I think the system is set up well now, too.

However, I think fans should matter, too. The NFL wants to promote their players outside of the helmet, and players are encouraged to get out in their communities to make a difference.

When a city, and a fan base form a relationship with a great player, it hurts when they have to leave because the team was successful and the player was successful. In this situation the fans, and the team are being punished for excelling.

I am not saying destroy the system as it is, I am just saying that it could be modified with an exemption or two for those types of players.

Teams keeping players like Kelce, Jones, Sneed, and especially Mahomes, is a win for everyone. Literally.

The players win in that situation.

The team wins in that situation.

The fans absolutely win in that situation.

And when the team, players, and fans win, the NFL as a whole wins and gets stronger.

The way things are today, a player like DT would have had to leave KC and probably go to a less successful team, in order to get paid what he is worth.

It would have ripped the heart out of so many people if DT had to go to the Cardinals or Colts because we couldn't pay him.

Also, I am saying the players, to be eligible for the exemption, had to be drafted by the team, have a certain amount of pro bowls or all pros, etc. so the exemptions are not exploited.

I don't care that Ward left. I care if Chris Jones leaves.

Again, I will always believe that teams shouldn't have to lose true pillars of their organization because of the cap.

I hope we have this problem every year. I hope we have two players worthy of the tag and we are lucky enough to get good trade compensation for one of them and resign the other. That’s one way we can keep this dynasty going. Imagine if we get an extra first every year bc we develop talent through the draft. Yes, please give me a sneed and jones problem every year and let’s reload through the draft and continue to win superbowls. Go chiefs!

Really….. “it hurts..”. I just want to keep winning superbowls and getting more draft picks is the answer. How many times have we seen players go downhill after a big contract? Let him leave on a high note. Celebrate him and have fond memories but let’s keep winning Super Bowls.

The players don’t “have” to leave and the team doesn’t “have” to lose the players. Teams are free to place a higher value on emotional or more subjective aspects such as the community, the fans response, etc. in order to keep their players, even if that may not be the best thing for winning in the long run.

Fans should absolutely not matter in terms of who stays or goes or even who would recieve this roster exemption you're advocating. There should be no emotional aspect to keeping players if at all possible. Fans are far too emotional to be a voice in any of these decisions.

Interesting idea...

And again, the NBA tried this with the "Bird Rights" and players/agents have abused the hell out of it.

Let's say you're Kelce and you are 'worth' $18 million. And the Chiefs have $6 million in cap space but can pay you $18 million because of your 'hometown hero' tag without violating the cap rules.

You're going to ask them for $24 million. Why? Well because you're exempted from a cap violation anyway and the team can't replace you if you walk with the $6 million in cap space they'd have available. So they HAVE to keep you.

Players leverage their Bird rights against their own team all the time in the NBA. And they'd do it in the NFL as well.

So let's adjust it. Here's a proposed policy -- not even sure I agree with it, just airing it out:

1. Player was drafted by the Chiefs and crushed it, but the Chiefs have $6m in cap space, however this is a Hometown Hero player.

2. Hometown Hero player demands an absurd figure.

3. Chiefs say "go ahead and test the market."

4. A team out there doesn't match the absurd figure, but they offer him a really, really good one.

5. The Chiefs would then have the ability to match it under a Hometown Hero exception that doesn't count against the cap (or counts at a reduced %), of which each team has, let's say, 2.

6. And if they do match it, we can give the player the right to choose.

Let's talk about the Nate Taylor monologue
 

If every team gets to keep an extra $50 million a year worth of players then it’s basically a new cap. But the problem is only teams drafting well play under that cap. The bad teams play under the lower cap number further hurting their chances to improve.

Also, the numbers would be insane. Dak could ask for $75 million, get it, and the new number for QBs starts at $75 million. So say goodbye to signing a QB (or DT or whatever) you didn’t draft because there’s no way you are fitting that in your cap.

Under the Direckshun Plan above, the Cowboys could refuse it, Dak then gets to test the market, and the Cowboys have the opportunity to match what he gets and Dak can decide which team he wants to play for.