Andrew Luck, the Colts and the CBA
Andrew Luck has signed the richest contract in the history of the NFL.
Yesterday Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay broke the news that the team had re-signed Luck through the 2021 season. Later, Adam Schefter at ESPN reported the details: six years, $139 million, $87 million guaranteed. Both figures set records for NFL compensation.
Here are three thoughts on what it means for Luck, the Colts and the rest of the league.
Three thoughts on the Andrew Luck deal
1. Andrew Luck must win a Super Bowl to justify it
Let’s get the obvious question out of the way first: did the Colts overpay for their franchise quarterback? Considering how much other elite QBs are making, the answer has to be yes. Andrew Luck is now earning more per year than Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton and far more than Tom Brady. He’s going to need to prove that he’s worth more than all of those guys, and there’s only one way to do it.
Joe Flacco already won his Super Bowl to earn his monstrosity of a deal. Now Andrew Luck needs to follow through and win a ring of his own, otherwise the contract will go down as a bust. Period.
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2. Indy needs to find him more help
That being said, no one man can win a championship on his own and so far the Colts have done a dismal job of building a contender around Luck.
Luck’s offensive line has gotten him sacked 115 times over four years, and that number is low thanks to the games he missed last season. The beating that Luck took in 2015 should serve as a warning to Indy that improving pass protection is vital for his longevity.
Bringing in rookies Le’Raven Clark, Ryan Kelly, Austin Blythe, Adam Redmond and Joe Haeg will help turn the offensive line around. In theory. In reality, rookie linemen these days have a tough time adjusting to pro-style offenses and some growing pains are in store for that unit, which will likely mean pains of a different kind for Luck.
Ryan Grigson has to spend significant resources on getting the front five right, or else this big investment will go down the tubes.
Finding another weapon aside from T.Y. Hilton would not hurt, either.
3. The current CBA is untenable
Luck’s $87 million guaranteed blew the previous NFL record set by Ben Roethlisberger ($64 million) out of the water. The trouble is that’s about the same guaranteed figure that a backup point guard or utility infielder can make.
Revenue for the NFL is increasing every year and the salary cap is ballooning along with it. Even though their league is out-earning the MLB and NBA by leaps and bounds, NFL players are still making a pittance compared to their counterparts in other sports.
We’re now about half-way through the current CBA which was signed in 2011 and all signs seem to indicate we are heading for an all-time ugly negotiation next time.
Concussions, CBD and marketing are all sure to play a part. At the end of the day, players know they got a gruesome deal last time and are not earning their fair share of the proceeds. A general redistribution of wealth and changes to terms for guaranteed money will have to be included or else the final year of Luck’s new deal may be wasted on a season-long lockout.
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