Merk gets new contract

#26
#26
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I disagree.

Since a raise for G-Mac isn't noted, there must be (in Heupel's mind) little chance G-Mac actually beats Merk or Aguilar.

A raise for both Merk and G-Mac would mean Heupel is gearing up for a 3 man QB1 competition, but it seems he's only looking at a 2 man competition for QB1.

As an aside, if G-Mac DOES win QB2 or QB1, Merk will transfer in December. If he can't beat out the freshman G-Mac, he'll never beat out the freshman Brandon IMO.
Click to expand...
Learn from history. No HS QB is a sure thing....especially at UT. Look at our 4 and 5 star QB recruits. Kinda hit and miss of late. Is it our evals? Developmental abilities? Scheme? Nah...no guarantees.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BreatheUT
#32
#32
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I disagree.

Since a raise for G-Mac isn't noted, there must be (in Heupel's mind) little chance G-Mac actually beats Merk or Aguilar.

A raise for both Merk and G-Mac would mean Heupel is gearing up for a 3 man QB1 competition, but it seems he's only looking at a 2 man competition for QB1.

As an aside, if G-Mac DOES win QB2 or QB1, Merk will transfer in December. If he can't beat out the freshman G-Mac, he'll never beat out the freshman Brandon IMO.
Click to expand...
That is an assumption that I could/would not make. I have seen no evidence that your assumption is valid.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BreatheUT and OrangeBeachVol
#33
#33
DaddyChad said:
Yeah. Not a fan of rewarding someone who has proven nothing. Wasted money on Nico sitting on the bench then being mediocre. Last year if we spent majorly on a QB via the portal the season may have been better.
Click to expand...
I get it. But are you saying that you want to bank on a future at the position where we don't give ma$$ive incentive to POTENTIAL stars before they produce, and only pay those who have production? Remember, we are recruiting against Bama, LSU, and OSU. Is that the approach you really want? 🤷
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc
#34
#34
CAVPUT said:
Learn from history. No HS QB is a sure thing....especially at UT. Look at our 4 and 5 star QB recruits. Kinda hit and miss of late. Is it our evals? Developmental abilities? Scheme? Nah...no guarantees.
Click to expand...
But put yourself in Merk's shoes, if he's QB3 this year, he's stuck trying to beat out G-Mac in 2026 to start and, though he may be a bust..... he may not, Merk is possibly passed by Brandon for 2027 OR G-Mac could stay another year.

The safe play is to transfer IF he's QB3 this year.
 
#35
#35
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
This is a joke right? Why is a guy who hasn't played getting a new contract? If we weren't gonna pay Nico, why pay this guy?
Click to expand...
We were paying Nico above his actual value. We refused to almost double the above-value amount. That decision is irrelevant to any other NIL contract we offer.
 
#39
#39
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
This is a joke right? Why is a guy who hasn't played getting a new contract? If we weren't gonna pay Nico, why pay this guy?
Click to expand...
I would say it's an insurance policy. If he were to transfer, we're down to 2 quarterbacks again, neither of which have much experience in Heupel's offense. At least Merklinger has a full redshirt year in it. He is the only quarterback with experience, all be it very limited.
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc and PEPPERJAX
#40
#40
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
I don't care if it's not close to the demands Nico was making. The point still remains that we didn't pay Nico cause his production last year didn't warrant a bump in salary. So what did Merk do last year to warrant a bump in salary?
Click to expand...
He's earned/obtained 1st string status. This is not a hard concept.

An engineering firm can't hire a new engineer for nothing (or below market value) and tell him/her that they will pay appropriately when they prove worthy of the pay. A company cannot promote an internal candidate to manager/director without a pay increase, stating instead that they will consider paying the person the appropriate manager/director rate once he/she has established over a year or so to be worthy of that pay.

One of the other sports sites intimated that Merklinger will be paid 6 figures (100,000-999,999). If true, and if Merklinger earns the starter role, that pay rate will likely be the biggest bargain for the QB position in the SEC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rocytop2624, VAVol85 and NCFisher
#41
#41
JohnnyJava said:
He's earned/obtained 1st string status. This is not a hard concept.

An engineering firm can't hire a new engineer for nothing (or below market value) and tell him/her that they will pay appropriately when they prove worthy of the pay. A company cannot promote an internal candidate to manager/director without a pay increase, stating instead that they will consider paying the person the appropriate manager/director rate once he/she has established over a year or so to be worthy of that pay.

One of the other sports sites intimated that Merklinger will be paid 6 figures (100,000-999,999). If true, and if Merklinger earns the starter role, that pay rate will likely be the biggest bargain for the QB position in the SEC.
Click to expand...
Saved me the typing; this is exactly how the world works. Everyone is promoted upon their experience level and potential, and no one defers payment while 'proving' themselves.

I think the twitching is really being done by working stiff, wage-earners jealous that college players are making $ for marketable skills they never had, or aspired to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OneVolNation
#42
#42
YankeeVol said:
The system will have to be fixed at some point.
Click to expand...

The system is unsustainable and it will undergo a major market readjustment. It makes zero sense for a sponsor or investment group to pay thousands of dollars for a backup qb on a probable 8-4 or 9-3 level SEC team. Lower level programs are already scaling back what they are able to spend. What we will end up with is 10-12 teams with very wealthy boosters leaving the other 95% of teams behind much like MLB. Half the teams in MLB are eliminated on opening day due to payroll discrepancies
 
  • Like
Reactions: BreatheUT and Volle
#43
#43
I dont really understand this. Isnt it too late for him to enter the portal? Even if he did, it’s doubtful teams would offer him significantly more than we already are. He’s proven nothing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mackievol
#45
#45
RockyTop140 said:
I dont really understand this. Isnt it too late for him to enter the portal? Even if he did, it’s doubtful teams would offer him significantly more than we already are. He’s proven nothing.
Click to expand...
Possibly. I think Tennessee wants to pay him fair value though. Unfortunately fair value seems to change weekly. Heupel almost will have to have a general manager eventually to just concentrate on nil deals and player compensation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RockyTop140
#46
#46
My perspective is the NIL contracts mean there will be a certain number of NIL events, as well as merchandising opportunities for the players. With Nico gone, there are openings to fill. Merc is next in line, so they need him to fill in at different events, as well as sell some jerseys or other stuff. At least until they figure out who will be QB1 next season. They can't just expect him to show up without so.ethung in writing. So, they reworked his contract so he knows the expectations, and the compensation. They aren't paying him to throw 25 TDs. They're paying him to use his name, image, and likeness to make money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DuckInAPen and DaddyChad
#48
#48
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I disagree.

Since a raise for G-Mac isn't noted, there must be (in Heupel's mind) little chance G-Mac actually beats Merk or Aguilar.

A raise for both Merk and G-Mac would mean Heupel is gearing up for a 3 man QB1 competition, but it seems he's only looking at a 2 man competition for QB1.

As an aside, if G-Mac DOES win QB2 or QB1, Merk will transfer in December. If he can't beat out the freshman G-Mac, he'll never beat out the freshman Brandon IMO.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure of each player's individual contract, but I would have assumed G-Mac, who was rated as a 5 star for a large portion of his recruitment, would have demanded for a larger NIL deal. My initial guess is that Merk's NIL deal was much smaller than G-Mac's and that is why it made sense to give him more money.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top