WizardHawk
Release the Kraken - Fuck the Canucks
You are arguing different things to make a point I don't agree with. There is a difference between saying he's in a legal sense of breach of contract than each players contract is really year to year no matter what the terms are. They are unrelated. Kam's sitting out isn't a legal question. The CBA clearly lists what repercussions any party has and both sides agree to keep it in league. We have already seen glaring examples of how well that works in real life with the deflategate garbage. The leagues rules have been torn up in courts for years now. But it is in their code to keep these matters in house.There are penalties for holding out, just like there are penalties for a team to cut a player. But both are within the framework of the contracts. Otherwise there would be a lot breach of contract lawsuits from players and teams. Loss of wages for missed work is pretty standard, and it doesn't mean that he's breaking a contract, just not getting paid for the time that he misses.
And I understand how uncommon this is. I just disagree with the fact that he's doing something that is a boc. Illiformed? Sure. Dumb? Yeah. Wrong? No more than a team cutting a player with times left on his deal.
Things were different a very short time ago. Players held out all the time, like big Walt. Rookies held out to try and get better deals before they ever even saw the field and vets held out to get the kind of money some rookies were being offered. It was a hot mess. They entirely restructured the whole contract process and made it so rookies had almost no rights at all through the end of their predetermined contracts. This leaves teams able to pay veterans more as rookies now have to prove it before getting paid. Both teams and players made out well in that exchange, however the players ended up giving up some of the leverage they used to have as well. The things that let Galloway stay out and profit aren't the same anymore.
I have zero compassion for most players in these things. That doesn't mean I hate them. Obviously Wilson is an example of someone screwed by the system and someone who did deserve understanding. I had no problems with Bennett asking for more money in the off season. Said as much to those who were tossing him under a bus. I said then to wait and see if he takes into the season. That's where the line clearly is and must be. He came into camp even on day 1. Had zero issues with him. Players and teams both benefit from the system as is. This notion that players get screwed because teams can dump them at any time is pure nonsense. Both players and teams want multi year deals. Players want guaranteed money that goes beyond this years pay as insurance which they know makes it much harder for teams to get rid of them until those guarantees are paid off. The longer the deal they sign, the larger the signing bonus and windfall payday they receive. They are not innocent victims of long term contracts that are one sided. It simply isn't true.