I also doubt this will reach arbitration.
I feel this has "renegotiate contract" written all over it. The fact of the matter is we have the legal right to try to recoup the 8.6 mil that was awarded to us. Also, if Ricky can return to form, I see him as the #1 RB ending the season.
Ricky also stated that he has 2 years left in him. Personally, I would take advantage of those 2 years and bring Ronnie to speed slowly. I know we are paying Ronnie a jumbo price by taking him at #2, but if we can add life to his NFL career by having him split carries 50/50 with Ricky, then that would make sense to me.
Ricky WAS underpaid 2 years ago, but after he quit, there is no way we are paying him his old salary. We dont know what he is worth right now, we have no idea if he is still a 2000 yard back or if he is a career backup now. He isnt even up to his playing weight.
Ricky's new contract is going to be extremely incentive laden. Personally, I think he is going to be playing under a cheap contract and then allowed to keep the entire 8.6 million cash.
I wouldnt pay him like a starter, but I would definately pay him more than the best #2 backup in the NFL. I think around a million a year for 2-3 years and letting him keep his 8.6 million is very fair for both sides.
When renegotiating contracts, we just cant see things from the side of the organization, we also need to look from the players perspective. I think 2-3 years around 1 million a year and being able to keep all of his 8.6 mil would be neutral grounds.