Why do players care if they make say 8 million or 12 million?

[sarge]

People tend to look at things very differently then it is there money they are talking about.

 

[50-yard-line]

Lots of good comments here already, but I'll add that making money is like a drug, and there will never be enough. You make money and spend some - bigger house, 2nd home, boat, etc. - and you've also significantly upped your operating expenses.

You used to mow your own lawn, but now you've got 2 or 10 acres, and every spring the landscaper sends you the 5-figure summer estimate...and when you need work, taht can soar to 6 figures in a hurry.

It can become a trap in a hurry. I know several former millionaires (multimillionaires) who are now flat broke. And the difference isn't between 8 and 12 - the agent scrapes his cut, the taxman comes calling.

And no, when you have that kind of cash, you don't put it in a bank account. It goes to stocks/bond/muni bonds, etc. (and so you also pay broker fees in perpetuity).

 

[Tunescribe]

Why does billionaires continue to pursue ways to make even more money?

Because they have no sense of living in the real world.

 

[Nunchucks]

Lets see, 1 million dollars is a lot of money, many people can actually retire and live a comfortable life with 1 million dollars. So, put in that context, the difference between even 1 million and 2 million is huge, the difference between 9 million and 10 million is also pretty amazing.

Then you think about these guys setting up their income for the rest of their lives, setting their children up, etc....it is an important amount of money.

 

[BradyManny]

I am sympathetic to the OP's argument. I think players chase dollars too often. Yes, we all get it, more money is better. But people need to take a more holistic approach in evaluating the utility of these things. Is $10 million and a forgetful career in Tampa or Jacksonville better than $7 million and a Super Bowl ring in New England?

Sometimes people take too narrow a focus when they do the math. Money is just one factor in the equation.

 

[Rob0729]

I don't get why people have problems with players chasing after every dollar. If they were lawyers and not football players, people would think they were insane to stay with their current law firm if they could make $4 million a year with the law firm down the street even though his current law firm wins more cases.

When it comes to contracts, football is a business. The Patriots and every other team make business decisions about their roster. Why shouldn't players do the same when they are free agents.

I admire players who are willing to forgo a few dollars to stay with the team they love, but I would never condemn a player who chases after the cash. Most players have only one chance to cash in (usually their second contract) and they need to make the money off that contract last his entire life even though they are likely to be unable to draw remotely close to his NFL salary ever again by his late 20s/early 30s.

 

[Tunescribe]

Lets see, 1 million dollars is a lot of money, many people can actually retire and live a comfortable life with 1 million dollars. So, put in that context, the difference between even 1 million and 2 million is huge, the difference between 9 million and 10 million is also pretty amazing.

Then you think about these guys setting up their income for the rest of their lives, setting their children up, etc....it is an important amount of money.

People in Western society are brainwashed (brain dead) into believing that amassing wealth and material possessions is the ultimate measure of happiness, success, respect and accomplishment. Too often we see people -- including pro athletes -- sell their souls in this pursuit and die miserable. Since when is it imperative to set up one's children to live effortless lives of luxury? How much in excess of necessity is ever enough? The OP makes an excellent point.

 

[BradyManny]

If they were lawyers and not football players, people would think they were insane to stay with their current law firm if they could make $4 million a year with the law firm down the street even though his current law firm wins more cases.

I disagree completely. Provided the lawyer in this hypothetical case is both happy with their job and financially comfortable, no one would think them insane to turn down more money.

 

[Rob0729]

I am sympathetic to the OP's argument. I think players chase dollars too often. Yes, we all get it, more money is better. But people need to take a more holistic approach in evaluating the utility of these things. Is $10 million and a forgetful career in Tampa or Jacksonville better than $7 million and a Super Bowl ring in New England?

Sometimes people take too narrow a focus when they do the math. Money is just one factor in the equation.

Going to New England over Jacksonville doesn't guarantee you a Super Bowl ring. Look at Logan Mankins and Wes Welker. Both played a majority of their careers in New England and neither have any more rings than anyone who spent their entire career on the Jaguars.

Yes, Welker's career was probably bigger playing with Brady, but if he went to San Diego he might have gotten the same type of numbers and never even been to a Super Bowl and only made one AFCCG.

 

[Rob0729]

I disagree completely. Provided the lawyer in this hypothetical case is both happy with their job and financially comfortable, no one would think them insane to turn down more money.

You are kidding yourself. You really think NO ONE would think the person is insane for turning down a job with a 50% pay raise because he is happy where he is? Really?!? Many people may say that, but would be saying in their heads or behind their backs that they are stupid for not taking another $4 million a year at the other company.

You also assume that you can only be happy at the place you are at. Let's say in this scenario that the firm that offers more money has a better philosophy about balancing life and work and has an extra week of vacation a year.

That is the problem with fans who kill the players who chase the money. They think the players can only be happy with THEIR team and not somewhere else.

