Mueller at 1.6? I would offer him a bit more than that.

This whole thing is worrisome, if only because I don’t see any point in low-balling your RFAs on short term contracts when we are so far below the cap. It just doesnt make sense to me.

More 2-year proposals? Maybe the Avs are just really into the whole 2012 end-of-the-world thing?

Presuming that Campbell is being responsible in sourcing his reporting when speaking of the salaries being offered Stewie & Ferris, it is a pretty damned sad set of circumstances that a guy at THN who rarely writes about the Avs has superior sources to those enjoyed by the Denver Post beatwriter or anybody at the Post.

fear is starting to creep into my brain.

can we get them under contract already?

this feels almost like arbitration hearings.

We know how well those go when you’re facing PL on the other end of the table.

While stalling negotiations and low-balling your players makes a certain sense from a business perspective—controlling overhead or whatever—does it make sense from a team-building perspective? I mean, yeah, these guys are supposed to be professionals and bidness is bidness, etc., but are you really going to get the best work out of your employee if they are pissed at you and your negotiating tactics?

You don’t have to pay the top end of the wage bracket to keep morale up, but bullshit tactics like making the player sweat until the last minute before camp to throw a low-end contract in front of them sucks. I guess the Avs can take the high road: “We made them an offer. Player X is sitting out of camp because it must be all about the money for them.” What they aren’t telling you is that management has made no effort whatsoever at negotiating all summer long when there was time to get it done.

Of course, I don’t know if the above is the actual story. But all the reports say that the ball is in management’s court and they aren’t moving with it, and I can’t think of other explanations. Even with the Kroenke football thing, and even if there is cost uncertainty around the Pepsi Center because of that, Sherm knows the team has to spend some money before the season. He could at least be getting these done.

Unless, of course, he’s taken a summer job touring with Cirque du Soleil or something and just hasn’t had the time for pesky little things like this.

Greg Sherman’s summer job?

Current payroll = $38.41 M (Capgeek)
+ Ferris @ $1.6 M
+ Stewart @ $3 M
-———————————————————————————
$ 43.01 M

Cap Floor = $43.4

1. Stewie has only had one good season, this last one… let him earn the big bucks when he proves he is not a 1 season wonder.

2. Mueller and his concussions are also worrysome.

I’m not saying we should NOT resign them. I’m saying, giving them a 5 year, 20 million deal is out of the question. A 2 year deal with a raise is smart… let them prove they are worth it, or if they are the next Marek Svatos.

Oh yes… I went there