3/8 in Jet History: Jets Sign First Unrestricted Free Agent
Mar 8, 2016 6:59:28 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Mar 8, 2016 6:59:28 GMT -5
March 8, 1993
The Jets signed future Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott. Lott was the first true unrestricted free agent to be signed by the team.
Free Agency in some for had existed in the NFL all the way back to the 1940s, however it always involved some form of restriction on the players ability to negotiate their best deal with other teams. For years it was an unwritten agreement among the owners that they would not poach each others players. In 1962, RB RC Owens of the 49ers became the first NFL player to change teams as a free agent as he left the 49ers to join the Baltimore Colts. This move prompted Pete Rozelle to institute the Rozelle Rule, where the commissioner would determine appropriate compensation for a team losing a free agent. That compensation was generally significant enough to greatly restrict player movement.
In 1976, the Rozelle rule was struck down in court, so the league instituted Plan B Free Agency. This gave teams the right to protect 37 players, with the right of first refusal. If the team did not match a player's offer, they would still receive draft pick compensation. It was not until 1992, when a group of 8 players sued the NFL in the Freeman McNeil vs NFL case. In September, 1992, a judge ruled in the players favor that the Plan B system was unconstitutional. The players prevailed on three of four counts. The court ruled that Plan B had a "harmful effect" on competition, that Plan B was too restrictive, and that the players suffered economic injury as a result.
And so, after the 1992 season ended, any player whose contract expired became an unrestricted free agent. The Jets immediately signed Lott, and later in the day, also 3/8/93, they acquired DL Leonard Marshall, formerly of the Giants. But the big prize in free agency was Reggie White and the Jets went after him aggressively. Even Lott tried to recruit White to the Jets, however White did not feel the Jets, coming off of a 4-12 season, were a team ready to compete for a Championship, so he chose the GB Packers instead.
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Marshall would play just one season for the Jets before ending his career in Washington. As for Lott, he played two seasons with the Jets, adding 3 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles to his HOF resume, before retiring and proceeding to Canton several years later.
The Jets signed future Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott. Lott was the first true unrestricted free agent to be signed by the team.
Free Agency in some for had existed in the NFL all the way back to the 1940s, however it always involved some form of restriction on the players ability to negotiate their best deal with other teams. For years it was an unwritten agreement among the owners that they would not poach each others players. In 1962, RB RC Owens of the 49ers became the first NFL player to change teams as a free agent as he left the 49ers to join the Baltimore Colts. This move prompted Pete Rozelle to institute the Rozelle Rule, where the commissioner would determine appropriate compensation for a team losing a free agent. That compensation was generally significant enough to greatly restrict player movement.
In 1976, the Rozelle rule was struck down in court, so the league instituted Plan B Free Agency. This gave teams the right to protect 37 players, with the right of first refusal. If the team did not match a player's offer, they would still receive draft pick compensation. It was not until 1992, when a group of 8 players sued the NFL in the Freeman McNeil vs NFL case. In September, 1992, a judge ruled in the players favor that the Plan B system was unconstitutional. The players prevailed on three of four counts. The court ruled that Plan B had a "harmful effect" on competition, that Plan B was too restrictive, and that the players suffered economic injury as a result.
And so, after the 1992 season ended, any player whose contract expired became an unrestricted free agent. The Jets immediately signed Lott, and later in the day, also 3/8/93, they acquired DL Leonard Marshall, formerly of the Giants. But the big prize in free agency was Reggie White and the Jets went after him aggressively. Even Lott tried to recruit White to the Jets, however White did not feel the Jets, coming off of a 4-12 season, were a team ready to compete for a Championship, so he chose the GB Packers instead.
Marshall would play just one season for the Jets before ending his career in Washington. As for Lott, he played two seasons with the Jets, adding 3 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles to his HOF resume, before retiring and proceeding to Canton several years later.