If Devin McCourty gets offered a top of the market contract from Green Bay, is he stupid not to take less to stay here? The Packers have about as good of a shot at the Super Bowl next year as the Pats and have better long term prospect at being a Super Bowl contender because of Brady and Rodgers' ages.

 

[BradyManny]

Going to New England over Jacksonville doesn't guarantee you a Super Bowl ring. Look at Logan Mankins and Wes Welker. Both played a majority of their careers in New England and neither have any more rings than anyone who spent their entire career on the Jaguars.

Yes, Welker's career was probably bigger playing with Brady, but if he went to San Diego he might have gotten the same type of numbers and never even been to a Super Bowl and only made one AFCCG.

I think a problem is people do a poor job of evaluating the utility of things they can't assign a numerical value, too. There's obviously benefit to both Welker & Mankins have played here - been in contention all the time, for Welker, catching passes from the best QB of all time, winning division titles, playoff games, more endorsements for being relevant (that can have $$ assigned to it), etc., etc. And Welker was clearly aware of that when he went to sign with another elite QB in Manning. He wasn't about to go rot in Jacksonville. And if given the choice, would Mankins have signed himself up for Tampa Bay?

Those things should be weighed into consideration when someone makes a decision. If they had to assign a dollar value to them, how would they weigh them? I think people forget the most precious commodity is your own time, and that if some clever mathematician or economist figured out a way to assign a dollar value to any generic hour of human life, it would astronomically dwarf any income for any occupation that has ever existed. Maxing out your dollar amount can be short-sighted if it ignores other factors which will contribute equally or more to your overall well-being.

 

[BradyManny]

You are kidding yourself. You really think NO ONE would think the person is insane for turning down a job with a 50% pay raise because he is happy where he is? Really?!? Many people may say that, but would be saying in their heads or behind their backs that they are stupid for not taking another $4 million a year at the other company.

You've made two different arguments here - $4 million a year and 50% raise. In our hypothetical lawyer case, they are not the same argument. Either way, again, no - no person would be regarded as insane if they are both financially comfortable and happy in their own life for making a decision which avoids jeopardizing the latter of those two things at the expense of furthering the former.

By your own logic, we wouldn't have teachers, social workers, scientists - all people who could be fully qualified to make a lot more money doing something else. Come on, let's not try to boil the world down to such a simple bottom line.

You also assume that you can only be happy at the place you are at. Let's say in this scenario that the firm that offers more money has a better philosophy about balancing life and work and has an extra week of vacation a year.

That is the problem with fans who kill the players who chase the money. They think the players can only be happy with THEIR team and not somewhere else.

If Devin McCourty gets offered a top of the market contract from Green Bay, is he stupid not to take less to stay here? The Packers have about as good of a shot at the Super Bowl next year as the Pats and have better long term prospect at being a Super Bowl contender because of Brady and Rodgers' ages.

It's up to Devin McCourty. He probably would find more money & his time in Green Bay is > less money in New England, and I won't begrudge him that. He seems like he's not a tool who will just arbitrarily take more money without considering other factors. Again, you are trying to over-simplify things. I'm just saying people need to make a holistic choice, not a blind one looking at one bottom line.

 

[Rob0729]

I think a problem is people do a poor job of evaluating the utility of things they can't assign a numerical value, too. There's obviously benefit to both Welker & Mankins have played here - been in contention all the time, for Welker, catching passes from the best QB of all time, winning division titles, playoff games, more endorsements for being relevant (that can have $$ assigned to it), etc., etc. And Welker was clearly aware of that when he went to sign with another elite QB in Manning. He wasn't about to go rot in Jacksonville. And if given the choice, would Mankins have signed himself up for Tampa Bay?

Those things should be weighed into consideration when someone makes a decision. If they had to assign a dollar value to them, how would they weigh them? I think people forget the most precious commodity is your own time, and that if some clever mathematician or economist figured out a way to assign a dollar value to any generic hour of human life, it would astronomically dwarf any income for any occupation that has ever existed. Maxing out your dollar amount can be short-sighted if it ignores other factors which will contribute equally or more to your overall well-being.

Sure there are plenty of things to weigh when comparing offers, but not all players are motivated by championships and not every offer other than staying with their home team is a bad situation or a downgrade.

Let's face it. In a few years, this team is in flux. We do not know what this team will be like post Brady. A young player with a good 5-7 years left in his career might be weighing that about this team.

 

[BradyManny]

Sure there are plenty of things to weigh when comparing offers, but not all players are motivated by championships and not every offer other than staying with their home team is a bad situation or a downgrade.

Let's face it. In a few years, this team is in flux. We do not know what this team will be like post Brady. A young player with a good 5-7 years left in his career might be weighing that about this team.

Again - I'm not trying to actually make the decision for people. I'm just saying they should consider all these factors. IE, where they want to live, how will it affect their family, what stage of my career are they in? Etc. These things tangibly affect happiness, and need to be considered. And I actually think more players than are given credit for do factor these things in.

