Gannon Gone If He Refuses Pay Cut

[bgrn]

A league source tells us that, despite recent proclamations that Rich Gannon remains the starting quarterback in Oakland, the Raiders will indeed release him if he refuses to significantly reduce his $7 million salary.



And even if Gannon takes a sufficient pay cut, the source says that the Raiders will continue to take a wait-and-see approach regarding Gannon's fitness to remain a viable NFL quarterback, given concerns regarding his age and a shoulder he injured in 2003.



But if Gannon swallows a big chunk of his salary and otherwise shows he can still play, the Raiders will keep both Gannon and Collins on the roster in 2004. If, after all, the Raiders can keep Gannon and Collins for roughly the same total salary required to have Gannon only, it's a no-brainer to go with both of them.



The source also agreed with our assessment that the decision to hang onto Gannon in the short term is influenced in large part by the desire of the Raiders to keep Gannon from joining Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen in Tampa. But the reality is that the Raiders don't have to wait until late August or early September to dump Gannon in order to effectively keep him out of the Bucs' clutches. Given cap issues in Tampa -- including a stiff hit resulting from the potential release of Brad Johnson -- the Bucs simply might not be able to do the math to get Gannon on the squad while still signing their draft picks.



Also, don't count on Gannon's agent, Tom Condon, provoking a release by flat-out refusing to take a pay cut. The general consensus among the agent community is that Kerry Collins' agent, David Dunn, acted prematurely by forcing the Giants' hand without have a damn good idea as to what the market for Collins would otherwise be.



So Condon likely won't draw any lines in the sand until he knows that he can get more elsewhere than the Raiders are willing to pay. Though Gannon might actually prefer to bolt for less money with another team, these agent types continue to be driven by a desire to maximize their fees, and the fees only get maximized if the player is getting the highest possible salary.



Look, then, for this issue to go somewhat slowly, with impasse being reached (if at all) in early July.


http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[CORaiderFanJohn]

Makes sense to me. The Raiders have told him that he is the starter they just hadn;t finished the statement - if he takes a paycut. If the Raiders wait until after Mid June Gannon will have no where to go and will not see anywhere near $3.5 million. The longer the Raiders wait the more control they will have over Gannon.

[Whips02]

gannon will most likely restructure because there is no garantee he can flee to tampa. they have cap issues and wont be able to sign him what he wants. i see gannon taking the pay cut, and staying in oakland for about 1 more year.

[RoyalRaider]

I agree with you. If Gannon has any sense,there is a better chance for him to win a ring in Oakland right now than in Tampa. Time to suck it up,Rich, and take one for the team!

[Raidahs7]

he'll restructure with the money coming up front in signing bonus money than actual salary........

[coloradoraider]

The Raiders have all the leverage in this situation. Gannon cannot go to another team as the starter and make anywhere close to 7 million. I know he has said he is unwilling to take a pay cut, but he will rethink this position if he and his agent understand the current market.

[83Raiders]

Gannon has the leverage because if they cut him, the Raiders eat almost $6 Mil on next years cap.

[3 Mile Lyle]

THe best situation for both Gannon and the Raiders is for him to defer some money or take a bit of a pay cut. Keeps the Raiders cap in a good situation for next year and Gannon would have a hard time finding a starting job for the same salary.

[HollandRobbie]

I would say cut him there is no way Rich is going to say. Please Al give me less so i can sit and watch someone else take my job. That is not the Gannon i wil remember as one of the best SB QB's in the last 15 years