My how salaries of American professional football players have changed.
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins recently turned
down a long-term contract offer of $53 million. In 1924, the Green Bay Packers
payroll for the entire team was $12,000. The 1924 team consisted of 18 players.
Ah, but inflation changes the picture. Yes, but the 1924
dollars are equivalent to only $171,530 in 2016 dollars. That would be about $9,530
per player, hardly a living wage. Of course, the 1924 salary money was not
divided equally. Curly Lambeau was the Packers' player-coach that year, and he
certainly got a bigger share than most, of not all, of the other players.
Players in those days had to have other sources of income to survive.
We don't know the details of Cousins' $53 million contract
offer, except that both he and the team have said the money was guaranteed, and
not dependent upon performance or other factors. We do know that top star quarterbacks in the
National Football League are paid in the $10 million to $15 million per year
range. Although Cousins has shown considerable potential, he is not yet an
established top star. So let's assume his offer was for 5 years.
Is Cousins, or any athlete, worth $10.6 million
per year?
Those who contend that professional football players are
worth their huge compensation packages point out that careers can be cut short
by injury at any time and the players cause teams to make the huge profits that
enable them to pay top dollars to compete for talent.
Hogwash. Pay for professional football players has become
ridiculous. Although some top surgeons in the U.S. can earn $1 million per year,
average earnings for doctors in family practices, who strive to help rather
than hurt others, are in the $200,000 per year area. The salary of the president
of the United States
is $400,000 per year.
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| Racing toward self-destruction? |
A large share of the income of professional football teams
is revenue from television contracts. Nevertheless, game ticket prices have
soared to levels as exorbitant as player salaries and costs for food and drink
in stadiums are likewise elevated.
There is mounting concern in this country about inequality
in incomes between the rich and all others. A start at correcting the situation
could be made in pro sports by winding down salaries of wealthy players and
using the savings to reduce the costs for Joe Fan by lowering outrageous prices
for tickets, hot dogs, and beer.
The current salary situation is well on the way to making me
an ex-fan, and declining attendance figures for some teams indicate many
already have become former supporters. Pro football is on a path of
self-destruction if drastic changes are not made .
