15 Players Making Bank on Crappy Teams
While the purpose of every athlete is, presumably, to play a sport for the chance at winning a championship, there's no denying that a few guys out there find comfort in just making big-time money.
And although it takes a team to both win and lose together, there are some players who are criticized a bit more because they're the highest-paid on the team and, in some cases, in their respective sports.
For that reason, here are some athletes who, might be be known as superstars, but they have failed to lift their team to success, as they just continue to make bank on their crappy teams.
Gordon Hayward
1 of 152014 Salary: $14.74 million
Following his first for seasons in the NBA, Utah Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward has done what every athlete hopes to do when they join the pros, improve each year.
Upping his scoring average, assists and rebounds since being taken No. 9 overall by the Jazz in the 2010 draft, Hayward gained the trust of the franchise by getting a max contract this past summer, showing their commitment to the blue-collar player.
For all that he has done, though, Hayward is still trapped on a team that is just 6-16 so far in 2014 and has reached the playoffs just once since he has played in Salt Lake City.
Still, the dude happily brings home checks of $14.74 million each year.
Troy Tulowitzki
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2014 Salary: $16 million
Already 30 years old, Colorado Rockies All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was a rising star when he inked a seven-year, $134 million extension back before the 2011 season.
But, even with Tulowitzki earning a trip to the Midsummer's Classic in three of the four seasons since, finishing in the Top 25 in NL MVP voting in those three years, he still hasn't been able to lead the Rockies to much team success.
There's no denying that the kid can rake and is worth a lot of money, but getting paid $16 million and finishing with an average of just 69 wins since signing on the dotted line has to be a bit of a bummer.
Steven Gerrard
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2014 Salary: $13.2 million
One of the all-time greats in English soccer, Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard might have accomplished a hell of a lot in his nearly 500 career caps for The Reds, but 2014 hasn't treated him so kindly.
While Gerrard has been his steady self and offered leadership to his teammates, he hasn't been able to lift the club into contention in the Premier League, with the club currently sitting in ninth place.
He's making $13.2 million this season with his contract up for renegotiation following the year, so who knows if this is the way his time at Anfield will end.
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Al Jefferson
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2014 Salary: $13.5 million
There's a reason why Charlotte Hornets forward Al Jefferson has never made an All-Star team.
Even though he has put up great numbers since coming into the league and was even named to the All-NBA Third Team for his 2013 campaign, Big Classic doesn't typically get recognized as one of the game's great forwards.
That's probably because he seems to always be on poor teams, with Jefferson only making the postseason three times in his 11 years, never advancing passed the first-round.
Not quite a franchise player, he still gets paid like one, earning $13.5 million for those teams who, frequently, find themselves either out of the playoffs or in a position to have an early exit.
And after helping his Charlotte team reach the postseason last year, the team is just 6-15 as an encore.
Drew Brees
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2014 Salary: $18.4 million
Is it fair to put future Hall of Famer Drew Brees on this list?
Probably not, seeing how he led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory five years ago and, more importantly, helped them reach the playoffs in three of the four seasons since.
Following a huge extension he signed in 2012, Brees expected to compete for titles, though, not just playoff appearances.
And while Brees continues to air it out and put up great stats individually, the $18.4 million he's making in 2014 is about the only good thing for him, because the team is struggling with a 5-8 record.
Joey Votto
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2014 Salary: $12 million
One of the best left-handed hitters in all of baseball four-time All-Star and 2010 NL MVP, Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds earned the team's trust in 2012. He received a 12-year, $251.5 million deal—the longest guaranteed contract in major league history
And while Votto hasn't done anything to make the franchise regret the contract, the first baseman hasn't helped take the franchise to the next level, reaching the playoffs twice since he got big money, but it has never been beyond the first-round.
After the Reds dipped to a lousy 76-86 record in 2014—with Votto being injured most of the year—the $12 million the slugger earned was probably the only highlight he had.
The pay increases even more over the remainder of his deal, so Votto-matic better hope the team's success improves, or a big paycheck is all he'll have to smile about.
Vincent Lecavalier
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2014 Salary: $10 million
A former No. 1 overall pick all the way back in the 1998 NHL draft, current Philadelphia Flyers center Vincent Lecavalier has had a solid career that has included a Stanley Cup win and four All-Star appearances.
But, while his individual accolades have been good, Lecavalier's Flyers haven't had as much luck with winning in his second year in Philly.
After 14 years with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Lecavalier picked a bad time to change zip codes, as his old team sits atop the Eastern Conference right now and his new team sits near the bottom.
Earning $10 million is nice, but I'm sure he would trade that for another chance at Lord Stanley's Cup.
Matt Ryan
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2014 Salary: $17.5 million
Much like the aforementioned Drew Brees, it might be a bit unkind to include Atlanta Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan on this list because he has had some success in the league.
Unfortunately, though, the proof is in his team's paltry record.
