In 2008 Ben Roethlisberger made $27.7 million for one season’s worth of work. Phillip Rivers was the top man in 2009 with $25.56 million; three players made more than $20 million and 21 made more than $13 million. The San Francisco 49ers averaged over a $1 million per player.
With all this money being made the NFL is still staring a lock out in the face for the 2011 season over money.
The money to be made in the NFL is crazy, yet these guys are so incredibly greedy that they have to have more. Is it not enough that with one season and a little bit of intelligence (meaning don’t blow your paycheck) and you never have to work again?
Oh yeah, you have to pay your agents this, and your lawyers that, and your personal travelling masseuse…Guys, you spend what you spend. If you don’t want to run out of money then don’t spend it; get your girlfriends to give you a back rub (like the rest of us).
Players use to make pennies to play the game. Jay Berwanger, the first Heisman winner in history and first player drafted by an NFL team asked for $25,000 over two years and was turned down (and never played football). In 1980, the highest paid player was Chicago Bear running back Walter Payton; he made about a $500,000. Many players even in the 1980s still had to work jobs in the offseason in order to make ends meet.
Guys use to pay for the love of the game. There was something about still being able to go out every day and play a game (and actually get paid something for it) that appealed to people. The fans loved it as well because these guys were actually just like us. Playing the game is about still being young; it’s about simpler times when all that mattered was putting the pads on and playing with your friends.
This offseason, Logan Mankins has turned down a contract that would make him $7 million a season over the next five years. Vincent Jackson is refusing to get paid over $3 million when he got just over $600,000 in 2009. Terrell Owens is insisting on getting paid $5 million a season (and is still without a job).
These guys need to listen to Iron Mike Ditka who recently warned about getting too greedy:
“I hear that [lockout] talk and I just can’t believe anybody is that stupid…If the owners or the players are that stupid that they are going to shoot this golden goose … I mean it’s laying golden eggs. It’s a multibillion dollar business. It’s the most popular sport in this country, don’t kill it.” (ESPN)
In the meantime I think I may try to watch more Arena Football and the UFL when it starts. Neither one of those leagues pay their players fortunes; the AFL averaged from $50,000-250,000 while the UFL pays most its players around $25,000. These guys are doing alright, but not making fortunes. They still know what it’s like to have to fight to get by.
Grow up guys; it’s not all about the money.
Beer: Simple Times Lager from the good people at Minhas Craft Brewery in Monroe, Wisconsin- in the interest of enjoying the simpler life without paying a small fortune for it I have chosen this beer.
It’s not the best beer in the world, but it is pretty good; a six pack of it will only cost you around $4 at Trader Joe’s too. The flavor will not get you coming back for more, but this lager is light, easy to drink and refreshing after a hard day’s work; there is no real aftertaste and really just a mild flavor at all. At 6.2% ABV a couple will get you nice and relaxed without breaking the bank!
Bier Magazine: Shootin' The Boot 