The Highest Paid NFL Players
- Signing bonuses are the biggest factor in determining the highest paid NFL players
- Is Ben Roethlisberger the greatest quarterback? He had the top NFL players salary in 2008 because of a $25 million signing bonus
- Early in 2009, Nnamdi Asomugha signed a huge contract. Even though he is an amazing football player, previously his name was known by only the most die hard fans, except in Oakland
Sure, they can light up the football scoreboards and you may love what they do for your favorite team. Still, try not to be too jealous of how much money they’re making!
Signing Bonuses
Top NFL salaries vary widely from year to year because of signing bonuses. Ben Roethlisberger was the top-paid player of 2008; of his $27,701,920 salary, $25,300,000 was a signing bonus. Is Big Ben the greatest quarterback? Well, he did lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl title. But his quarterback rating for the regular season was exceeded by several others.
Also in the top five salaries for 2008 were Jared Allen, defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings; Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals; JaMarcus Russell, quarterback for the Oakland Raiders; and Michael Turner, halfback for the Atlanta Falcons. Their salaries ranged from $16 million to $21 million. All except Russell had large signing bonuses. One could argue that Fitzgerald was the most deserving of this group. This amazing football player was dominant in the playoffs, as his team shocked seasoned observers by reaching the Super Bowl after a so-so regular season. And he gave the Steelers all they could handle in the title game. Allen and Turner did not disappoint their teams, and they were named as Pro Bowl reserves. Only Russell’s performance left a lot to be desired, as he logged very average statistics, albeit for a weak team.
Perhaps the other most well-known player in the top ten for 2008 was Randy Moss, wide receiver for the New England Patriots, who received a $14 million salary that included a $12 million signing bonus.
The Shutdown Cornerback
Nnamdi Asomugha (pronounced NAHM-dee AH-so-MUH-wah) is a Pro Bowl cornerback for Oakland who in February cashed in when he signed a contract that will pay him more than $14 million in 2009, just above what Peyton Manning, perhaps the greatest quarterback in the history of the game, will make. Cornerbacks’ contracts have been rising for years because recent statistical models have shown that the best ones are the most valuable part of their defenses. These “shutdown corners” can have a devastating effect on their opponents’ passing attacks. Asomugha is an amazing football player who so intimidated other teams that they rarely threw in his direction in 2008, and so he intercepted only a single pass. Asomugha grew up in Louisiana and is the son of Nigerian parents.
Big Salaries in Prior Years
Indianapolis defensive lineman Dwight Freeney received nearly $31 million in 2007, including a $15 million signing bonus. Richard Seymour, defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, received about $25 million in 2006. Peyton Manning received about $35 million in 2004.
The 2009 Draft
Are any rookies likely to get a top salary? The best prospect for a blockbuster signing bonus seems to be Matthew Stafford, the University of Georgia quarterback who is widely expected to be a top-five pick.
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Okay, I’m a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan and as one, I recognize the fact that my team has the lowest paid players on it. But come on people…the amount of money even the lowliest Steeler pulls down exceeds what I would make in three years. I know this is their job and they get hurt, but how many people get paid outrageous amounts of money to do something they love? The highest paid players – no, all NFL players – shouldn’t be making millions of dollars.
The NFL makes a lot of money. If the players don’t get it, who does the owners? A lot of people are mad at players, but remember, at the head of each of these teams are owners who can afford to pay these salaries without even blinking.
They get paid that much, because they should, unless the laws of supply and demand are fundamentally flawed. There are only a few who could ever make to the NFL, based on body types and genetics, and most of those lack the dedication. Digression: Almost anyone can get a teaching degree, so I don’t care what malcontented teachers get paid. Perhaps they can try to pay their bills with naive altruism. As for doing what they love. Yeah, most, we call them lucky. Let’s not forget the outstanding talents that do not love the game, at least not as much as what it provides them. See J. Russel of OAK.
You know, people go off about these guys making outrageous amounts of money that they shouldn’t, but have you seen them when they get off their field? These guys need millions just to pay their doctor bills.
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger are paid way too much money to throw a football. Add Tony Romo to that last. I mean, yeah, they’re good, but they don’t need to be bringing that much down a year. I don’t care what their doctor bills look like.
Peyton Manning… “perhaps the greatest quarterback in history?” Is this a joke?
The guy wins 1 super bowl after years of choking and already he’s eclipsed Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, and Joe Montana. Remind me, does Manning have as many super bowl appearances as these guys have rings?
Yeah, check your comments next time, dude. Unbelievable.
Consider this, everyone, before you cry about how much they are paid or how high ticket prices are or whatever: Players put in much more time working every week during practice, workouts, games, and anything else associated with their job that it would be ridiculous to consider it even close to a normal job. Also, ticket prices aren’t any more expensive related to income as they were in 1920. Do your homework.
(((Consider this, everyone, Alex says)))
This is great maybe before you print((Do your homework.)) you should…
1….football,,,all players of course do not work year round….most americans work lots of overtime year round…..I have 5 friend that are professional football players and if you add all they’re hours of travel incl.((anything else associated with their job that it would be ridiculous to consider))..The Average ovetime working american puts in more hours…..per year “on average of a person working a 52 hr week”
2.Ticket prices on the average in 1920 were approx $5.00 per ticket from all research ((Inflation calculator))”pretty simple”…with the cost of inflation that will equal $58.72 in todays money,,,,tell me where you get a professional ticket for that amount,,.,,$150.00 per ticket is about base i can find….even in the midwest.
$150?!? ok,I dont go to many games because Im a broke ass, however, I did just drive 2 hours to see a Packers/Rams game (they should have paid me to go) but it was only 20 bucks for both tickets… nose bleed city, but hey, ya dont have to sit front center…
How dare any one complain about how much an NFL player gets paid!!! The NFL puts on a good enough show to be able to sell tickets at whatever price and fill enough seats and sell enough TV ads and whatever whatever. It’s all voluntary guys! If you don’t like how much someone gets paid in the NFL then don’t do business with them in anyway! This includes going to a game or buying merchandise. This also includes even watching a game on TV.
How bout those baseball players huh…….they put on a good show?? right? I’ve never watched a game before, so I really don’t know.
Tom Brady all the way, best qb in history, other than joe Montana and they deserve the pay they get, I mean could you who are talking about their pay go out there and even get a play off? No!