Jul 02 2008
Rookie or Richie Rich
These days NFL rookies are breaking records at enormous rates and it is before they even take the field for their first game. Is this right or wrong or just a system that allows for this to happen. In the NFL the system allows rookies to demand high salaries at top drafted spots, but it is not the same for those players who are drafted later. Of course, owners and the current commissioner are also saying that this trend is ridiculous and needs to change but they are saying it because they would rather not pay someone 30 million guaranteed. The system is obviously flawed when Tom Brady a three time super bowl winner is getting paid less in guaranteed money, not including endorsement, than rookie Matt Ryan.
Look at Baseball or Basketball professionally and in their respected leagues, rookies have to earn their money instead of just showing up after draft day. In the MLB Draft players are drafted in high spots but are not even likely to play in the majors for a few years on average. Unless it some phenom player which happens rarely like hall of fame player Dave Winfield who was just too darn good to stay out of any professional sport.
Then in the NBA there is even a salary cap for rookies so that veterans are not getting overlooked at negotiation time. However with the NBA you are dealing with smaller teams than in the the other sports mentioned and it makes sense that veterans should be paid more because there are less rookies per team and more veteran players. A rookie is only a rookie for a year right!
The real problem is that millions of dollars is being put into the hands of young adults that have never seen or touched this much money. Now I am not saying that out of jealously because believe me if I were in Jake Long’s shoes the number one draft pick in the NFL this year I would be signing that huge deal as well but the principle is not right. People in the real world have to prove themselves worthy to be worthy and that is not just atteding college for a few years. That means putting in five or more good years of something and then getting paid what you are worth. All of these players signing huge rookie contracts in any sport are at a more risk more than ever because now with money they feel more invincible than before. I mean think about it just like actors and actresses sports figures have big egos and those egos are much bigger once dollar signs are backing it up. In return some of those players with big egos and big paychecks are also coming into trouble they never foreseen because of their belief of being invincible. For example Adam Jones or Chris Henry who were worth their money on the field but once off it they broke rules and laws because of their so called invincibleness. Money will make you different than you ever were before and people need to think about that more than just a owner worrying that he will have to pay more money. Owners will be okay, trust me they make a huge amount of money, it is the players that are at risk of becoming something worse. I know there are contradicting stories out there that will go against me and that is alright I am just saying the principles of the issue is what bugs me.
