NFL: Can Overpaying Be a Good Thing?

"I think we all realize that we're way overpaid."

The words of a Hall Of Famer, a Leader, a Quarterback.

Tom Brady, who is coming of his finest statisical year, but also the first Super Bowl loss of his career addresses a lingering issue this NFL offseason.

Who knows it might have been an innocent comment or a shot a the wage structure in the NFL?

But a quarterback, who is not even in the top 5 for the largest contracts for player at his position, appreciates his privileged position. He gets paid for playing the game he loves, they game that brings him happiness and fame.

Brady whose rise to fame is legendary, a former sixth round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, who worked to make his team in his rookie year is paid handsomely for his success, approximately 8 million a year.

Now coming off his first loss in the Super Bowl after previously winning three and his first MVP award of his career, Brady addressed his love of the game in a recent interview at Patriots mini-camp. Should every player not share this love, this urge to win and compete for championships?

Apparently not, players demanding ridiculous contracts that may compromise his teams ability to compete is common place in the NFL. Of course all the blame should not be placed on the selfish, if they can get it why not take it?

Blame should be placed on GMs and Head coaches who are desperate to keep their jobs. Why do they insist on overpaying at one position over another, its a team game, not an individual one.

Should players who are in a contract year that perform above and beyond their usual standard really be paid sums of money for being a one-year wonder? Does that not compromise a teams chance to win?

In the last two years, the top quarterbacks chosen in the draft who had yet to play a down in the NFL, earned contracts that allow them to live in luxury for the rest of their lifes. All based on projection, they project to being Pro Bowl players, possible Hall Of Fame players, is this projection going to be correct? More than likely not.

Its a sad fact in the NFL these days, overpaid, overvalued players are common. Players such as DeAngelo Hall, Tommy Kelly, Donte Stallworth, Matt Ryan, JaMarcus Russell, Gaines Adams and Micheal Turner to name but a few. Many are extremely inconsistent or completely unproven. Should players like Marquis Colsten who has proved his worth not be paid more than a 7th round wide receiver does??

Probably, but instead its players who are successful in their last year of contract are benefiting from the spurge of cash in the game via free agency—so much so that HOFer Tom Brady restructured his contract to enable his team to have Cap space. Should it not be different? Will it ever be different?