With the 75th annual draft in the books..there are going to be a lot of very wealthy rookies out there..some of whom will garner considerably larger contracts than their veteran teammates.
Around the NFL there is strong disapproval about the amount of money rookie players are making. After the 2008 NFL draft..Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner) expressed his wishes to change the current rookie contract structure. Goodell flung an interesting idea of implementing a rookie salary cap..similar to that of the NBA. During a press conference with reporters in February 2008..Goodell stated that he and the NFLPA have met and discussed this issue and the owners are interested in following through with the idea of redistributing the money to veteran players who have already proven themselves and their worth.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke about this issue Saturday and had some pretty strong words on the matter.
“I love Sam Bradford, and I hope he’s great, but he probably made somewhere between $40 and $45 million the night before last,” said Goodell, speaking to a group of select fans who won a random lottery to ask the commissioner questions. “He has not even hit the field yet and that’s a guaranteed contract. So if Sam Bradford can’t play, what good does that do any other NFL player? As much as I like these young rookies, and I do think they’re terrific, it’s crazy to give someone who hasn’t proven themselves on the NFL field $45 million.
“I think over these three days, we will give $600 million in guaranteed money to these rookies that you’re hearing their names. $600 million. And if let’s just say half of them don’t make it and the money is equivalent to this, that’s $300 million out the door. It doesn’t go to veterans, it doesn’t go to owners. It goes to somebody who couldn’t play the game. That’s wasting money.”After looking at recent rookie contracts..it is insanely hard to believe that most are making over proven veterans..well over proven veterans.
Seeing as the attendance of rookies at training camp is so vital to the success of the player, it pained some to see 2007 1st overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell hold out of camp until he was signed to a 6-year, $61 million deal with $29 million guaranteed. Russell..for what he was paid and guaranteed be the biggest flop in the NFL. One cannot help but wonder if the reason why rookies get paid so much up front is to prevent another “JaMarcus Russell hold out.” The NFL owners are not crying poor..so Goodell’s battle is not one of finances but one of fairness. Do not think for one minute that rookies believe that the amount of money being paid to them is sane.
A great point made by the late Gene Upshaw was that the rookie contracts only help those free agent veterans who are up for new contracts. What Mr. Upshaw means is that..for example..lets jump into the shoes of an 18-year-old girl who is negotiating with her parents about buying a car. The teen..so paradoxically calm..says..“But, Mom! Angie got a BMW and she’s only 16!” This is a perfect parallel to the situation in the NFL. Agents of veteran free agents can go to negotiations armed with the contracts of these rookies. Whew..no wonder why teams these days want to stay clear of early first round picks.
Seeing as the attendance of rookies at training camp is so vital to the success of the player..it pained some to see 2007 1st overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell hold out of camp until September 12th when Russell was signed to a 6-year, $61 million deal with $29 million guaranteed. One cannot help but wonder if the reason why rookies get paid so much up front is to prevent another “JaMarcus Russell hold out.” The NFL owners are not crying poor..so Goodell’s battle is not one of finances but one of fairness. Do not think for one minute that rookies believe that the amount of money being paid to them is sane. In an interview with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan..he stated: “I’ll take it. I see both sides of the argument but I’m going to take the (current) argument now.”
Goodell goes on to say..
"It's really had a dramatic impact on the way we pay our players and the way teams are built in the draft. ... It's not that I'm opposed to the rookies getting money, I think that's great. But I think the veterans that have proven themselves on the NFL Level deserve the bulk of the compensation. When a player is drafted and doesn't make it and he takes that money out of the system, that's a disadvantage to the other players in the league. That's what I keep trying to get across. We need to keep the money in the system and it needs to go to the veterans that deserve it. ... It's a relatively simple fix if we sit down and address it."Roger Goodell is not wasting any time on this matter so look to see some headlines fairly soon.
Bottomline..sports primadonnas are insanely paid. Collectively from all sports..their salaries could solve the national deficit. But..its not to their fault at all. They are simply getting paid for their market allows. Business is business. Would I like to see a change? Absolutely. The highest salaries should go to those proven. Period!
Peace out my HALEYUNNS!
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