Message to the NFL: Pay Your Workers

by David Taylor on Mar 30, 2011 11:00 AM CDT in Notes

Exhausted. The "argument between millionaires and billionaires" has left me at an awkward place this offseason. One where I've openly stated that I just don't care if there's football next year.

Will that feeling hold up as the "beginning" of the season grows nearer? Maybe… maybe not. All I know is, I have become mentally exhausted, and sometimes irritable, from listening to the NFL and the Players Union (or Strike Force, or whatever they're called) slander each other to the media, all while playing the innocent victim to their fans. It is tiring.

For the longest time, I straddled the fence, refusing to take a side. All that mattered was that they came to a speedy resolve, and that we'd see football come September.

I was listening to the radio the other day, excited to hear some more "DRose for MVP" talk, and the broadcaster said something football-related that actually caught my attention.

While the NFL is the most profitable and popular sport's league in America, it's players are the lowest paid, have the shortest careers, and suffer the most injuries.

One and one does not add up.

The NFL is king in America. Yet only 14 of the 50 highest-earning American athletes in 2010 were football players. Peyton Manning was the first on the list, at number nine, and had to troll our television sets in the form of $15mm in endorsements just to break the top 10.

Where it gets worse, and what I think needs to be addressed the most, is with the salaries of your typical NFL player. Players in the NBA averaged $5.3mm in 2008. At the same time, NFL players were averaging less than $800k per season. I understand that there are more players on an NFL team, I get that. However, when the league is handcuffed by the salaries of rookies (see Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez being in the top 50 above), players at the "bottom tier" are playing a very violent game, suffering some very significant injuries, for very low money.

I don't agree that the players should get to look at the owner's books. Ever. The NFL is a business, and the owners should not be required to turn over their financials to its employees. However, the owners should really look over the numbers, and figure out a way to greater reward the players that are contributing to those figures.

Or at least that's how I'd feel, if I really cared.

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Comments

I agree that it is getting tiring.

The PA needs to accept the rookie wage scale and that would allow the owners to better reward the middle of pack guys that deserve the money. The players are being shady because they know if rookies get major bucks, the veteran stars will be filthy rich. That’s why they are not accepting the rookie wage scale. It’s give and take and the players don’t want to give anything, and the owners really don’t either. In what business do the employees get to keep 60% of the revenue? They should accept their damn pay and quit bitching.

Turco was good, but Crawford has a force field...

by Coz_Bulls_Fan on Mar 30, 2011 11:51 AM CDT reply actions

I agree

The only thing I would suggest is bump up the league minimum. The NFL has some of the lowest paid American Athletes because it is one of the only leagues with a salary cap. The salary cap keeps teams from paying unlimited amounts of money to 1 or 2 players, and instead spread a limited amount of money across a whole team.

by IndyBearsFan88 on Mar 30, 2011 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with this

In a sinister way, as much as I would miss football and the excitement it brings, I hope this lockout ends worse for the NFL than the effect a lockout had on the NHL. I think both the owners and players need to be put in their respective “places”, and the only thing they seemingly both understand is money. At a time when close to 1 in 10 Americans can’t find a job the “billionaires versus millionaires” arguments and their respective attempts to court public opinion is a slap in the face to the fans, and I can only hope that the fans in some way repay the NFL in kind.

E.F.K.

by DaBearBus on Mar 30, 2011 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

by IndyBearsFan88 on Mar 30, 2011 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Lacking pictures/photoshop; did not read.

Though I agree with the sentiment.

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 30, 2011 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

You know.... this comment

almost makes me want to ask David for my job back as his hype man. You obviously do not know how versitile he really is. The above wonderfully written post is yet another example that smacks you in the face like a Bones Jones Elbow. Respect as always David.

When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke a furry wall.
- Aldous Snow

by Ditkavsworld on Mar 30, 2011 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Haha.

The job is always yours. Unless it’s not. Then it isn’t. ;)

-------
cheekymonkeyart.com | follow me on facebook and twitter

by David Taylor on Mar 30, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

You're the best boss ever.

When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke a furry wall.
- Aldous Snow

by Ditkavsworld on Mar 30, 2011 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Well written, sure.

