PHILADELPHIA — The latest Sunday Ticket lawsuit, which could force the NFL to pay out billions of dollars if the appeals process is concluded, is not the sort of thing the average NFL fan is likely to care much about, especially with the 2024 season looming.
The lawsuit and the current offseason edition of “Hard Knocks,” which has followed the New York Giants and their decision to trade former franchise face Saquon Barkley to the division-rival Eagles, have been gaining attention over the past week.
Giants GM Joe Sean is often portrayed poorly, especially when compared to highly regarded Eagles GM Howie Roseman.
Offensive lineman Justin Pugh, a first-round draft pick of the Giants in 2013, grew up an Eagles fan in Holland, Pa., and has been one of the most astute commentators on the program, illustrating the obvious but often ignored sentiment that not all situations are created equal in the NFL.
“It's unfair to compare the Giants and Eagles' spending habits,” Pugh wrote on X.com.
The Giants' Troubles
It's unfair to compare @Giants Spending vs. @EaglesThe Eagles are taking more risk by putting up cash up front and spreading out the signing bonuses. They got these players and it worked out well, but…
This Sunday Ticket lawsuit could have a negative impact on…
— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) July 3, 2024
The veteran, who returned for his 11th NFL season on an emergency contract with the Giants last season, has ignored both teams' status when it comes to competitiveness in 2024 and gone straight for the Sunday Ticket and the front-office philosophy tied to owner Jeffrey Lurie and the Mara family.
“The Eagles are taking on more risk with the cash up front and the spreading out of signing bonuses,” Pugh correctly explained. “They've acquired those players and it's worked out well for them… but this Sunday Ticket lawsuit could have a negative impact on the salary cap, which would hurt high-spending teams like the Eagles and Browns.”
Pugh is right again in that the Eagles are relying on an enterprising owner's willingness to take financial risks in an environment where the NFL's financial strength seems stronger than ever.
The Giants and most other teams have been more conservative, acknowledging the possibility of unforeseen circumstances, such as the short-term impact on the cap from COVID-19, and saying future litigation settlements could amount to well over $10 billion if nothing changes.
“[The Eagles] “A lot of it is dependent on the cap increasing every year,” Pugh said. “We'll just have to wait and see what happens.”
But even if it does take a $10 billion-plus hit down the road, it's likely to be short-term for the league, and Lurie and the Eagles appear to have the upper hand when it comes to decision-making.
The much-discussed decision to sign Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract may not work from a football standpoint. Financially, it won't matter if Barkley contributes very little.
“They're avoiding the accounting side of things. [by] “You add on extra years,” Pugh astutely noted. “When you get to a year where the cap hit is bigger, you renegotiate and add on extra years. It's a great strategy, honestly. It requires a big infusion of cash at the beginning, and the owners have to approve it.”
Meanwhile, Pugh made an intriguing statement when he explained that he could have signed with the Eagles last season as a short-term replacement for Cam Jurgens, who missed the first five games of the season with a foot injury.
“I grew up an Eagles fan,” Pugh said before pledging his allegiance to the team that drafted him. “I wish they'd lose every game. The thing is, I'm a good business guy. [Roseman] It's great. I put my body on the line for the Giants last year, and if I have the chance I'll do it again this year.
“I could have signed with the Eagles last year. [chose] They didn't, and they were 7-0 then too.”
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