about it because it's Deuce than realistic about the fac that it will not be easy. Even when Deuce returned and did well in 2006, a lot of his success came as Reggie Bush was being used as a decoy. Those are truths that we must settle and, at the same time, hope the best for Deuce because he's a standup guy.

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

Deuce was not running well last season before the injury and some of us would rather contend that he "deserves" a chance to demonstrate whether or not he still has it or not than to acknowledge that it is even 'logical' to argue that his returning back to form is probably not likely (though not impossible). In other words, we are being more idealistic about it because it's Deuce than realistic about the fac that it will not be easy. Even when Deuce returned and did well in 2006, a lot of his success came as Reggie Bush was being used as a decoy. Those are truths that we must settle and, at the same time, hope the best for Deuce because he's a standup guy.

The injury is a very valid concern. In Deuce's defense I would add that no one was playing well those first four games. That stretch of games was baffling. Poor play. Poor coaching/play calling. Just very ugly football. I'd love to see it work out contractually, and Deuce could make a comeback, but I agree with you that we shouldn't let blind loyalty guide our judgement.

 

[BREES4PRES]

I have no idea why people are saying that Deuce's agreement on this issue shows that he is a "class act."

I'm just sayin not a lot of people would hold off on a million $ payday ( would you?) and it shows how much he really loves this team, city and the fans that he would do that to remain a saint. To me that shows class, heart, character however you want to put it but he is just an all-around good guy and he knows where he belongs. Black-N-Gold till he's Black-N-Blue.

 

[hammernnails]

I totally agree. A lot of people seem to be criticizing the OP on the long Deuce thread and I do not think that's fair. It does not seem like he was creating a shock post or anything of the sort.

My personal opinion is that we may only be delaying the inevitable. I truly think this team will seek to add a RB in this year's draft. And I think Deuce days with the team may be numbered. A lot of people clamoring for Deuce to stay on the team seem to be putting their love of Deuce ahead of what may be best for the team. If the FO decides that Deuce is healthy and can be effective that'll be great. But if the FO decides that Deuce's time has come and gone, we have to trust the decision and hope that we can do well. The thing I hate is that people love Deuce so there's a sort of blind committment to him on the part of some posters. Deuce was not running well last season before the injury and some of us would rather contend that he "deserves" a chance to demonstrate whether or not he still has it or not than to acknowledge that it is even 'logical' to argue that his returning back to form is probably not likely (though not impossible). In other words, we are being more idealistic about it because it's Deuce than realistic about the fac that it will not be easy. Even when Deuce returned and did well in 2006, a lot of his success came as Reggie Bush was being used as a decoy. Those are truths that we must settle and, at the same time, hope the best for Deuce because he's a standup guy.

you may be talking directly to me with that post.. at least thats how I feel.... but you are right...it is easy to get wrapped up in the personality of a player and forget about the overall good of the team......

having that said... lets hope Deuce can come back from the injuries..... Fragile Freddie Taylor was in the pro bowl this year.... at like 32yrs old.... if deuce is healthy .. he has some very productive years left.....

 

[RoadTrippin']

I'm just sayin not a lot of people would hold off on a million $ payday ( would you?) and it shows how much he really loves this team, city and the fans that he would do that to remain a saint. To me that shows class, heart, character however you want to put it but he is just an all-around good guy and he knows where he belongs. Black-N-Gold till he's Black-N-Blue.

From reading his comments it sounds like he felt this move would be in his own financial interest. There is nothing wrong with that, and in fact he should be putting himself in the best negotiating position possible. I just do not see anything that indicates that he walked away from a million dollar payday simply because he loves the Saints, the city or the fans. I have no idea why you are reading that into this situation.

 

[Cajun Chat]

We need to decide what to do with Deuce before the draft. If they think he can't go by TC then we probably will ask him to restructure significantly.

 

[marccooper]

At some point we need to bite the bullet on bad contracts. Deuce will have a hard time recovering from injuries to both knees and certainly won't be worth 8 million in 2011 or whatever. Each year we keep him on this contract, we save a cap hit for the future where we will be paying for him when he will not be on the roster. If we have a lot of cap space this year and there are no more big free agents to spend it on, biting this bullet may be a smart move. Deuce is a great guy, a patriotic american, but that won't keep him on the field. It just isn't realistic to think of him as anything more than the football equivalent of Randy Johnson at this point. He might be great if he plays a full season, but nobody is betting on it.