Sans photoshop, however, ’tis lacking. :)

Weekend contributor at Windy City Gridiron

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 30, 2011 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

You want me to punchasize your face don't you?

When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke a furry wall.
- Aldous Snow

by Ditkavsworld on Mar 31, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

No, I want a liter of cola.

Weekend contributor at Windy City Gridiron

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 31, 2011 10:57 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Do we serve Litercola?

When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke a furry wall.
- Aldous Snow

by Ditkavsworld on Mar 31, 2011 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

No, I don't want a Largefarva.

by Doshi on Apr 1, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Well la-de-freakin'-da!

We got ourselves a writer here!

I can’t see too good. (moving glasses up and down) Is that Bill Shakespeare over there?

"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith

by Pete Dixon on Mar 30, 2011 3:04 PM CDT reply actions

Two wrongs do not make a right

Just because NBA players are over-paid doesn’t mean that NFL players should be over-payed too.

by Nicholas Contos on Mar 30, 2011 3:23 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Overpaid is one thing.

But the point is there a severe disconnect between injury/health risks and compensation. When compared to peers, doesn’t that make a football player far undercompensated for the risks they incur?

Weekend contributor at Windy City Gridiron

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 30, 2011 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Get real

How does the average NFL players compensation compare to our combat veterans who risk a lot more than these guys? Do these guys deserver more than a fireman or police officer just because they were gifted with the ability to run a little faster jump a little higher etc. Most of these guys got a free ride through college and graduated with a chance to make millions in the NFL when the vast majority of their class mates graduated and entered the work force under the crushing burden of 10’s of thousands of dollars of student loans. Many of these guys are compensated more in one year than the rest of us make in a lifetime. If you want to say they deserve more thats fine and the great thing about this country is that everyone is entitled to express their views and think what they like.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Mar 30, 2011 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, slow up.

I never said anything about our civil servicemen, armed forces, or anything, only sports figures. Can we keep this confined to a sports universe, please?

Weekend contributor at Windy City Gridiron

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 30, 2011 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I live in a multi-Universe

one that understands that comparing overpaid football players to overpaid basketball players is a lot like comparing over paid actors to over paid musicians. I am not going to lose any sleep over a guy that gets paid $40,000 for being on a practice squad for a week.
Whoever first said that this was a case of millionaires verses billionaires must live in something more than just a sports universe.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Mar 31, 2011 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions

...

They’re different mediums, different markets, yes. But relative to what an NBA player does, an NFL player can do more harm to himself. Keep in mind everything they do is for our entertainment. Why shouldn’t they be compensated for the possibility of turning themselves, even willingly, into brain-beaten vegetables by age 40 just so we have an excuse to drink beer every Sunday? NBA players don’t have that risk, especially as severely. That’s the only comparison and remark I’m making.

Weekend contributor at Windy City Gridiron

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 31, 2011 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions

who doesn't want a raise?

These guys are well paid now, The NBA is another industry one I care little about. .

what are the most dangerous jobs in the usa?

1. Fisherman 200 deaths per 100k workers average income $23,600
2. Loggers 61.8 & 34,440
3. Airplane pilot 57.1 & 106,240
4. Farmers/ranchers 35.8 & 32,350
5. Roofers 34.7 & 33,970
6. Ironworkers 30.0 & 44,500
7. Sanitary workers 25.2 & 32,070
8. Industrial machinist 18.5 & 39,600
9. Truckers 18.3 & 37,730
10. Construction workers 128.3 & 29,150

The unhearalded NFL player making 250,000 per year with a very small chance of being killed on the job appear to be doing pretty well even if they are preforming for a bunch of beer drinking bums who actually have more dangerous jobs.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Mar 31, 2011 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey buddy.

Well stated. But everything is still relative. Like you pointed out yet it can be relative in the other direction too. As far as professional athletes go, the NFL players are generally underpaid. Good to hear from you ed.

Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.

by Just Dave on Mar 30, 2011 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Just pointing out that football players are not a bunch of oppressed coal miners

there is what 82 games in a NBA season? 162 games in a MLB season? Clearly there is something very different about these sports.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Mar 31, 2011 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Not really

All the data is there and they choose to play. They are compensated and compensated well. A little financial planning and even a minimum wage player is set for life after 1-2 seasons. They could just as easily choose to play a year and them use their free college degrees.

by TheMan1 on Mar 30, 2011 8:47 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

But that doesn't change the disconnect.

I don’t disagree with them being well compensated. Playing football is still far riskier to a player’s health overall than playing basketball.

Weekend contributor at Windy City Gridiron

by Steven Schweickert on Mar 30, 2011 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

set for life?

the minimum wage players are the ones getting beat down by the system.
How much is left after taxes, agent fees, personal trainer fees, Nutritionist, and all the food and supplements you have to tkae to train and prepare your body for the rigors of football?
How much do you think insurance rates are for a player that has been pummeled for the better part of a decade after high school, college and the NFL? Can you say high risk?
Set for life? NO. Head start if you plan it right? Definitely.
Remember, only about 10 players on any team make the most money, $1 Million+. The rest are under that mark.

by Berserker333 on Mar 30, 2011 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Lets see

Ist many people play high school and college ball who have the same wear and tear as these NFL players. So that argument is invalid.

Rookie min = $300,000
Vet min = $800,000

These are estimates but I believe are close to correct. So 1-2 = millionaire and that is if you are playing for minimum, which in all likelihood you’re riding the bench or a crap punter so less risk and injury. I highly doubt you’re everyday player is paying dietary consultants, nutritionists and trainers from their own pockets. Pretty sure the team has all of that. Not saying some players do not hire these services.

by TheMan1 on Mar 31, 2011 9:38 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Not at all

They make pretty good money for what they do and the percentage of chance of injury. When compared to peers, they do pretty well, outside of baseball, which vastly overpays their players. I’d love to actually see a post comparing injury percentage per player in each sport to pay, then we can talk factually about whether they are underpaid. Till then, saying they are underpaid is just opinion.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on Mar 31, 2011 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions

You all got WAY off topic

You can’t compare the NFL players salary to any other sport, and just because the NFL is more popular, that doesn’t mean it is the most wealthy.

The following is for fun and I’m a nerd. It also assumes the following, all teams have revenue sharing, the CBA is a 50/50 split, average ticket price excludes premium seating that includes any amenities, and potential revenue is if all seats are sold out to every game.

All stats gathered by google search so I haven’t quoted or linked any sources.

Math time:

NFL team roster size – 53
NFL regular season length – 16 games
NFL team home games – 8
Average number of seats in an NFL stadium – 70,000
70,000 (seats) X 8 (home games) = 560,000 tickets
average ticket price – $76.47
potential revenue = $42,823,200
$42,823,200 X 50% = $21,411,600 ÷ 53 = $403,992

NBA team roster size – 15
NBA team season length – 82 games
NBA team home games – 41
average number of seats at an NBA game – 17,000
17,000 (seats) X 41 (home games) = 697,000 tickets
average ticket price – $48.08
potential revenue = $33,511,760
$33,511,760 X 50% = $16,755,880 ÷ 15 = $1,117,058

NHL team roster size – 23
NHL team season length – 82
NHL team home games – 41
average number of seats at an NHL game – 15,000
15,000 (seats) X 41 (home games) = 615,000 tickets
average ticket price – $54.25
potential revenue = $33,363,750
$33,363,750 X 50% = $16,681,875 ÷ 23 = $725,298

MLB team roster size – 40
MLB team season length – 162
MLB team home games – 81
average number of seats at an MLB game – 44,234 (seats) X 81 (home games) = 3,582,954 tickets
average ticket price – $26.74
potential revenue = $95,808,189
$95,808,189 X 50% = $47,904,094 ÷ 40 = $1,197,602

As you can clearly see, baseball has the highest potential for player profit. The shear number of games played and the average stadium size in the MLB is what makes for all the money. The NFL is Last in profit poetential in this model. This is why the owners are trying to get more games played.

Also, this is just based on ticket prices alone and no TV contracts or other revenue streams are even considered, as well as skybox seating and suites.

by Berserker333 on Mar 30, 2011 11:25 PM CDT reply actions