Piff Perkins
Veteran
Linderbaum is gone. Eric has done a lot of bad extensions, Ozzie too, but this won't be one of them. The main problem with the 5th year option on guards and centers is that the pay is the same. Centers have always been paid less than guards. Why the 5th year and I believe the franchise tag too are set up like that, are beyond me.
I also heard some GMs have been warning Eric to not pay Linderbaum 20m+. These owners and GMs all collude when it comes to drafting and signing players. They're not paying him what he wants and I doubt anyone else pays him over 20m in FA. 20m, maybe, over that, not likely.
Why does the 5th year matter if it's a player you expect to sign to a long term deal though? Once they're signed you can lower the cap hit.
Detroit fans have decided our offseason hinges entirely on getting Linderbaum but I just don't see the point. He's really good but if he really wants the numbers that are being thrown out....hell no. There are multiple centers available in FA (McGovern from the Bills, Mays from the Panthers, etc) and a couple centers in the draft who should go in the 2nd/3rd round.