Athlete paychecks

Mofogo · 05-20-2008

This is just another thing that is retarded in the world. Not only from an NFL or NBA or whatever league, but in the grand scheme of things...

Quote:

Matt Ryan officially became the face of the Atlanta Falcons when he was selected as the third pick in the NFL draft. On Tuesday, the Falcons rewarded him with plenty of green.
Ryan became the second top draft choice to sign when he accepted a six-year, $72 million contract that included $34.75 million in guarantees. Less than a week before the draft, tackle Jake Long signed a five-year, $57.75 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.
Both players were represented by Tom Condon of CAA.
Long received $30 million guaranteed in his deal with the Dolphins. Last year's No. 1 overall pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, got $29 million guaranteed from the Raiders.
Ryan was the first quarterback taken in the NFL draft. During his career at Boston College, Ryan completed 807 of 1,347 passes for 9,313 yards and 56 touchdowns.

In general, I think athletes are paid WAY TOO MUCH. Do they really need that big of a paycheck? Most people can survive (generously) on 50,000 salaries a year so why do they need 72 MILLION in 6 years? And not only that, but these guys are completely unproven in the league. They are only PROSPECTS! So many guys have completely flopped since coming in from the draft. (Rex Grossman, Tim Couch, Ricky Williams, and the list goes on). Well you say that they are the ones bringing the people to the stands. And I say, if they didn't charge 50 bucks for a nosebleed ticket that money wouldn't be there in the first place. I understand they have talent, but in all honesty it is useless talent.

Don't get me wrong, I like to watch sports and yes I am entertained by them, but with everything wrong in the world, why do guys like this get paid all this money for unproven goods (on the NFL level). There are tons of other less high profile guys that have been in the league for 10 years busting their ass on the O-line and haven't even sniffed 2 million a year. I think its just gone too far, and with all these players associations and crap, players are constantly opting out of contracts and if they do good for one season they want more money. Yet you can't pay them less if they blow ass the season before.

A good example of that is Alex Rodriguez, setting records for paychecks, but I don't see him jacking it out every at bat, or even every 10th at bat. I think he is in a slump right now.

I just felt like ranting, and no, I'm not banging on my keyboard. And if you are one of those "tl;dr" people then you are an idiot.

CATER 4 Prezzz · 05-20-2008

Ricky Williams was successful... until he got on drugs and quit.

Ryan Leif is the guy you're looking for for ultimate draft Flop.

But yeah, way to much money that probably is less work than a construction worker. If you think NFL stars get paid to much then think about how much Actors/Actresses get paid. Especially famous ones who don't need the money. like 10 mil per movie... That's like 10 mil in 4 or 5 months. Just to pretend you are someone else for the entertainment of others...

Now THATS obnoxious

Mofogo · 05-20-2008

its all obnoxious. The best part about celebs is that they think that since they are so popular they know better than everyone else about politics and that people give a shit about who they endorse.

EpSoNiight · 05-20-2008

If people can afford to pay them than let it stay at that, tho i do think its ridiculous...Like they do nothing to help the world to earn that money, they're practically forced to help this world with all that money

Marth20x66 · 05-20-2008

They get paid fine for the work they do

GoatLove · 05-21-2008

Yeah, its annoying that they get paid that much for doing something they enjoy.

There is really nothing that can be done about it though. The more a franchise makes.....the more athletes will get paid. As long as there is another franchise willing to pay a lot of money to a player to help their franchise out....the money will always be high. Its all business. I love sports but i do hate the business side of it.

Whitewater · 05-21-2008

Money has turned athletes into players who only do it for the money, and not for the enjoyment of the game. There are a lot of players now who are just in the pro leagues to make millions of dollars. That is why I love the CFL. The highest paid players do not even make 1 million/year, and they play for the love of the game.

Mofogo · 05-21-2008

Well its sad when you actually hear some of them have the nerve to say "I got to feed my kids".

x WooZy x · 05-23-2008

Yea they do get payed too much. But when you think about it, everyone on T.V. gets payed too much. Lebron James scored a $90,000,000 deal from Nike when he was in school and they gave him free sneakers to promote them. Lebron James said that he's pushing to be the first billion dollar athlete. Look at David Beckham, he got $250,000,000 for being on the LA Galaxy soccer team.

SheiK · 05-29-2008

This is why the MLL and NLL (Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League) have really enjoyable games, because the players enjoy what they do and they don't really make enough for a living. They mostly take time out of their lives to play the pro lax leagues.

But I hope they will start to earn more and more money because it'd be an amazing sport to play for a living.

The athlete paychecks wouldn't be too bad if they donated a portion to relief funds like AIDS, Disaster Relief, Medical Research, etc...