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With the NFL offseason comes some angst, some withdrawals and the ever-strong frustration that’s born mostly from complete lack of understanding.
The focused-upon aspect of the business side of New York Giants football is just about in the past months: Free Agency, the NFL Draft, and Team/Player negotiations that lead to a contract or a departure. It’s not what the fans thought (from the comfort of their favorite chair) should transpire, but eventually they grow to see the hows and whys – even if it takes actually seeing how things play out for them to have clarity.
We’re in an odd part of the offseason where the players and coaches focus on getting back to game day shape, acclimating with all things football and preparing for that common goal that is the basis for the game itself. The general managers, however, are still shifting, buying and building. A large part of the “shifting” includes using National Football League Waivers: a system by which a team makes a player contract or NFL rights available to all other teams.
Taking a deeper look into waivers – all 32 teams utilize them as they own the right to release a certain player without actually, say, cutting him. Once a team cuts a player, they cut every tie and said player is immediately a free agent to the rest of the league. With waivers, players who do not have a recognized minimum amount of experience (four years) playing in the league aren’t “cut”, but instead placed on the league's “waiver wire”. This waiver wire allows the other 31 NFL teams to claim (or waive) the right to the released player and to then secure him. Players with more than four years/ experience are considered “vested” and non-eligible.
Bear in mind here that these waived players must clear the NFL waiver wire before becoming a free agent. Once a player is placed on waivers, the other 31 teams have a 10-day period to place that claim on him. The team with the highest slot in the waiver order is then granted that player. If no team makes an assertion, that player then becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team. The teams’ waiver order is determined by the previous season's final standings – exactly like the NFL Draft (without the trade ability). Multiple teams can stake an interest in a waived player, but the higher-ranked team on the wire will get their man. Teams have ten days to do so – up until the start of July through December (considered in-season). Then, that time frame changes to just one day – 24 hours.
Here are some important side notes:
- If a player is claimed and then released from his new team, he must re-enter the waiver wire and pretty much begin the process all over again.
- Players with four or more seasons of league experience immediately become free agents if released from a team (the non-eligible part).
- A player who is on an NFL team's 53-man game roster, injured reserve list (IR) or physically unable to perform list (PUP) for at least six regular-season games qualifies for a season's worth of league experience. Interesting one.
- Players with more than four years’ experience are considered vested veterans – even midway through the season, and are not subject to the waiver process at that time (see: non-eligible). It’s just a “cut” at that point.
- Waiver claims are permanent.
- NFL teams are prohibited from contacting waived players until the player has been released by their team and after passing waivers.
Many teams utilize waivers to get players onto Injured Reserve without having to waste a valuable roster spot at critical times. What recent events have shown is that there is a degree of risk in doing so with young, talented players. Teams are basically showing their hand, so to speak, and hoping no one has better cards (or a spiteful plan).
What’s that old adage? “Without some risk there comes no reward”. Indeed.
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Jen,
Are you sure about the 10-day/24-hour and July-December thing?
When Ballard was cut last week, one day later at exactly 4 PM, all the beat writers were tweeing to the effect of “well, Ballard’s here, he must have cleared”
Also, there’s an important point not discussed here: you don’t have to waive an injured non-vested player in season to get them on IR. Had they done this 75 days later, he’d have gone straight to IR (and they for dam sure knew this and thus were totally fine losing him).
So they’re acting disappointed to make Ballard feel better ?
No, they’re acting disappointed because they don’t want the locker room to think they’re the team that cuts guys or doesn’t resign guys who get hurt.
I think it’s pretty clear that when they consider your chances of coming back 100% are slim, they won’t fight for you (Smith, Goff off the top of my head). And when they think a player can come back, they will offer fair deals (Kiwanuka, Thomas).
Those deals (or non deals) show the locker room what the staff position is, no need for PR declarations.
See below.
For a more detailed, ummm, reading…check that last paragraph for 24 hour-10-Day portion/clarification.
