I am an amateur at this stuff. But here's what the CBA that governs Carson's contract says about it. In Appendix C where they provide a sample player contract, this is the relevant section:
EXTENSION. Unless this contract specifically provides otherwise, if Player becomes a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or any other country, or retires from professional football as an active player, or otherwise fails or refuses to perform his services under this contract, then this contract will be tolled between the date of Player’s induction into the Armed Forces, or his retirement, or his failure or refusal to perform, and the later date of his return to professional football. During the period this contract is tolled, Player will not be entitled to any compensation or benefits. On Player’s return to professional football, the term of this contract will be extended for a period of time equal to the number of seasons (to the nearest multiple of one) remaining at the time the contract was tolled. The right of renewal, if any, contained in this contract will remain in effect until the end of any such extended term.
I underlined the important part. Basically, it means that when a player retires with time remaining on his contract, it is as if the contract is frozen and would just start back up where he left off should the player decide to return. Now, each individual contract obviously will have unique elements, so perhaps Carson's looks much different. But my guess is it doesn't, it would be a disaster if players could just retire then unretire and play elsewhere.
Translation: Carson better be prepared to retire for good if he choses this route as Mike Brown will out stubborn any man on Earth if Carson thinks can just lay low for awhile and pop back up on the West Coast (note: I really hope this isn't Carson's plan).
My hilarious dream scenario: Carson retires for like 4 years, the contract remains frozen, then Carson unretires after getting all fat and letting his skills totally atrophy just to make Mike Brown pay his ass the remaining money.
Of course, there are clearly things built in to prevent this type of nonsense I am sure but that would be pretty funny.
Update: along the lines of a fat Carson unretiring in 4 years to gouge Mike Brown, lazy WDR contributor Comrade Klinglered points me to Cincy Jungle where they note that Carson can somewhat hold Mike hostage with threats to unretire and force either a) a huge cap hit or b) massive cuts basically whenever he wants. Of course, cheap ass Mike Brown may choose to carry a ton of space under the cap to plan for this because he is a dick. Cincy Jungle calls this the "Favre Retirement Strategy". Named after another well known dick, Brett Favre, who did something similar to the Jets. Anyway, point is Carson may have more leverage than I thought about getting out of town.
I'm gueesing Carson's contract is typical in regards to retirement; oh well, it was a thought (retiring-then-unretiring-to-play-elsewhere)...so, without that option,
* I also vote for the retirement of Carson,
and then the return of Fat Carson, maybe in a few years
WHO DEY
and
VIVA WDR
Posted by: Hofbraunow | January 24, 2011 at 03:32 PM
All I hope is that he publicly announces ALL the failures that he has witnessed over 8 years in this FO. Don't care if he comes back, or if he has to pay some of his signing bonus back, just PLEASE Carson, tell the media why you are so tired of playing for this team.
Posted by: CurseofBoJackson | January 24, 2011 at 03:36 PM
How about a three team trade between us, the 49ers and the Eagles.
49ers get Carson, hopefully we get there 1st round pick, and trade it and something else for Kevin Kolb. New start for everyone, everybody wins.
Posted by: derrick hoel | January 24, 2011 at 04:09 PM
Bengals play-by-play announcer Brad Johannsen tweeted that Carson made numerous requests to Mike Brown for changes and was told that none would be made, so he wants out.
Maybe we should be praising him a bit more on this situation if this is true. I don't see why it wouldn't be true.
Posted by: TheCarlPickensClause | January 24, 2011 at 04:45 PM
I hope he does retire. I think if this is done after about two years MFB would be ready to trade him. I just hope he really goes through with it and that more players let the Bengals know not to draft them because the do not want anything to do with the Bengals.
I really hope he will do the right thing and not get scared and stay like Marvin did.
Marvin stated just the other day that they don't know who they are as a team. I can't believe that after 8 years of running the show this is where he has taken them and what makes it worse is the attitude from MFB and Marvin when stating that were close to getting to the super bowl. It's fucking crazy..
Posted by: kotw65 | January 24, 2011 at 05:23 PM
When I first heard about this I was ecstatic.
As a day or so has gone by it has become so very clear just how fucked we are.
1. Carson gets traded. (not gonna happen)
MFB gets to go quarterback shopping in the NFL draft again.
Result = Team sucks for 20 more years
2. Carson retires. (I hope he does and breaks his entire foot off in MFB's "craw")
MFB gets to go quarterback shopping in the NFL draft again.
Result = team sucks for 20 more years
3. Carson returns!
But under Brats playcalling, and MFB's offensive line he regresses or is pummeled lower than he is now.
Result = team sucks for 20 more years
Really why do you want him back. He's coached to play like shit, he's one hit to the knee or elbow away from retirement, and...... Your leader just said I want out. So let's force him back.
You see. We're even more fucked than we thought when the best case is he returns unhappy or executing (yes that's a funny way to describe it) brats offense.
And right now, that IS the best case. Because anything is better than the next Klingler-Smith waste of time.
Mr. Brown, I would be very "keen" if you peacefully passed away soon.
