Original Date: March 14, 2004

On the eve of WWE's Wrestlemania 20 Patriots cornerback Ty Law turns "heel" in the eyes of certain media and fans across the country.

"What the hell is a heel?" you ask.

Ok, pay close attention because I'm only going to give this to you real quick.

In the world of professional wrestling you have two certain types of wrestlers, "heels" and "faces". Sometimes you do have your occasional middle of the road guys, but they have nothing to do with this piece at this time. "Heels" are your bad wrestlers, the ones who get the drinks dumped on their heads as they make their way to the ring, or have verbal barrages of profanity spit into their mugs by fans sitting ringside. "Faces" are those guys who live for the moment, and get the huge "pops" when they enter the arena like The Rock, Hogan or HBK. The "faces" are your heroes, the ones every kid wants to be in the playground.

Ty Law was once a "face", but as of today thanks to the Boston Globe and writer Michael Smith Ty Law has officially "turned heel".

"What the hell is turned heel?" you ask.

Ok here we go again and PAY ATTENTION!

Bruno Sammartino was a great "face" in his prime, and the crowds loved him. Larry Zybsco was Sammartino's protege, an admirer who was also a "face" the two were both great singles' competitors, and when together a great tag team. Eventually Larry wanted out of Sammartino's shadow so they decided on having a match. Since both wrestlers were considered "faces" the match was what they usually call a "scientific" match meaning that it was a clean match with clean holds. The match progressed, and Larry got upset with Bruno not giving his all, taking it easy, and not giving Larry a chance to show his skills. Larry's anger got to him, and he grabbed a steel chair. Zybsco destroyed Sammartino with that chair, and bloodied him up on Saturday morning television. On that day Zybsco "turned heel".

In the Globe article "Law says he doesn't want to play for Pats." Law is quoted several times about his feelings, and is now enduring the wrath of those who use to love this guy now rip him apart. Like writer Bob Anderson over at PatsFans.com who feels Ty Law is a "30 something, overrated, overpaid, ingrate". What about the fans? Like Mike Jardin of Taunton a friend of mine who says, "Let him leave. He's not worth the money."

You guys are missing the point, and don't realize the bottom line. The NFL is a business, with team owners making a boatload of money. And working for those owners you have players/employees who are paid on a scale based on their minimum which is set by the NFL Players Union Contract. Players are paid a base amount of what they are to receive for time vested, but also receive extra for accomplishments, following team polices, and going above and beyond during the season.

Ty Law has done that, but now these idiots want to remember every bad play he's had over his career and multiply that event by 10. This is a guy who barely saw any action in Super Bowl 37 because the Panthers kept the ball from his side of the field, and the one TD he did give up was at the fault of blown coverage by whom I believe was Asante Samuel. Some respect there when a team designs it's offense to send all of it's pass plays to the opposite side of the field.

If you still can't understand let's look at it from a personal perspective...

You work for a company, and at review time they tell you that if you perform at this level, and succeed with these goals we will pay you x amount of dollars, and here's the five year contract to finalize the deal with a little bonus upfront for staying with us. For four years you do what is expected of you and beyond, but on the fourth year the company comes to you and says...

"Sorry, we mismanaged our figures and we can't afford to pay what we were legally bound to pay you so we were wondering if you would take a pay cut, or sign on for more years at less pay."

I can't speak for anyone else, but as a union employee can tell you that it's not right. And the problem of this whole matter should fall on he team's owner's for reneging on these contracts. The only guaranteed money a NFL player gets is his signing bonus, workout, playoff, championship & Pro Bowl bonuses. Does anyone ever think QB Peyton Manning will see that 90 plus million? What about RB Clinton Portis? He's a good back, but he didn't deserve to be the highest paid.

People also keep mentioning Ty is being greedy because he is due to make 9.8 million this year, and was looking for a seven year deal at 63 million plus a 20 mil signing bonus. Which I felt the team should have paid him long before CB Shawn Springs got a 10 mil signing bonus and spent 13 games out due to injury for the last three years. CB Champ Bailey was all smiles on the NFL network after hitting the FA lotto with 63 mil over seven years, and an 18 mil signing bonus. CB Antoine Winfield left the Bills to go to the Vikings for six years getting 34.8 mil and a 10 mil signing bonus. Winfield has had 6 int's in five friggin years!

Ty Law's biggest mistake in this situation... He should have kept his mouth shut, as I said in the case of WR Terry Glenn, play your arse off, and let the media and fans decide. Which before this happened Law had the majority of those in his pocket, but now he has gone and wore a Bills shirt on the 212, and complained about the team in the press thus giving those in the media like Anderson or Smith fuel to add to the "Let's Bash Law" brigade.

The point I'm trying to make here is that the NFL owners and the Players Union have to get these contracts back on track. Nobody every makes what they sign for, and as I said the only money they do usually get are their bonuses, but teams are now giving out ridiculous bonuses to be spread out over the years in an action that could very well come back to haunt them.

So don't hate Ty Law for wanting what is owed to him. He should be paid higher than the rest of the cornerbacks in the league, he's paid his dues for the last three years.

2000 CB's

2001 CB's

2002 CB's

Ty's 2003 and beyond number's looked like this:

2003 - $4.9 million in salary, a $1 million reporting bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus
2004 - $5.65 million base salary, with a $1 million reporting bonus and $100,000 workout bonus
2005 - $7.75 million salary with a $1 million reporting bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus

With the exceptions of 2003 and 2001 Ty was fed less even though he was a lot more productive than those who was above him in the pecking order... Such as Jason Sehorn, and Aaron Glenn while with the Texans. Ty Law should have been paid before the free agent period began, but now Ty has to come to work and hear about how NT Ted Washington is going to get 14 mil for 4 years, and he only comes in for two plays a down almost. OL Damien Woody went to Detroit for 31 mil over 7 yrs, and a 9 mil signing bonus. Damien is a lineman for Christ's sake!!!

I say pay the man, and don't complain because the money would be well spent, and if he doesn't perform to his worth with the new contract, then you release him and good riddance.