Contracting money problems, stars get paid
By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer
NFL players make ridiculous money. Quarterbacks generally make even more. And Super Bowl winning QB’s? Well, they make stupid money.
Joe Flacco was recently made the highest paid player in NFL history when the Baltimore Ravens handed him a $120.6-million deal over six years. $120.6 million. Joe Flacco. Are you kidding me? I could honestly rant about this overrated signal caller all day, but I’ll restrain myself for now. One fact to note though: Joe Flacco has never made the Pro Bowl.
Meanwhile, eight-time Pro Bowler Tom Brady just signed a three-year contract extension for a paltry $27 million. This contract is just another testament to the character of Brady. How could you possibly not like this guy? Now he doesn’t only leave it all out on the field, he leaves a lot off of it too. Unselfish actions like Brady’s are what allows a team to be great. With that extra cash, the Pats can now go out and sign a few free agents or possibly retain receiving demon, Wes Welker.
Of course, outside of a football context, it’s harder to understand why Brady’s contract is so praiseworthy. Sure, he’s settling for well below market value, but the man is still going to average $9 million a season. Most people can’t get that much money even if they win the lottery. Adding to this is the fact that over the next five years the guaranteed portion of his contract is over $30 million. I’d be happy with just a cool million.
One more case of a crazy contract is the Dolphins locking up receiver Brian Hartline for the next five years for just under $31 million. While the fourth-year man out of Ohio State did put up over a decent season, $6.2 per is a little excessive. Sure, the 26-year-old hauled in 74 receptions for 1,083 yards, but 253 of those came in one game against the Cardinals. Subtract that one game from the equation and Hartline averaged just over 55 yards per game, which is less than teammate Davone Bess. Bess makes $2.63 million. As much as I understand that Miami wants young Ryan Tannehill to have a consistent receiver to develop with, they really overpaid on this one. For comparison’s sake, Roddy White brings home $5.5 million. Unless Hartline starts making the Pro Bowl every year, this move will have Dolphins fans tearing their hair out for a long while.
Another receiver also got his big payday recently without having to test the free agent waters. Chiefs wideout Dwayne Bowe inked a five-year $56-million deal, making him the third highest paid receiver in the NFL, eclipsing Vincent Jackson’s five-year $55.5-million deal last year. With the streaky Bowe getting that kind of dough, Mike Wallace has to be licking his chops.
It’s going to rain money when free agency opens. Ridiculously stupid money.