 

[condon84]

You're asking why an employee would care if another job offered 50% more than their current salary?

 

[50-yard-line]

Lets see, 1 million dollars is a lot of money, many people can actually retire and live a comfortable life with 1 million dollars. So, put in that context, the difference between even 1 million and 2 million is huge, the difference between 9 million and 10 million is also pretty amazing.

Then you think about these guys setting up their income for the rest of their lives, setting their children up, etc....it is an important amount of money.

No, you're wrong - take a look at the diminishing marginal utility of money. There is NO real difference between 9 million and 10 million in terms of lifestyle. None.

It's a number in a portfolio (which, at that level, will fluctuate 10's of thousands a DAY) and more importantly, it's a number in the part of your brain that gives you a sense of self-worth...if you're buying into the cultural stupidity.

 

[Rob0729]

You've made two different arguments here - $4 million a year and 50% raise. In our hypothetical lawyer case, they are not the same argument. Either way, again, no - no person would be regarded as insane if they are both financially comfortable and happy in their own life for making a decision which jeopardizes the latter of those two things at the expense of furthering the former.

By your own logic, we wouldn't have teachers, social workers, scientists - all people who could be fully qualified to make a lot more money doing something else. Heck, by the extent of your incredulity, you should be roaming the streets at night selling drugs and selling your body for money. ARE YOU INSANE DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU COULD MAKE FOR YOUR FAMILY!?! Come on, let's not try to boil the world down to such a simple bottom line.

Ummm..... $4 million is a 50% raise in this scenario. How is that two different argument? If he makes $4 million more in this scenario, he is making $12 million. If he is making 50% more in this scenario, he is still making $12 million. How is it a different argument? I just used the percentage increase in the statement over the actual dollar increase.

Again, to say no person would say they are insane not to take a $4 million a year (or 50%) raise is totally BS. Plenty of people would think that lawyer is certifiably insane.

And by my own argument, yes plenty of people would think someone is insane if they were offered a six or seven figure a year salary at a job and decided to give it up to make $40k as a teacher. Absolutely!

But people who go into those type of careers are not typically given the offer of a huge high paying salary or the salary to be a teacher, social worker, or whatever. They are never given that option. So it is completely different than the scenario. So while accusing me of making two different arguments, you throw a completely irrelevant argument into the mix.

It's up to Devin McCourty. He probably would find more money & his time in Green Bay is > less money in New England, and I won't begrudge him that. He seems like he's not a tool who will just arbitrarily take more money without considering other factors. Again, you are trying to over-simplify things. I'm just saying people need to make a holistic choice, not a blind one looking at one bottom line.

McCourty is willing to take a hometown discount. He is actually a bad case study because he seems to be against the norm, but if he is offered $4 million more a year (which is to assume the guaranteed money is significantly more) to play for another team he is crazy not to take it. He could step onto the field opening day and have a career ending injury. Then he only gets the guaranteed money and never plays for either team. That is the extreme scenario, but he could have a career shortening injury where the smart thing is to take the more money.

The lawyer scenario is actually irrelevant in a lot of ways because a lawyer would have a lot more guarantees. He would have an iron clad contract that guaranteed him his salary barring him violating rules with a golden parachute if he was let go. And even if he was let go, he probably could go on for years making a similar salary after he left somewhere else. Players have no such guarantees and only a short window to make their money.

 

[Bertil]

I just read on PFT that the Steelers are trying to convince Polamalu to retire. He is 33!!

The money is not available for long. They should try to cash in. The NFL is getting huge $ off of their services and they deserve a hefty share of the pie, given the physical toll that it takes.

 

[Rob0729]

Again - I'm not trying to actually make the decision for people. I'm just saying they should consider all these factors. IE, where they want to live, how will it affect their family, what stage of my career are they in? Etc. These things tangibly affect happiness, and need to be considered. And I actually think more players than are given credit for do factor these things in.

You forget that the NFL is a short part of every players' lives. The average tenure in the NFL is what 2-3 years and the average age of death of an average male is in the 70s. Even if the player has a long career, they likely only play a decade in the NFL. They need to make their money when they can.

Yes, there are other factors to consider, but at times the money is so much more that you work around those factors to make it work. Most contracts are only three years no matter how long they are. After 3 years, players with big contracts are usually asked to restructure or let go if they don't. So three years of your life to cash in is worth it to most players.

 

[Boots Electric]

We can't accept pay raises from our current company or massive offers from other companies, turn around, and condemn athletes if they want a bigger contract with another team. It's a business.

By all accounts, Lionel Messi is a great team player, leader, and wants to win. He is also the 4th highest paid soccer player in the world at $50 million a year, and that's only his contract with Barcelona. The issue is the salary cap and how it limits a players true earning potential all for the sake of "parity".