NFL : Commissioner says rookie pay scale is "ridiculous"

[Steve615]

After the Miami Dolphins signed rookie tackle Jake Long to a 5 year,$57.75 million contract ( with $30 million of that contract guaranteed money ),NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested rookies with lucrative contracts.He wants the issue addressed in contract talks.
"There's something wrong with the system,the money should go to people who perform." Goodell was quoted as saying earlier today.More info at the following link.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80909cc9&template=with-video&confirm=true

[Michael D'Angelo]

I completely agree with Roger Goodell. You should not have rookies how have never played a down in the NFL making more money than anyone else at their position.

[tcusta00]

You also shouldn't have any football player making more money than the leader of the free world either... that's another issue altogether.

[John W]

You also shouldn't have any football player making more money than the leader of the free world either... that's another issue altogether.

Well, remember what Babe Ruth said.

[ajc68]

Goodell is correct; you don't want the NFL turning into the NBA. Next thing they'll have guaranteed contracts, one of the worst ideas of all time.

[Stewart Vernon]

The ultimate reason why rookie contracts have gotten so out of hand... is because players have seen how veterans are treated.

IF a guy like Emmit Smith came into the league... and was paid the rookie minimum for the first couple of years... then got a raise for performance-based after Dallas started winning... then got big bonuses for the Super Bowl years... and then got a nice chunk in his last couple of years as he topped off the career rushing total... then folks would probably be happy with that. A proven player gets more money as he earns it.

However... the way the NFL really runs is... as a veteran gets older, they want to pay him less or cut him since it is a "what have you done for me lately" situation... and rookies know this coming in, and figure they better try to get as much as they can and a big up-front bonus for signing so that if they do earn it by performing on the field and have a long career... in their later years when it is harder to get paid they at least will have made it up front.

In a perfect world, rookies would be paid less because we don't know... they would be evaluated based upon each year's performance and the really good and hard-working players would get paid more and a veteran of 10+ years with Pro Bowl appearances and Super Bowl rings wouldn't get cut unceremoniously in favor of the next big thing.

So while I agree rookie salaries are out of hand... I also am forced to admit if that rookie proves himself and didn't have that bonus already he'd not get it 5+ years from now as easily.

[celticpride]

wow the NFL is getting just as bad as the NBA, they need to get this under control ASAP!

[mightythor88]

for what these dudes have to do to their bodies to play each week I dont begrudge them any money. I do agree the proven vets should get the money since a 6yr player who was undrafted but still a pro-bowler will never make as much as Jake Long just got.