10 NFL Free Agents Who Cared More About Money Than Winning in 2011

Sure, professional athletes care about winning, but are there any fans of pro sports who are still naive enough to think that it isn't about the cha-ching?

"Show me the money" isn't just a line from a famous movie—it's reality for many athletes who enter the free agency process.

But in a sport like football, can we really blame them? 

On average careers are much shorter for NFL players than the other major sports, and the long-term consequences of playing in the league can be severe—sometimes even debilitating.  

There are always exceptions, of course, but for the most part we know who is in it for the money, fame and glory, and which players actually care about getting the ring.

It is with this thought in mind that I present to you the list of the 2011 NFL free agents who saw dollar signs rather than shiny diamond rings in their future.

Paul Posluszny

The "Poz" is a graduate of Penn State, so I guess it's been a tough year for him since his alma mater is now a national disgrace.

The linebacker signed with the Jaguars for six years and $42 million with $15 million guaranteed. He left Buffalo, the team that drafted him, to go for the green.

Not saying that I blame him in any way, but Poz did seem to be more focused on getting the biggest contract he could as opposed to where he might win.

Even though the Bills switched to a 3-4 defense this season and he wanted to play middle linebacker in a 4-3, Poz really wanted to stay with the Bills.

But he left because the Jaguars offered him a bit more guaranteed money.

Steve Breaston

The WR and punt returner signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for $25 million with $9 million guaranteed despite a knee injury suffered last season that continued through all of training camp and into the first game.

In fairness, it was widely assumed that Breaston would go to the Chiefs because of his connection to ex-Cardinals WRs coach Todd Haley.

Breaston added to the Chiefs' stable of young wideouts, as they also drafted Jonathan Baldwin.

Derrick Mason

Mason signed with the Ravens because they offered him more money, even though he never enjoyed his time there and it didn't work out. He was cut by Baltimore and picked up by the Jets, who traded him to the Texans.

Mason spent six seasons as a member of the Ravens and signed as a free agent after leaving the Tennessee Titans. As part of the Ravens' offseason cost-cutting moves, Mason was released and signed a free-agent contract with the New York Jets.

With the Jets, Mason knew he wouldn't be counted on to be a star since they had Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress.

Mason publicly asked for a contract extension toward the end of the 2008 season, and then he stunned the Ravens by announcing his retirement.

The Titans offered him a chance to play in his hometown, but Mason chose the Jets due to the guaranteed contract.

Sidney Rice

Rice signed a five-year, $41 million deal with a Seahawks team not expected to win anything this season, even though he basically could have gone anywhere he wanted.

With $18.5 million guaranteed, it only took a short time for Rice to decide that this is where he wanted to be—because he loves Seattle? Maybe he's a coffee drinker?

No, they showed him the money.

Everyone knows the Seahawks have a bad reputation for receivers and didn't have a good QB to get him the ball. But none of that mattered to Rice, who got the money he wanted.

Reggie Bush

The Dolphins have twice traded for a former Saints RB who had won a Heisman trophy.

But in order for the trade to be finalized, they had to agree to a new contract with Bush. He agreed to a two-year contract for nearly $10 million with the Dolphins.

While the injury-plagued Bush has been paid handsomely since signing his six-year rookie contract worth up to $62 million, his pro career has never matched the expectations. 

After missing so much time, you would think Bush would have agreed to restructure his deal to stay in New Orleans. He was set to earn $11.5 million, but the Saints were up against the cap.

Instead, Bush wanted to be traded so he could sign a new contract and be a disappointment with another team. After all, he is used to getting the money since he took improper benefits from would-be sports agents while still playing for USC.

After the Saints drafted Mark Ingram, Bush tweeted "It's been fun New Orleans."

Kevin Kolb

The Cardinals acquired Kolb from the Eagles and signed a five-year, $63.5 million contract with $21.5 million guaranteed.

Kolb said he would refuse to report if the Eagles hadn't traded him, and the Cardinals were the team picked by his agent for Kolb to be traded to since they agreed to such a ridiculous extension.

Sure, Kolb was looking forward to throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, but he was also looking to go someplace where he could be the starter and finally make the big bucks. 

Despite a bad team in Arizona with a shaky offensive line, Kolb and his agent knew the Cards would show them the money. 

Matt Hasselbeck

Hasselbeck wanted to stay in Seattle, and they wanted him, but they wouldn't pay him enough so he started courting offers elsewhere.

Hasselbeck signed a three-year, $21 million deal to play for the Titans even though he knew Jake Locker was there, and he had six playoffs seasons with the Seahawks.

Todd Heap

The former Ravens TE left a good team in Baltimore to go to the Cardinals because they showed him the money.

Yes, Heap was born and raised in Arizona, so I'm sure the allure of playing in his hometown factored into the decision.

But Heap loved playing in Baltimore and had spent his entire 10-year career there. Heap knew they didn't have a QB when he decided to go there, and the Jets were very interested in him.

Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi Asomugha appeared to be more interested in setting the bar for NFL cornerbacks than who he would actually play for. He signed a five-year, $60 million contract with the Eagles that included $25 million in guaranteed money.

Now, he did say he wanted to play for a winner. His first preference was to play for Green Bay, but they wouldn't offer him enough money.

His second choice was the Jets, who thought they had a verbal deal with Asomugha, but he bolted when the Eagles offered a couple million more for his services.

Olin Kreutz

Most Chicago Bears fans wouldn't agree with this, and normally I am not prone to sticking up for Bears management which, as we know, likes to throw around nickles as if they were manhole covers.

But in this case, I feel the Bears offered Kreutz a reasonable contract given his age and the fact that he had not played nearly as well in 2010 as he used to.

Nevertheless, Kreutz wanted another $500,000 so the Bears let him go, and he ended up signing with the Saints for less money.

And then he decided he had lost his passion for football and quit the team—all because of a mere half a million dollars.

I strongly suspect Kreutz would still be playing if he had stayed with Chicago, but he let his pride get in the way.