ARTICLE XXII
WAIVER SYSTEM
Section 1. Release:
(a) Whenever a player who has finished the season in which his fourth year of credited service has been earned under the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Plan is placed on waivers between February 1 and the trading deadline, his contract will be considered terminated and the player will be completely free at any time thereafter to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with such player, without penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period. If the waivers occur after that time, the player’s Player Contract will be subject to the waiver system and may be awarded to a claiming Club. However, if such player is claimed and awarded, he shall have the option to declare himself an Unrestricted Free Agent at the end of the League Year in question if he has a no-trade clause in his Player Contract. If such player does not have a no-trade clause and the Player Contract being awarded through waivers covers more than one additional season, the player shall have the right to declare himself an Unrestricted Free Agent as set forth above at the end of the League Year following the League Year in which he is waived and awarded.
(b) Whenever a player who has finished less than the season in which his fourth year of credited service has been earned under the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Plan is placed on waivers, the player’s Player Contract will be subject to the waiver system and may be awarded to a claiming Club.
Section 2. Contact: Coaches or any other persons connected with another NFL Club are prohibited from contacting any player placed on waivers until such time as the player is released by the waiving Club.
Section 3. Ineligibility: Any NFL player who is declared ineligible to compete in a pre-season, regular season or post-season game because of a breach by any NFL Club by whom he is employed of waiver procedures and regulations, or any other provision of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws, will be paid the salary or other compensation which he would have received if he had not been declared ineligible, which, in any event, will be a minimum of one week’s salary and, when applicable, expense payments.
Section 4. Notice of Termination: The Notice of Termination form attached hereto as Appendix G will be used by all Clubs. If possible, the Notice of Termination will be personally delivered to the player prior to his departure from the team. If the Notice of Termination has not been personally delivered to the player prior to his departure from the team, the Notice of Termination will be sent to him by certified mail at his last address on file with the Club.
***Waiver system: The procedure by which a player’s contract or NFL rights are made available by his current team to other teams in the league. During the procedure, the 31 other teams either file a claim to obtain the player or waive the opportunity to do so, thus the term waiver. The claiming period is typically ten days during the off-season, but from early July through December, it lasts only 24 hours. If a player is claimed by two or more teams in this period, priority is based on the inverse won-lost standing of the teams. The team with the worst record has priority. If no team selects the player, he’s free to sign with any team, including his previous employer. If no one signs him, he is unemployed; technically fired from the NFL.
I guess that’s the text. But Ballard was clearly claimed the day after he was waived. Maybe the timeframe has changed…
I suspect they know more about the youngster they drafted than is let on.
However, announcing he’s the JPP of tight ends is not terribly subtle.
I still liked Ballard as a player. And he was going to get better as a blocker.
So now we are “STUCK” with two men and a baby. (Bennett Pascoe Robinson)
I suspect they will (baring injury) be quite enough.
As far as the waiver wire goes let me get this straight
A Player is waived – each team in waiver order can make a claim and the team highest on the list gets the player , I get that . But does each team have to waive the right to claim that player before it goes to the next team on the list ?
I ask because can a team higher on the list make a claim within the 10 days
AFTER a team has claimed him ? For example could the Bengals say have claimed Ballard within the 10 day period knowing if they dont that the Patriots would get him ?
I agree that here is more to this Ballard story than has been let on especially as far as the talent left on the team goes . I dont believe the Giants would have exposed Ballard to the waiver wire if there was not any viable backup options
Think of it as passing on a draft player– if ya pass on him, any team next in line can claim/draft him. There’s no “go around again”s. 30 teams passed on Ballard’s rights UNTIL it was the Pats’ turn…
Look, Jerry Reese knows we have Osi Umeniyora for 2012 only, barring something unlikely occurring. He knows he has a quarterback at the top of his game who is headed for the Hall of Fame. He knows he has a great defense and he knows he has better skill players than he has ever had since his arrival on the scene.
With this team they HAVE to be in a WIN NOW mode. Anything less would be dumb, and no one has ever accused Reese of being that.
Ballard was not going to contribute in 2012. Ballard was not going to be allowed to take up a spot on the 53 man roster. Tight ends are just not that critical as pass receivers in the Giants’ current game approach. In Bennett and Hopkins they know they have two tight ends who are excellent blockers. They have “the JPP of tight ends” in Robinson for the future. They have Beckum (20 pounds heavier and therefore much more capable of sealing an edge) and Pascoe (a much better blocker than some here are willing to admit….he’s no Bennett but he’s not a slouch either).
