Why they play in the NFL

by bigbearomaha on Dec 12, 2007 11:50 AM CST

One thing I mention more than once in posts around here is playing for the love of the game.

It's true, you have to love the game to keep playing or you will burn and crash hard.

However. Let's not kid ourselves, Playing in the NFL means more than that. it means money.

Now, for the "visible" positions, RB's Receivers and QB's, There is LOADS of money to be had. Not to mention the publicity and advertising money to be chased down as well. If a "visible" player is successful in the NFL, his earning potential skyrockets without "outside" opportunities often exceeding their NFL contracts, which are nothing to sneeze at on their own.

On the other side of the lights though are the "invisible" players. The "Big Boys", being linemen and "grunt" back positions.

These boys Love the game. Often it's one of the fewest opportunities they will ever have come their way to make that kind of money, which very often might equal half of the "visible positions at best.

They generally NEVER see the publicity and advertising opportunities come their way, once in a while you get a standout shot, a William Perry, a "Mean Joe" Green, etc. but those are the exceptions, not the rule.

But still, an NFL base contract for linemen is pretty good. Better than most opportunities a "big Boy" will ever get.

Truck Driver, Dock loader, farmer/rancher, etc.

I know this because I and a lot of Retired or short term 'invisibles" I know have ended up doing those exact jobs after the NFL was through with them.

A friend of mine was a starting offensive Lineman for the Chiefs in the late 70's, Larry Brown. That dude was good back then.

got hurt, retired ( nice way to put it ) and what does he do now?

He's a truck driver. ( just like me)

I don't ever give the "visibles" a hard time for wanting to get what money they can out of the NFL, the owners make more from their teams than they could ever spend. and it's the players backs theyr are making that money on.

but the "visibles" are only really at their best, when some "invisibles" are excelling at their jobs. where are the bonuses for making the opportunities happen for them? you got to have a damn good agent to see that happen and even then, count yourself very lucky to even be heard on the subject.

Even the "bad" O line guys we have in KC, I love em. they play their hearts out, even if they aren't the best and I don't blame them for taking every minute a coach gives them on the field.

Yes, football is just a game. It's a game that pays the guys who play it very well if they make it to the Pro's. But that doesn't make the game any easier to play.

Big Bear

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Disagree a bit

Left tackles are the second highest paid positions on the field.

Hutchinson, Dockery, these guys signed huge contracts ($40 million +), so while they may not get the endorsement opportunities, the good ones are still getting paid big time. More than most other positions on the field. Hutchinson's contract was ( I believe) 7 years, $49 million. LJ's contract is less than that.

But you're right, after the game is over, these guys aren't noticed, tend to die younger, have less off the field opportunities as others.

re: Larry Brown from the 70s...very few NFL players from that era are making much money now. Those guys tended to have other, off-season jobs anyway.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 12, 2007 1:57 PM CST reply actions

those guys aren't the rule

again, they are the exception, not the rule. not all teams left tackles are paid those kind of contracts.

I am working on a contract comparison, when done, I will post it here. No real reason, not to be contrary. Just to show my support for the "Big Boys".

My point isn't to be argumentative. I just think my boys get the short end of the stick more often than not.

Big Bear

by bigbearomaha on Dec 12, 2007 10:03 PM CST reply actions

I see what you mean

I just think my boys get the short end of the stick more often than not.

Certainly true, more often than not. Less exposure/visibility, less endorsements, lack of appreciation

by Joel Thorman on Dec 12, 2007 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

This should help with getting contracts together

USA Today's NFL Salary Tracker

by Chris Thorman on Dec 13, 2007 7:29 AM CST up reply actions

thanks chris

I can use that for sure

by bigbearomaha on Dec 13, 2007 8:03 AM CST reply actions

for the Chiefs alone

your "visible" players, QB's, RB's DB's, etc

there is this year a total combined salary of $77,162,172.00

compared to Offensive Line $15,343,010.00

and Defensive Line $14,512,277.00

for a combined total lineman O and D of
$29,855,287.00

An overall difference of $47,306,885.00

So, In the Chiefs alone, Total line O & D make about Half of Total Backs, etc.

This is just NFL salaries alone. NOT counting outside opportunities created by heightened "visibility".

Offensive Backs alone total $40,744,790.00
Minus Offensive Lineman Total $15,343,010.00
A difference of $25,401,780.00

showing that the Offensive "visible" players make almost twice as much as the linemen.

these are numbers from the site Chris posted for this year, I used a simple OpenOffice spreadsheet to sum all the total salaries.

and the Chiefs fall right into the NFL pay Averages, so it is not unique to them.

Big Bear

by bigbearomaha on Dec 13, 2007 9:04 AM CST reply actions

I love OpenOffice!

by Chris Thorman on Dec 13, 2007 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

Ditto

Only way to go.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 13, 2007 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

for the Chiefs alone cont'd

Now, To make it fair, there are 9 Offensive Linemen used in this total and 18 Offensive players, so, if I trim the O backs down to the starting 9 ( 1st and 2nd ) the Offensive backs make a total of $35,957,875.00.

still a difference of $20,614,865.00

Still double that of the same number of O line.

Interesting note that the top 2 paid players are T G and LJ. LJ making a little more than TG. TG Earns every penny , no doubt and goes out and Makes plays happen.
LJ however, behind a line that a ROOKIE ran well behind, couldn't produce to save his life.

Big Bear

by bigbearomaha on Dec 13, 2007 9:20 AM CST reply actions