its pretty simple how we do it ..
1) we have him locked up on our terms for 2 years as it stands ... exclusive rights free agent this year and next year he will be a restricted free agent so if another team goes after him we have right of first refusal ( we can match the offer ) and if we choose not to we get a draft pick of the round we designate via the tender offer ...
2) we can give him a long term deal because of the above , he is set to make lowball wages and by the time he is done with those 2 years he will be 30 years old ( not exactly prime age to get a big $ long term deal from anyone )
so if we offer him a 5 year deal worth
30 million that is dirt cheap for us considering his position and level of play YET it is as much as he would probably make by playing for peanuts for 2 years and getting a 3 year deal later elsewhere ...
the incentive for him signing the deal proposed is job security , ability to put down roots as well as stay where he wants ( his words ) to be .... and it also allows him to live a lavish lifestyle whereas now he lives good but not incredibly good
so the question really is does he want his money now and stay here or does he want to live a less lavish life and get his money later and perhaps be in a place he would rather not be
much like the Willie Parker deal
good article on it here
http://www.steelers.com/news/labriol...b-93ebeff3b1aa