Thanks
Posted by: JM | January 24, 2011 at 07:31 PM
i don't post much, but i 1st want to say kudos to you that have lofted the torch- a beacon of truth in the cold cincitucky air.
i don't know what to do. i was repulsed to the verge of mass vomit seeing mike brown's face on espn. i want him to die. but alas i am generally a law abiding citizen.
curseofbo- i hope you are right in that carson publicly declares his reasoning & sheds light on the plight of every bengal coach, player & fan. is there anyway to contact him? how do we urge him to speak- to tell the world that the emperor has no clothes (or brain or heart or soul...)???
Posted by: who d'eytat | January 24, 2011 at 07:45 PM
who d'eytat indeed
: )
Posted by: Hofbraunow | January 24, 2011 at 08:48 PM
This only ends one way. I know it had the catchy hook of a hollywood flick, but it will end with the banality of Bengaldom.
Palmer returns with his tail between his legs.
Carson doesn't have enough fortitude to pop a zit, much less walk away from that type of cash. Mikey won't trade him and that's no bluff.
Posted by: Yes Massa! | January 24, 2011 at 08:52 PM
He'll probably persuade Carson the same way he persuaded Marvin (I don't *even* want to know all the details)...and, just like Marvin,
Carson will come back and do a press conference, during which, every now and then, he'll be looking like he's trying not to laugh...
I really hope that doesn't happen though...
I think the results of the playoffs for the Superbowl are especially stinging to Carson, and I think he's tired of investing himself mentally, physically, and emotionally (animated as he is : ) )...
Posted by: Hofbraunow | January 24, 2011 at 09:08 PM
Just as an aside, there is a reason that they make players file retirement papers -- to guard against this sort of thing. They can't just say "I am leaving" when they want to so that they can string a team out etc. At one time I knew of the current (at least then it was current) way that they dealt with this so that neither owner nor player could 'play' this type of game -- at least in regards to costs to the team etc.
In the end, if CP tried to play this game, MBMBB doesn't have to hire him back to play -- he (MBMBB) does not give up his rights to said player, MBMBB (if memory serves) has to pay the player per the contract but there is not an overall hit to the team. Gawd, I just wish that I could remember how that went. Who knows, it may not be relevant now.
Posted by: wch | January 24, 2011 at 09:14 PM
I hope everyone supports the team down the street from Mikey @ GABP.
Posted by: Yes Massa! | January 24, 2011 at 09:32 PM
I fully support CP in this endeavor. It would be awesome if a new CBA or lockout or something could also get him out of his Mike Brown's endured servitude (no offense, I know he is already super wealthy and well-off). Also, could players retire and play in the UFL? Or if they are locked out? Am I the only person that likes that possibility? Surely the NFL contracts are not that dickish.
Think about it, get to pick a new favorite team, if the UFL takes off then no more Steelers, etc.
Posted by: O'JTSullivan | January 24, 2011 at 09:49 PM
wch,
Glad to see you worked in your inane, nonsensical, unamusing nickname abbreviation for Mike Brown along with your inane, nonsensical, unamusing drivel about retirement papers.
Those same retirement papers are so effective that Captain Cockshot, aka the Dongslinger, has filed them three times now and to date they haven't actually done a damned thing. In fact, AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE "UPDATE" PORTION OF THE ARTICLE ABOVE, Favre actually used those self-same retirement papers to leverage the Jets into granting him a release, EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID THEY PREVENTED A PLAYER FROM DOING.
Does it hurt to be as stupid as you? Or is your life so blissfully ignorant that you don't know any better?
Posted by: Wyatt | January 24, 2011 at 10:04 PM
C'mon, Carson, do it
*** DO IT ***
I wanna see it go down so bad
Fuck MFB
Posted by: KMFDM Attak | January 24, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Cut 'em away Carson
Posted by: KMFDM Godlike | January 24, 2011 at 10:18 PM
endured servitude? I O'Sullivan'd that one. Swear I'm not drunk.
Posted by: O'JTSullivan | January 24, 2011 at 11:45 PM
Yea, but the CBA is null and void, right? If so, then that retirement paragraph does not exist and Carson can do whatever he wants, right? If he puts in retirement paperwork then what rules does he actually have to follow? I am sure there is a loop hole and most agents will find them.
Posted by: TigerJ@w | January 25, 2011 at 05:24 PM
To the insane person who thinks we gat a 1st rounder for Carson. We would be lucky to get a 4th for Pick 6 Palmer.
Posted by: BengalBen | January 26, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Even NFL players are no exemption to financial decline after they retire from the sport. They are not businessman and a majority are fitting to the case of lottery winners. The NFL should have classes on how to manage finances after their retirement.
Posted by: senior living long island | October 03, 2011 at 02:14 AM
Even NFL players are no exemption to financial decline after they retire from the sport. They are not businessman and a majority are fitting to the case of lottery winners. The NFL should have classes on how to manage finances after their retirement.
Posted by: senior living long island | October 03, 2011 at 02:16 AM