Wide Receivers Are Getting Paid Like Quarterbacks
Friday, August 24, 2012 at 12:00AM Joe Simmons 
Just a few months ago NFL owners were talking about the fact that they had no money. In fact they were complaining that they had lost money over the past few years. One of the reasons that they had lost money was because they have been spending too much money on players who weren't franchise players. When you look at how the owners are throwing around money now, you have to ask "where is all this money coming from now?"
When it comes to pay, quarterbacks and left tackles usually make the most on offense and defensive ends and lockdown corners make the most on defense.
In fact when you break it down by position over time the scale looks something like this:
1. Quarterbacks
2. Defensive ends
3. Left Tackles
4. Defensive Tackles
5. Cornerbacks
6. Linebackers
7. Wide Receiver
8. Running Backs
9. Safety
10. Punter Kicker
You can see from this chart that running backs and wide receivers make very little on average because they are considered a dime a dozen players. This means that they can be easily replaced with the exception of the special athlete or game breaker.
It appears that has all changed as money is being thrown at these guys now like they are the franchise players on the team and not the quarterback. It all started last year when Larry Fitzgerald got an eight year one hundred twenty million dollar deal last season with fifty million guaranteed. This year the Detroit Lions went a step further giving Calvin Johnson an eight year one hundred thirty-two million dollar deal with more than sixty million dollars guaranteed. By the way both of these are the two richest contracts ever given in the history of the league.
Who would have ever thought that the two richest contracts ever would belong to wide receivers? Usually wide receiver contracts are safe. Like the one that DeSean Jackson just received. Jackson got a five year fifty-one million dollar contract with only fifteen million guaranteed. Its a great contract if Jackson performs but if he doesn't perform the Eagles don't lose much.
Stay Breezy ~ I'm Out!
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