So Ballard comes back (at perhaps less than 100%) in 2013. There stands Robinson ready to get some snaps after a year of being coached up by Pope as his capstone to a great career. There, quite possibly, stands Bennett with a contract and having proven that in a system where he gets a chance (and where the quarterback has no strong preference for his best friend on the team and therefore will look Bennett’s way when he’s open) he can shine. There stands a new, shiny, draft pick from April 2013. There, perhaps, stands Beckum, who we know can be an effective receiver and may have learned to block at least adequately. Could Jake play his way into an important role among that competition? Perhaps. But there would have been no certainty.
So Reese wants to get him on IR, but is willing to take the small risk of losing him in the process. When do you do it? Really early when most teams feel they have what they want, or later, when injuries and other factors make a number of teams realize that they don’t have a lot at the position? I’d argue the earlier waiver minimizes the chances of someone grabbing your player. I’m sure the Giants were genuinely surprised he didn’t make it through waivers, but I’m also sure Jerry Reese was willing to take that small chance of losing Ballard because he likes what he has for this season and going forward. Remember, he already knows about possible targets in the next draft. I’ll tell you right now, there is a kid at Stanford, Zack Erst, who will probably be available in round 3, who will be better than Jake Ballard will ever be. I’m sure there are others, and Reese already knows about all of them.
The Patriots may have done this just to screw with the Giants, and the Giants may be genuinely unhappy about the outcome, but there is WAY too much being made of this. I got hot-and-bothered about Reese allowing Boss to walk last season, but that was when it looked like there was NOTHING behind him. Ballard stepped up. Now we have Bennett, Hopkins, Beckum and Pascoe plus a few others ready to take on the position. There’s no need to panic or question Reese’s decision making.
This was actually supposed to be less about the Ballard thing and more about explaining waivers, lol. What isn’t mentioned here is the 90-player limit on going into camp. Players are scattering now as they break for less than 6 weeks before training camp opens…why NOT do this before they break and while everyone is around and in a structured football setting (mini-camp) to get those valuable 90 players in camp—> Ballard not utilizing one of those spots.
FF55,
For all the reasons you mentioned, I think Reese was actually hoping he’d be claimed. Throw in the cap space that can now be used to sign a guy midseason to a long term deal, say a Hakeem Nicks, and you got yourself a BID.
As Jen mentioned above this post, they’ve got 90 guys now. It used to be 80 in prior years. Reese has plenty of camp fodder to play with that he doesn’t need to risk losing players he truly wants to keep around.
I must say Jen, you and Dan have got to be my favorite writers on this site. Excellent writing, with a narrative style and a not-so-matter-of-fact way of bringing facts. Dan, you’re great as well… most of the time, I try hard not to log on just to rip apart the writers. But you two, in particular, do a great job.
Thank you. :) It’s always good to hear positive feedback once in a while– especially for me as I always write from my heart (then I gotta go back and edit!). Feel free to log in more and add your comment, though…keeps this place interesting!
First off Happy Father’s Day to all of you fathers. Now Homer for 55 years obviously your eyes aren’t as good as they once were when you were in your prime. But I’ve watched every Giants game last year and wasn’t impressed by any of of linebackers not named Jaquan Williams. First off they are constantly out of position and get ran through past whatever take horrible angles just dont have a natural feeling for the position. You know when you choose backers in the 5th round or later every year that’s what your going to get. None of these guys are sniffing the probowl and the fact that you say we have one of the best line backing cores in football is a joke. Our best linebacker was cut from Atlanta because he lost his starting role on his team. I like the speed we have at the linebacker position and the promise of Williams and Rivers. But seriously we have had safetys and Corners lead our team in tackles how the heck do you have the nerve to say we have one of the best units in football. We have unproven talent and I’m saying alot when I say talent. Homer for 55 years all you see Blue which isn’t bad but you want to see a real line backing unit watch The Bears watch SanFran Pittsburgh The Texans watch how those boys fly all over the filed hit like a brick and cover everything over the middle. Those are Top LB units and until we sure up our Middle we won’t be a top Defense in the league. We can’t expect our Dline to bail us out every game. What happens when they don’t get to the Qb we get exposed!!!!
