Important! Goodell Says Rookie Pay Scale Is Ridiculous

[Sweets]

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested rookies with lucrative contracts and wants the issue addressed in contract talks.

"There's something wrong about the system," Goodell said Friday. "The money should go to people who perform."


Goodell referred to Michigan tackle Jake Long's five-year, $57.75 million contract -- with $30 million guaranteed. Long was the first overall draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in April.


"He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money," Goodell said during a question-and-answer period at the end of a weeklong sports symposium at the Chautauqua Institution. "Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money.

Source: NFL.com

[Chubz]

should be setup similar to how the NBA pays out rookies

[Agent Zero]

I agree with the commissioner. Some of these guys don't have to do sh*t before they get paid fat. The way the commissioner does things I am willing to bet he will change this. Make rookies play a year or two before making the mega millions. This could turn out to be a very good thing.

[Trey]

I agree there should be a set-up similar to the NBA's system, maybe give first round picks 4 year contracts? That way they aren't stuck completely with cheaper contracts, but still have to prove themselves.

[P J Shaker]

i would agree with a rookie salary cap.....but its alot harder said than done....with the players union and everything Goodell cant just snap his fingers....and the union would never go for a rookie cap unless it was like 4 years at 40 mil.

[Trey]

Why not have that as the limit with say, 7 million dollars guaranteed?

[P J Shaker]

Originally Posted by finalfinally

Why not have that as the limit with say, 7 million dollars guaranteed?

that would set everything back 10 years...it would never go that low

[Dburke1337]

He's right. But like somebody said, the players union will be a tough sell on this. Although a lot of the older players probably feel similar to Goodell.

[P J Shaker]

Originally Posted by Dburke1337

He's right. But like somebody said, the players union will be a tough sell on this. Although a lot of the older players probably feel similar to Goodell.

yea true but i do think that alot of the "old School" players have been thinned out and most of the players now understand the lucrative contracts that these guys are getting....but it is crazy that Matt Ryan will make more than Tom Brady...that kind of contract is wrong

[FSUViking]

The players union has been clamoring for this for years. It's Gene Upshaw (surprise....surprise) that's standing in the way. That's one reason of many that a lot of veterans want him gone.

[cruzg24]

This is ridiculous. The system is wrong, the veterans should be compensated so proven players should be rewarded more than the NFL players. It basically supports the logic to praise a college athlete more than a proven NFL player. The league needs to do something about it.

[ChrisPanic15]

The pay is rediculous. I mean some vets are getting payed less than rookies, who some dont even become what theyre hyped up to be. But i do also see this shitting on all the salaries in general.

[FSUViking]

Matt Ryan makes more than Tom Brady? Hmmmm......makes sense to me.