Of Football and Money

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, this is something I've been wondering. When it comes to NFL players, why I do I usually hear about not playing for a certain team in terms of contracts and all? Something I remember my stepdad say is that he's not really a sports fan anymore since things have now been so much about money. You play for a team, you get a good contract and good pay, you'll play your butt off for the dead presidents. Some people don't play for (and don't care about) the money. I guess some players measure their success in terms of money. And if they are not great enough for the pay they get, the players won't feel happy with the contract they get. People, what do you make about playing in the NFL with the right contract? Should money/contract deals be the measure of how good a football player is? Should there be more concern about a certain contract deal over the quality of a footballer? Reply now, and let yourself be known to the whole of GTP.

 

[Saleen Man]

Good topic. 👍

The money/contract situation in the NFL isn't nearly as bad as it is in other sports, but they are all bad. When I see a guy such as Terrell Owens for example, who has unlimited ability as a football player continously holding out for money, it is kind of disappointing. Professional athletes are some of the greediest players in the world. They're getting paid already ridiculous amounts of money to play a sport, isn't that enough? The players who play for the love of the game, and don't care how much money they are getting, those are good guys. But it seems, the better you get in the NFL, the more money you want, and the less you care about football. The one thing I can't understand, is how rookies can holdout for more money. You just got drafted into the league, you're a completely unproven player, and you want more money than they are offering? Come on now, that's just stupid.

 

[Canadian Speed]

In my opinion, the NFL has got one of the best ways of paying their athletes. They’ve also done a great job of maintaining their league over the years and here’s why…

1. A proper salary cap. Every now and again a certain team will stay dominant for a certain amount of time, but these are the exception and not the rule. However, as time progresses every team, even the great ones, will eventually loose many great players to a period often referred to as “salary cap hell”. This is a point in a franchise’s history in which it’s players and coaches/staff contracts start to converge and often players have to be cut, as the salaries can’t all be fit under the cap. This may sound like a bad thing, but what it does is it prevents the same teams from having all the best players for their entire careers, giving the lesser franchises a chance at getting some marquee players.

2. Singeing bonuses. Although the salaries are high in the NFL, as was previously stated, they aren’t nearly as bad as in other sports, and singeing bonuses are the reason. If a player doesn’t produce, they don’t make the big cash in the NFL… of course there are exceptions, but over all they’re mostly set up this way. If you look at the average players contract there are various clauses and goals that must be met in order for these guys to truly reap the rewards. It’s basically put up or shut up as far as salaries go.

 

[VIPFREAK]

$50 mil. rookie quarterback for SF?! give me a ****ing break.

 

[JohnBM01]

Why do you think people make such a big deal out of money? Do some just play for money, or for love of the game? Is there a compromise, perhaps?

 

[Saleen Man]

Why do you think people make such a big deal out of money? Do some just play for money, or for love of the game? Is there a compromise, perhaps?

Some athletes waste their talent. They know they're good enough to make it as a pro athlete, so they say, "Well, ok, I'll go and play, make my money, and live a happy life". I think a lot of players play just for money, and it seems to be that most of the superstar athletes are becoming this way, and that's not going to help any of the major sports.

 

[led1013]

This is why i like college football much better than pro, because some pro players do play just for the money, but in college they play for the love of the game

 

[VIPFREAK]

Now we (SF) have a 50 mil. back up quarterback...

 

[Canadian Speed]

Now we (SF) have a 50 mil. back up quarterback...

Even McNabb sat at first... stop crying about it... he'll be franchise before you know it...

 

[Saleen Man]

Even McNabb sat at first... stop crying about it... he'll be franchise before you know it...

Not sure, but did McNabb have that big of a contract? They better hope this kid will become the franchise for them. What was the name of that QB who retired this year who won the Heisman a couple years ago? He played for the Titans I think, was 3rd or 4th on the depth chart and retired. Heh.

 

[Max E.]

Not sure, but did McNabb have that big of a contract? They better hope this kid will become the franchise for them. What was the name of that QB who retired this year who won the Heisman a couple years ago? He played for the Titans I think, was 3rd or 4th on the depth chart and retired. Heh.

alex smith took a mid major team to the BCS virtually by himself. to me there wasn't much argument he was the best player in football. sure leinart got great results, but john friesz could have led the nation in passing with that supporting cast. i'm sure he will be a top notch pro if the niners can just find a way to protect him. i like that he didn't win that starting job right off. and if he sucks during his first year at qb just remember who the lowest rated quarter back in the nfl (by far) was in 1983. some guy name elway. maybe you've heard of him.

 

[Max E.]

What was the name of that QB who retired this year who won the Heisman a couple years ago? He played for the Titans I think, was 3rd or 4th on the depth chart and retired. Heh.

jason white? eric crouch? chris weinke? danny wuerffel? gino torretta? andre ware?

 

[Canadian Speed]

One might also want to take a look at what Eli is doing this year... What a difference a year's experience, and a few free agents make. Same could go for San Fran... although it may take 2 more years.

 

[Max Powers]

Not sure, but did McNabb have that big of a contract? They better hope this kid will become the franchise for them. What was the name of that QB who retired this year who won the Heisman a couple years ago? He played for the Titans I think, was 3rd or 4th on the depth chart and retired. Heh.

It's always a gamble picking up a QB straight from college, sometimes they just can't make the transition. For as many successes as there has been with college QBs, there have been just as many complete busts.

Was Tim Couch the man you're referring to?

 

[JohnBM01]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5002168?GT1=7409

Meet the Top 3 overpaid players in the NFL (according to MSN and FOX Sports):

01. Houston Texans' Offensive Line
02. Charles Woodson (Oakland Raiders, CB)
03. Mike Vanderjagt (Indianapolis Colts, K)

What do you make of this?

 

[Canadian Speed]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5002168?GT1=7409

Meet the Top 3 overpaid players in the NFL (according to MSN and FOX Sports):

01. Houston Texans' Offensive Line
02. Charles Woodson (Oakland Raiders, CB)
03. Mike Vanderjagt (Indianapolis Colts, K)

What do you make of this?

To #1 yes... But to the other two, no way. DBs are always hard to judge because if they're any good, people avoid throwing to their side of the field. And Vanderjagt is a one of a kind kicker. It's a tough position to play as you're often called on to win games. He's a solid kicker...