So as I sit sipping a glass of Bulleit Bourbon trying to relax after a long day of work, I log onto Yahoo Sports and see that Matthew Stafford will indeed be the number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and could make $78 million over the next 6 years, with $41.7 guaranteed. Holy Shit.
I am all for everyone making as much money as they possibly can in any way they can, but $41.7 million guaranteed on a guy who has never taken a pro-snap in his life is borderline ridiculous. I don’t hold it against Stafford or his agent in any way, I mean hell, more power to him, but the Lions, and the NFL contracts for first round picked rookies in general is getting a little out of hand.
As many of you know, one of the issues on the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement in the NFL is going to be whether or not rookie pay should be more strictly regulated. I am all for it. I don’t think that NFL players should make less, if a team is willing to pay them, and has cap room, pay them… as long as they have proven themselves in the NFL. How many players like Tim Couch have been drafted, payed well, and done a whole bunch of nothing as a pro. Basically I have no problem with a player like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Troy Polamalu, or Wes Welker making millions per year. I just don’t think that rookies, no matter how good they are expected to be, should be the highest paid player on the team.
Get ready for the NFL Draft we will have all the Draft Picks as they happen.
It is going to be pretty difficult for Stafford especially with the economic situation in Detroit.
I hope he can find a reasonably priced place to live.