Money Hungry Pros

What if ALL NFL players got paid a base salary dependent on their years as a Pro? ESPECIALLY ROOKS!!! Then incentives laced extras after that? How much is a key block for TD worth? How much is 1000yds worth as a WR? As a RB? 3000yds as a QB? No Sacks allowed by an OL? Each Tackle? Each Sack? Each INT? Can all of the "extras" be measured by the almighty dollar? WHY OR WHY NOT?

Would the crap that Chad Johnson is doing be allowed in a corporate environment? I just don't get it anymore and I really don't want to try!!! Rookie holdouts REALLY burn the backside hairs!!! As does underperforming 1st Rounders. But I FINALLY got my redemption when the BEARS released Cedric "The Pedestrian" Benson and the other 31 teams didn't even lift a finger to acquire him. Go rot in a Texas jail, you never been!!! I remember screaming at the tv when they drafted him knowing we didn't need him. Rex too! I'll give Glassman ONE MORE YEAR and if he doesn't single-handedly show an improvement, it's off to a hoodoo voodoo shop with a Rex doll!!!

Completely agree. I would be all for base salary (structured on years of service) plus incentives. I would even be for going so far as to structure the incentive tiers. They would/could still have bookoo bucks for endorsements. No problem w/that end of it.

Unfortunately, college isn't all that different. Except the athletes are not getting paid directly. I do acknowledge and am 100% O.K. w/the fact that full or partial scholarships are a form of payment. But look at all the loot the colleges make off of the athletes. It goes on from the clubhouse to the concession stands. Since colleges are the main breeding ground for the NFL, why not just go ahead and pay the college football athletes too. Call it what it REALLY IS.... semi pro.

Just My Opinion, FWIW,
-Mike Pratt

[Electric Coach]

Paying players a base salary would be an excellent idea, but I see it becoming a problem later for the NFL. One has to remember the toll the game takes on the body. In today’s game, if the league offers anything less than top dollar, players will be unwilling to play. This would be especially true for premiere players.

I think the NFL realized that during the early years when players had jobs during the off-season. I think the higher echelon on the NFL saw the league changing rapidly. The change was in the size of the players and the all around speed of the players. As a result of those things, the demands are higher for these players. Mass times velocity make all of the difference.

In regards to Chad Johnson, he must fulfill his contract, but he is tired of playing for a mediocre team. Every player especially those proven players want to leave a legacy. That legacy includes Super Bowl titles, Hall of Fame induction, etc. Chad doesn’t see a Super Bowl in his future if he stays with the Bengals.

Along with a hurt body what does a player have left, when he is done with his football career? I think that is why a player is out to get all that he can while he is fresh.

Maurice

The Electric Coach

All points well stated and duly acknowledged. I do understand the attraction to showcase top talent along w/putting a higher premium on that talent. It's called "putting meat in the seats." I also fully understand the afterlife woes of professional athletes. Battered bodies, etc. Hell, I didn't play at any such level and I have trouble putting on my socks. Very painful. I have empathy for some of them. Others who don't want to honor their agreements, I got no patience for that. The world already has enough whiners and quitters. But most have more to whine about and quit over than the jack these guys are knocking down.

Hey, maybe I should quit life. I make way less money (next to none these days), I can barely walk, it takes me forever to do nothing, and I hurt like a sumbirch every second of every day. I'll trade spots w/Ocho Cinco in a New York second. If he can't deal w/his "problems" now he would commit suicide after a week in my shoes.

-Mike Pratt

[Franny-j-boy]

I have been saying for years that rookie players need a cap. What the heck have they even done? How can a guy hold out when they have not played an N.F.L down. That really ticks me off!!!!!!! I think everyone should get a one year deal. Since everyone plays sooo great on the last year of their contract make every year a contract year. I know there is a lot of reasons why you probably can't do it this way,but would'nt it be great!!!!!!!

[ONE2WATCH]

I say get what you can get if you are a top dollar player get top dollar bread.
The wear and tear this game puts on the body you will need every penny. Also with all the money the owners and investors make why shouldn't the
players get top dollar. If you bust your behind in the NCAA who make it hard
to even have a job while your in school why not hold out until you get what
the next guy got or better.My 2 cents

...everyone made the same BASE SALARY per year of experience, then they wouldn't be so quick to jump ships. Granted, I agree with Iron Mike "Da Coach" Ditka that ALL PLAYERS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE need thee absolute best medical to put them back together again, but if they played for their INCENTIVES they would play harder or just make their BASE. Kinda like the real world.

I really don't wanna pay $75 - $200 just to watch a baby whining about not winning on the sidelines. They're not winning because he's (CJ) acting like a baby and playing 100% on every down. I can stay local and Coach my local Pop Warner League for FREE and get better sportsmanship!!! Maybe THAT'S the problem - WE KEEP PAYING TO SEE THESE BRATS have meltdowns on tv - on the field - on the news more than 16 times a year with non-football issues.

Don't get me started on how much money is wasted on these prima-donnas while my brothers and sisters-at-arms are getting gunned down in Afghanistan and Iraq and God knows where else, ALL FOR MINIMUM WAGE!!! What do we get when we get back - IF WE GET BACK??? We get 1000 protestors at the friggin airport screaming and cussing at us for killing babies. And then they go to their stadiums and pay to see these babies cry that someone else is making more money than them. Whatever.

[Electric Coach]

I understand Chad’s issue. Year after year he puts up excellent numbers. Anyone who is doing an excellent job while others around him or her are slacking will begin to feel resentment. The good worker will eventually want to go somewhere else.

Receivers such as Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, and Randy Moss for examples have no complaints because they are with teams that are committed to winning. Unlike the previously mentioned receivers, Chad Johnson does not have that luxury. Speaking of Randy Moss, he was very vocal when he was playing in Oakland because he felt that the Raiders were going no where. Terrell Owens was the same way when he was in Philadelphia.

It’s unfortunate that Chad is stuck in his contract.

Maurice

The Electric Coach

Here's a conversation I'd like to see.

Chad: I'm not happy here anymore. I can't play for this team.

Marvin Lewis: Ok, Chad, what team would you like to play for?

Chad: I think the PATRIOTS or the CHARGERS are on the right path.

Marvin: (holds out #85 jerseys for CHARGRS ad PATRIOTS) Pick one?

Chad: (smiling) PATRIOTS.

Marvin: Great. Here are your papers. Have a great life and Thanks for all you've done for your country!

Chad: (putting on new jersey while 2 hulking soldiers appear from behind Chad) Huh? What's going on...???

Chad: (wakes up in Amara, Iraq) What the...??? Where the...???

Iraqi Army's Deputy-In-Chief: Rise and shine, Superstar. Nice jersey! GO PATRIOTS! We need you to run "THAT" way and the rest of "US" (points to 100s of Iraqi soldiers) are going to wait until "THEY" (points to Shi'ite militia strongpoint) start shooting at "YOU". Then we'll attack them from their flanks and destroy this nonsense once and for all!

Chad: I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!!! (crying like a little girl!) What are you doing here, Ced? Where's your jersey? (looking at Cedric Benson, who's just wearing a tee-shirt)

Cedric: Nobody picked me up, so they sent me here!

D-I-C: Guess you two should have kept your mouths shut and played football, huh? GO-GO-GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ONE2WATCH]

I think you have a legitimate gripe but what does one have to do with the other.I mean with athletes and soldiers.