NFL Team Salaries...WTF Are They Thinking?

I've always hated the time after the NBA Finals. It always makes me realize that for the next 3 months there's no NFL or NBA to watch. I try every year to get into baseball and it just never clicks. I even end up going to a couple of A's and Giants games every summer with some buddies but it always turns out to be more of a social gathering. None of us really get into the game. It always turns out to be three months of me craving to see some gridiron action.

In the summer, I always end up looking at training/mini-camp summaries, coaches' comments, free agent signings, and other things going on in the NFL. The thing that caught my eye most recently was the Terrell Owens Press Conference with Dallas Cowboys Owner, Jerry Jones, concerning the signing of his new contract extension. I wondered to myself, why would Jerry Jones spend so much on a 33-year old receiver? This is a new new 4-year deal that keeps T.O. in Dallas through 2011. He'll be 38 during the final year of that contract. 38! I highly doubt he'll be the #1 wide receiver option by that point. I understand he's a surreal physical specimen, and still one of the top 5 receivers in the game today, but (age-wise) isn't it all downhill for him now? I personally think his best days are behind him. Not only that, but why not spend that money more wisely, like on the defensive side of the ball where Dallas needs it the most (I know they added Pacman Jones, but that essentially is a gamble, and so is the new Owens Contract). Is this what Tony Romo took a paycut for? To put more money in the pockets of T.O.?  If they really wanted to help the offensive side of the ball, It would make more sense to bring in another younger receiver to compete with Patrick Crayton, their #2 WR option who had a horrible season last year. The Cowboys beat the New York Giants twice last season, so we know they're just a breath away from a Super Bowl. Jerry Jones should know by now how to put the championship puzzle pieces together and this clearly is a mistake.

This got me even more curious about how other teams in the NFL spend their money. I googled NFL Team Payrolls and found a great link that ranks the teams from highest to lowest overall team salary. And when you click on an individual team, it tells you exactly each player on the roster is making. Here's the link:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/teamSalary?categoryId=67065

The site was recently updated to adjust for the upcoming 2008 season. I saw the 2007 list, and to my surprise I found out that my beloved 49ers were ranked #1. Now they're at #2. I was shocked because the image around the Bay Area is that 49ers Owner, John York, is a stingy man. Now, this is a team that went 7-9 just 2 seasons ago and got worse by going 5-11 last season. Not only did they get worse, but they have very little promise for the future. There are issues of a horrendous defense, a quarterback controversy, an outdated offensive line, and lack of talent at the wide receiver position. All this, and San Francisco has the 2nd highest payroll in the NFL?! Those problems and that payroll mean heads need to roll in that franchise. The only bright spot was linebacker Patrick Willis, who looks like he could be the next Ray Lewis. Growing up watching the 49ers in the 90's, I never thought I'd see the day when they would be considered a scrub team. However, now they really are the definition of a scrub team. Sorry if offend someone with this, but I think I now know what it must feel like to be a Detroit Lions fan. If Eddie Debartolo Jr. was still owner, and spent that kind of money I guarantee that the Niners would still be a perennial powerhouse. Dr. York has dragged this once proud franchise into the mud. He's got money to spend but he's spending it stupidly.

The top 2 highest paid players on the 49ers are Nate Clements and Vernon Davis. That's a DB and a TE as the top paid players for a team. Clements followed up his big free agent deal with a mediocre season, and Vernon Davis hasn't accomplished anything aside from a couple of UnderArmor commercials. I understand he can run a 4.38 second 40-yard dash and that he's only coming into his 3rd season. However, he has yet to become the receiving threat or security blanket for Alex Smith (the needs he was brought in to fulfill in the first place). In fact, a couple of the 49er players have reported that they are upset at level of his focus. How can he become a confident team player or leader if he can't even get the respect of his own teammates.

What's even more interesting about this list is the middle of the rankings. Ten of the teams ranked between #11 and 23 are always very competitive teams and have made the playoffs at least once in the past two seasons. These teams are the Ravens, Chiefs, Bears, Seahawks, Eagles, Colts, Steelers, Patriots, Jets, and the Buccaneers. These are teams that know how to spend money. Great offensive lines to provide blocking for the running game, an established quarterback, defensive lines that can apply pressure, strong secondaries, and talented receiving corps. Not all of the teams I mentioned have every aspect I mentioned (i.e. the Jets, Chiefs, and Bucs but they already have some of them and their futures look bright). These are teams with great management and coaching that know how to build competetive teams.

What's even more interesting than that are teams like the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. Both teams were in the NFC title game this past season
 and both teams have payrolls under $100 million. The Giants, defending super bowl champs, have the second lowest payroll in the league (they were the 2nd lowest in 2007 too) and yet they're in a place like New York where the pressure to win is tremendous every season. On top of that, they're still young and can improve even more. The funny thing is that when you look at their two Running Backs (Bradshaw and Jacobs), they each made less than one million (even though things like bonuses aren't calculated in this). They were about ready to fire Head Coach Tom Coughlin a year ago, but are now rewarding him with a new deal after winning the Super Bowl. The Packers are a great all-around team and should be in the playoffs again pending the quarterback play of Aaron Rodgers course.

God I miss football. Oh well, that's my two cents. Hope you guys enjoy the link and some of the absurdities. Like Willis McGahee being the highest paid player for the Ravens or Daniel Graham making $10.8 million for the Broncos. My personal favorite is Buffalo Bills kicker, Rian Lindell, being the 10th highest paid player for that team and making more money than J.P. Losman & Trent Edwards.