How the NFL Can Fix the Rookie Vs Veteran Salary Issue

It's gone haywire.

Rookies now are getting paid more than their veteran counterparts can earn in a career. Even the best ones.

And it's up to the NFL to make it stop. Because it's not fair to anyone. Even the rookies.

Either they are held to superman standards, and come up shy, ending up ruining what was a promising career, or they get lazy and know they are getting paid, regardless of their production.

Here is what I propose:

Go ahead and have them sign a Sam Bradford-style contract. Pay him $50 million. But only guarantee 1/5 of it.

Sign them to a contract similar to DeSean Jackson's rookie deal, 4-year, $3.46 million contract.

Then put incentives and escalators in it. If he produces like DeSean and Chris Johnson did, he gets paid. But if he doesn't, then you are not out $30-$40 million, like the Raiders.

And get the rookies in camp on time. Make it a rule: rookie deals must be completed and signed by July 15, or the team, agent, and player are subject to fines and penalties.

It's that simple.

If he produces, he makes the money he deserves. If he doesn't, then no more money. No more holding out. No more complaining about being worth more than your rookie deal.

If verbiage is the issue, make it to where if the player gets "X" many yards, "X" many TDs, catches, touches, plays in "X" many games, obviously tailor it to the position, his base salary for the next season goes up to "X" million dollars.

If the production reaches another level, his next season's salary gets a bump. Make it where the total amount possible to earn is what goes against the salary cap.

Make rookie deals count against the next season's cap, not the current. And no penalties prior to that cap going into effect.

So the teams can make the moves needed to fit under the cap, and that player's salary is not affected.

No more Michael Crabtree's. Like I noted, get the rookies signed by July 15, or everybody involved is subject to penalties and fines.

More often than not, it's the agents fault that rookies are not in camp on time.

Sure, they need the agents to work in their favor, to get the best deal without being taken to the cleaners, but we don't need anymore overzealous agents squeezing nickels and dimes just to line their pockets.

Get the deal done, and get the rookie to camp, so he can prove he is worth the money that MIGHT be coming to him.

Some might say, what if he gets hurt, then how is going to be compensated? Same as any other rookie under contract, he gets the guaranteed money.

It's a greedy, greedy world out there.

Tom Brady can say to us what he wants. We all know he's not happy with his current contract situation, while a rookie who was injured for all of his last season in college is making more than his next deal will most likely be worth.

And Mr. Brady has three Super Bowl rings.

Something needs to be done.

And before next year's draft, or the supposed lockout will be the least of every owners worries (not that they are too worried about that anyway, but should be).