So you noticed that about the linebackers Rosey? LOL
Tracy could be the best SAM on the team. But he can also be an excellent DE.
He’ll be useful of special teams too. I have been shown that the Giants do not really treasure this position. And I understand the offensive climate dictates that more attention be paid to the development of defensive line and defensive backs. However, the Giants must not ignore the requirement for strong line backing. And that starts with the middle.
I respectfully submit and have maintained over the years that the only thing standing between the Giants having a number one defensive unit is the drafting of a blue chip MIKE backer. I stand by that statement. I also stand by the fact that this player is not yet on the team.
(Not sure that Rivers is cut for MIKE) We’ll all know when that player arrives.
If you think Kiwi didn’t have a great season you’re outta your mind. And just in case you forgot, it was my eyes that first said I liked the idea of Williams becoming the best linebacker we’ve had since Armstead and possibly giving us the speed off the edge that would take the defense to another level. I even said I wasn’t sure Boley could hold him off through the end of his contract.
But, Boley did have a very good season last year and Keith Rivers is almost certainly talented enough to start on just about any team in the NFL. The only question with him is whether he can stay healthy, and whether he can get his head back into it, and the Giants will certainly give him that chance.
The big issue is with the MIKE position. Is there someone who can be dominant? There’s no question that they have people who can get the job done. We do have Blackburn, who looked perfectly good last season (good enough to win the Lombardi) and he isn’t even likely to win the position (or keep it throughout the season). Among Herzlich, Boley, Mausua and Blackburn we should have more than enough.
We cannot have Pro Bowlers at every position. With the talent surrounding our MIKE (on both sides, in front of him, and behind him, anyone among the choices the coaches will have should be fine).
I stand by my statement. The 2012 Giants’ defense, barring serious injuries, will be the best seen in the NFL since the 2000 Ravens. We’ll see, won’t we?
I liked Ballard as a player good hands made that amazing catch against the Pats in the best game of the season in my eyes; but let’s be clear dude just had Microfracture surgery on his knee who knows what we would have gotten back next year. I’m very very interested in the kid from Cincy the fact that he’s 6’4 250 and runs a 4.5 loves to block really loves to block he’s our future at the spot hopefully because with measurables like that gets me all excited for Madden lol… But if Reese really wanted the kid we have other players that could have gotten dropped. Clint Sintim comes to mind but just like one of you said I believe the anger is to make the fans and Ballard feel better about being waived. He got a ring and will be dropped next year by the Pats who just wanted to give the Giants a nice middle finger to you guys for ending Bellichicks chance of winning a non tainted Bowl…
The old adage still stands, no GM of any account will allow a integral player to walk or otherwise move unless he knows for a fact that the replacement for that player is either on board, or will be shortly. It’s just a fact of life.
And only the best organizations and GM’s live by it. BOOK IT!!!!!!!
Preach!
Very often success in any team sporting endeavor depends on the situation you find yourself in. Look at the past history of players who left the Giants. How did they do?
Gibril Wilson
Kawika Mitchell
Steve Smith
Kevin Boss
David Carr
Derrick Ward
Cofield is doing very well. Ryan Grant did fine with the Pack. And one could argue that Shockey did OK with the Saints.
I understand why players leave. *cough* money *cough* And that’s not a problem. But the odds of playing at the same level are not in your favor.
Your right you can’t have pro bowlers at all positions but we don’t have any pro bowl linebackers! How did Kiwi Play great he played well and will most likely play alot better this year but at the end of the day he’s a defensive end learning to play linebacker. The fact that you throw out that Rivers could start on any NFL team doesn’t hold weight when he was traded for a 5th round pick never played a whole season and if he doesn’t do anything with us he will be considered a bust! We have bodies with promise but those Ravens had Pro Bowlers at all three levels Secondary Lineman and Beast Backers we aren’t that deep because we don’t waste all our Draft Picks on defense. What we can be this year is the most complete NFL team offensively and defensively. I just want to be real and have realistic goals for 2012…