Tough deal talking: Troubled rookie WR Justin Blackmon gets Jacksonville Jaguars to negotiations table
The Jacksonville Jaguars and rookie wide receiver Justin Blackmon have started deal talks but given the player has been through some troubles recently, reaching an agreement to terms on the prospective contract is not going to be an easy
task before both parties.
Justin, who is seen to be a very talented receiver with potential to top the National Football League (NFL)’s receivers’ chart, was arrested on driving under the influence (DUI) charge just after arrival in Jacksonville off the 2012 draft.
He still faces the court and might be the league office over the charge.
While the Jaguars have backed him at the time of crisis, they are reportedly seeking some protection against his signing. The option the managers are seeking to ploy is the offset language, which is not an easy choice to negotiate for
the player.
It remains a question whether the player will be able to bargain on the matter. In reality, he is not in the position to do so. A section of media reported a couple of days ago that the Jaguars are going to made the offset language part
of the rookie’s contract, whether he likes it or not.
Although the player has sworn not to commit the same mistake again in the future and probably quit drinking, the problem is that he has already done it twice in the past. He was also arrested under the same charge during his college league
stint but apparently the league office and team managers have offered to forget and forgive that.
Justin still faces the court. He has entered a not-guilty plea and the final verdict should come after the formal hearing of the case starts. Under the circumstances, some commentators believe the player is lucky to get the team’s support
at the time of need. This could have proven disastrous to his pro career prospects otherwise.
Apart from the offset language there is no way that the player will be handed down an awfully cheap contract.
Some analysts see it a four-year, $18.5 million deal; all four years fully guaranteed.
In case he is released before expiry of the prospective deal and he finds another team in the league, the Jaguars will have the financial protection.
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