Patrick Mahomes’ agent writes essay titled ‘How to win NFL free agency’
NFL free agency was its usual free-for-all, with big-name quarterbacks switching teams, notably Tom Brady and Philip Rivers.
Have you ever wondered what goes into the decision-making process for players? It’s not as simple as a cash grab for some, as agent Leigh Steinberg noted in an essay he wrote on LinkedIn.
Steinberg, who represents Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, said he asks players to “do an internal inventory on what priorities and values will go into making a decision.” He listed seven
1. Short term economic gain
2. Long term financial security
3. Family considerations
4. Geographical considers — size of city, weather, proximity to home, culture
5. Spiritual values
6. Profile and Endorsements
7. Making a positive difference in the world
Steinberg wrote there are eight football considerations as well:
1. Starting
2. Winning
3. Quality of Coaching
4. Strength of Roster
5. Offensive or Defensive systems
6. Ownership
7. Management
8. Quality of facilities
Steinberg believes there is one other task: Analyzing potential teams’ rosters.
“By laying out these priorities in order of importance, a player has a tool to evaluate comparative situations,” Steinberg wrote. “Without a methodology, human beings torn between several options in decision making can become victims of cognitive dissonance.
“Choosing between options becomes so stressful that the psyche forces a person to make a decision, any decision, to relieve the stress. Football players want stability and structure, so the freedom to choose can be both exhilarating and confounding.”
You can read Steinberg’s entire essay here.
But keep in mind: even though Mahomes has just one year left on his rookie deal, there is virtually zero chance he would be given a chance to test the free-agent waters when the contract expires.
