Don’t criticize Tennessee football quarterback Nico Iamaleava for renegotiating his deal with the Vols. That’s just business. The more pressing concern is the relationship between the two parties.
There’s every reason to believe that things aren’t so rosy between Tennessee and Iamaleava, the rising redshirt sophomore signal-caller who still has much to prove. Iamaleava is reportedly renegotiating his NIL deal, which is thought to be more than $2-million annually, just before the Orange and White Game on Saturday. Here’s why that news is bigger than you might thing.
Iamaleava’s contract talks, as first reported by On3’s Peter Nakos, are certainly nothing new to college football. Players across the nation are doing the best they can for themselves with plenty of leverage considering the spring transfer portal opens April 16. However, Iamaleava’s negotiations are getting a bit nasty.
In a social media post, Iamaleava’s father refuted the Nakos report.
Here’s the problem – and it has nothing to do with an NIL contract. There is some strong finger-pointing from two camps that are supposed to have the same goals in mind.
It’s not unreasonable for someone within the Tennessee football program to leak information about Iamaleava. If he is truly trying to get a better deal, there have to be some in orange that are a bit perturbed. After all, Tennessee has done almost everything the Iamaleavas have asked to this point.
However, the family has also seen a boom in the quarterback market, which makes Iamaleava underpaid. That surely doesn’t sit well with them, and their job is to maximize the value for those in their inner circle who can generate the most revenue. That’s what any family would do.
Both parties can be right, if there even is a renegotiation. Tennessee surely doesn’t want to pay more money. Iamaleava probably deserves more if he didn’t sign a binding contract. However, the two have to communicate. If they don’t, then the Iamaleava story will not have a fairy tale ending.