After taking the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game in 2012, Ryan's team has slipped mightily, going just 9-20 in the 29 games since, including some regression in the quarterback's numbers, too.
This, of course, came after the franchise handed him an extension that was, at the time, the second-largest contract in NFL history.
Dude is making bank, but with Atlanta sitting at just 5-8 this year, he may be watching the postseason from his couch for the second straight year.
Joe Mauer
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2014 Salary: $23 million
A hometown kid who, seemingly, had all the skills to become the next, great player in baseball, the Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer hasn't done a word that is plastered in the team's own name—win.
Signing a multimillion-dollar deal that kicked in during the 2011 season, Mauer has made $23 million since putting his name on that contract, but Minnesota has averaged just 66 wins since he's done so, proving that the small-market club probably needs some of that money back to build a better supporting cast.
Mauer has made two All-Star Games since, but even his grandpa has knocked him for making such a large chunk of cash and not helping his team improve.
Damn, grandpa, that's pretty harsh.
Alex Ovechkin
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2014 Salary: $9.5 million
When a player is as talented as the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin is, the team expects him to do more than just earn individual awards, hoping that he can elevate his entire team to a championship level.
And while Ovie has had some good moments, unfortunately, his Caps have yet to ever reach a Stanley Cup Final, and they even missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons last year.
With Ovechkin signing the biggest deal in NHL history back in 2008—one which is paying him $9.5 million in 2014—the hope is that his team would be better than 11th-place in the Eastern Conference right now.
Sadly, that's not the case.
Cole Hamels
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2014 Salary: $22.5 million
Most sports contracts are a reward for players for what they have done, not necessarily what they are going to do.
In the case of Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cole Hamels, that's probably what happened.
After earning the 2008 World Series MVP and making the All-Star team three times prior to a massive, six-year, $144 million deal in late July 2012, Hamels hasn't been as dominating—and neither has his team.
With an average salary of $22.5 million in 2014, Hamels was part of a team that went just 73-89 and finished in dead last in the NL East.
Even worse, the team has averaged just 75 wins in the three seasons since he signed, meaning that, even with decent numbers, the poor guy is typically going to end up on the losing end.
Carmelo Anthony
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2014 Salary: $22.45 million
Carmelo Anthony re-upping with the New York Knicks this past summer has to go down as one of the most selfish moves in the history of sports, right?
After claiming that he was about winning and not the money, Melo did what many expected him to do—take the most money he could by staying in New York.
Problem is, the team around him is terrible, with the Knicks going just 37-45 last season and, even after handpicking them in the offseason, Anthony is enduring a season in which his squad is 4-20 and have, at press time, lost 10 in a row.
Making matters worse, he's bickering with teammates and, recently, mentioned that one of his free-agent suitors from this summer—the Chicago Bulls—were a, "perfect fit."
Opting to stay in the Big Apple to earn $22.45 million this year, Anthony might just be getting what he deserves—a lot of losing.
Jay Cutler
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2014 Salary: $22.5 million
As much as you can blame the aforementioned Carmelo Anthony for being selfish and taking the most money instead of sacrificing some dough for winning, you can't do the same thing for Jay Cutler.
Still, that doesn't mean that the Chicago Bears ever should have offered the erratic quarterback a deal that is paying him $22.5 million this season—which is more than anyone else in the NFL.
With his Bears struggling, sitting at just 5-8, it's natural for the guy to get a lot of criticism.
One wouldn't think that it would come from his offensive coordinator—who recently apologized for such harsh comments—but with Cutler unable to lead Chicago out of the cellar of the NFC North, it's probably warranted.
Giancarlo Stanton
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OK, so Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton's major money doesn't kick in for a couple of years, but, still, seeing the two-time All-Star get the richest contract in sports history is a little bit overwhelming.
And when you add in the fact that the Marlins aren't even good—averaging just 72 wins in Stanton's five years in the big leagues—it makes the deal even more bizarre.
Sure, no one can blame the dude for accepting a deal that will pay the 25-year-old at least $25 million from 2018 to 2027, but he better hope that the team improves around him, otherwise it's going to be a long 13 years for Stanton.
Earning $325 million is great, but winning has to be more important to him, right?
Kobe Bryant
15 of 152014 Salary: $23.5 million
I'm sure you've seen the very NSFW video of L.A. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant cursing out his teammates at a recent practice, right?
Let that video be a warning to all athletes—sometimes the most money isn't the best option.
I get that Bryant was just being loyal and hoping to end his career with the only team he has ever known in his illustrious NBA career, but, when the team approached him in 2013 to sign a two-year, $48.5 million extension, he should have waited to commit.
That's because, as his blowup on teammates proved, Kobe doesn't deal with losing too well.
In fact, as one of the biggest competitors whom sports has ever seen, it's about the last thing anyone associates him with.
As his Lakers struggle with a 6-16 record so far this year, Kobe is making $23.5 million, which, I would think, he would trade in for another shot at a championship.
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