Rams News

McNeil rejects Rams offer, may forgo four games

08/21/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

The stage was set for Ryan McNeil to grouse and grumble about the travesty of his franchise player designation . . . then reluctantly agree to play for the $3.2 million he's entitled to as a ``franchise'' cornerback in 1998.
But like a disguised coverage, the Rams cornerback came up with a different defense for his contract holdout. McNeil says he's prepared to forfeit a $188,000 game check by not accepting the franchise offer of $3.2 million today.
In fact, his agent -- Brian Ransom -- says McNeil is ready to forgo checks for the first four games of the 1998 regular season, which would total $752,000, before agreeing to play at the franchise player rate.
Ransom pointed out that in using that tactic, McNeil would make about $2.5 million -- doubling his '97 salary -- while reducing the risk of injury by missing all four preseason games and four of the Rams' 16 regular-season games. And he would still have 12 games to showcase his talents after the '98 season, in case he gets a crack at free agency.
If that sounds absurd, welcome to the business of sports in the '90s.
Before a press conference at the Harley Hotel in Earth City, McNeil's publicist handed out brochures to the media describing McNeil as `a destined Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer.''
In his opening comments, McNeil described himself thusly: ``You can't wish to have a 6-2, 195-pound playmaking cornerback in this league. That doesn't happen. We don't grow on trees. There's only a few of us.''
No shortage of confidence here. But behind the hype and the posturing is a simple dispute over value. The Rams feel McNeil is in the James Hasty/Antonio Langham range of cornerback -- at $3 million to $3.4 million a year. McNeil and Ransom feel he is more in the Doug Evans range of cornerback -- $4 million to $5 million a year.
And one fact is indisputable: Today marks a milestone in the negotiating landscape because of a two-game exemption rule for players who are late to report. After tonight's preseason game with Dallas, any two-game exemption would include the Rams' regular-season opener against New Orleans.
If the Rams asked for and got an exemption from the NFL, they could then withhold McNeil's paycheck for the New Orleans game. And with each week that passed, they could withhold another paycheck. NFL player's salaries are paid out over a 17-week period beginning with the start of the regular season, so each week that McNeil misses a game check, he's out $188,000.
But the larger issue, McNeil and Ransom said Thursday, is that the Rams are using the franchise player designation to prevent McNeil from reaping his fair market value.
``The question is why isn't Ryan McNeil being compensated at a level that's commensurate with his peers and his level of play and productivity?'' Ransom said. ``Until he's able to do that, he will remain unsigned, and not be a part of the organization.''
McNeil wouldn't rule out sitting out the entire season as Sean Gilbert did in 1997 after refusing to play at the franchise player level.
``I've always treated this game as a business,'' McNeil said. ``And that's from Day One that I stepped into this football league.''
If the Rams want McNeil in the blue and gold any time soon, they're going to have to pay the going rate.
``Just as the city of St. Louis had to pay to get the Rams here, because they wanted a team,'' McNeil said. ``It's no different with a player.''

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