SUMMARY: In the days leading up to his release, 13-year veteran Brad Hopkins was given an opportunity to remain with the team. The Titans asked him to play for $770,000 - the minimum for a player of his experience. He was scheduled to earn a base salary of $4.25 million in 2006, along with a $1.5 million roster bonus. "I can't be starting left tackle having done it for going into my 14th year for the minimum (salary). That is not an option," Hopkins said. "I think they understood that. You say 'significant pay cut,' but a $5 million pay cut is a bit much, I think. I couldn't weather that storm. I wasn't getting paid fair market value for what I do. Hey, they did what they had to do."
What do you think about this article? Post your comments below.
What do you think about this article? Post your comments below.
Regardless of what you think of Hopkins, this was a slap in the face.
TitanJeff said:
Amen. This isnt going to help the growing player perception that Reese is ruthless.
I wouldn't mind being slapped in the face with $770,000 at the end of my career.
But if you had a chance of making more somewhere else wouldn't you rather do that?
Would simply cutting him without an offer have been less of a slap in the face?TitanJeff said:
Hopkins is worth more than the vet min, TJ is right, it is a slap in the face and could hurt Reese's image and attempts at signing FAs in the future
To me, yes. It's about perceptions.Brian said:
Hopkins understands the Titans are at a place where the team has cap issues and they need to rebuild the OL with talent they drafted last year. I don't see why you can't thank him for his play and wish him the best without throwing out an offer with is insulting and they know he'd never accept.
I think the Titans have had some PR blunders lately concerning how they handle some of the veterans on the team.
I agree. Hopkins was a good player, and put in a lot for this team. I'd put a little blame on him if it was a reasonable offer, but damn, not even 1 million? That's rough...
Some players would be willing to take that big paycut if the alternative is being forced out of the league. And it's not like the Titans can afford to offer much.
I don't blame Hopkins for declining the offer, but I don't really see it as a slap in the face.
I don't blame Hopkins for declining the offer, but I don't really see it as a slap in the face.
When all is said and done he still might be re-signed. It depends on what kind of offers he gets elsewhere.
What the average salary is for a starting left tackle in the NFL?Starkiller said:
JMB54 said:
When was the last time that happened? They always say that, but rarely does a player come back once he's cut. If the Titans really wanted him, they'd have renogiated his deal.
Then why bother making any offer at all to someone you plan to use as a backup in a one-year deal?Starkiller said:
it's more like they took a dump on him. Business is business. That's just what I'm telling myself.Starkiller said:
I don't think they dumped on him. Obviously they knew Roos was the better player and that Hopkins was only going to be a backup so they offerred wqhat they thought he was worth to them. Certainly Hopkins could be worth more to another team so good for him. However, there is no reason the team should carry dead weight at the expense of the rest of the team just so they don't hurt a guys feelings. How many millions has Hopkins made from his 13 years with the organization? To think they should have offerred an few extra mill a year just to be nice is moronic.
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