It's psychology.
80 percent sounds bad, but 2 mill a season is far more than most people will make in their lives. So I don't think it's really fair that someone lies to themselves about what sort of money 2 million is by using a percentage number to make it seem trivial, especially not when they aren't the GM that controls their fate.
If people can fool themselves into thinking they'd be better off in Kolb's condition to test the market because 2 million looks like a slap in the face, after being given that much money, then such a person is out of touch with reality. I laugh at all athletes take million dollar contracts and act like they've been stiffed and insulted. While Kolb isn't necessarily that guy, simply saying 2 million is 2 million.
So there's the optics angle, where 80 percent sounds bad, but if someone makes 2 mill a season, they are doing alright, at least before the potential hyperinflation.
Also it wasn't 40 percent taxes, not even after the recent tax raises. Some might say, well don't forget social security, but social security only accounts for the first 100k or so, thus by the time that gets to 10 million, it's less than a percent.
Finally this is a guy who has been injured every year and never earned said contract. He was given it on hope, and that hope is gone like a ship caught in a storm within the Bermuda triangle.
I understand what you are saying. It WOULD be hard to take such a cut in theory, ego wise, but in reality he has to know he hasn't earned but a fraction of what he paid.
Even though he legally owes nothing to nobody, morally he should be thankful to the Cards and respect that in fact he's a anchor on this team in terms of taking up cap space while barely doing squat. As Rod Graves would say it, he's taking up the 2nd biggest piece of the pie, and playing what amounts to being the crust of that size.
Besides, anyone that thinks they can earn enough money to survive hyperinflation is being foolish, as if it hits, if you own the entire amount of our GDP, you'd be able to buy a loaf of bread. So either he has enough by far already, or if it hits, there is no way he'll ever have a shot like the rest of us.
Overall the dollar amount matters because it is based on reality, the $$$ buys you something (until it doesn't), a percentage amount doesn't matter. It's the same like saying if you were a dishwasher making 3 bucks an hour and they said you will get an 80 percent raise...so what, 80 percent raise amounts to 2.40 extra which would still be slavery. It's the dollar amount that matters. You don't buy things on percentage.
So what matters is the actual amount he has gotten. Which is a huge sum from both the Eagles and Cardinals. He's literally made more than Michael Jordan per game. Hell he's made more per game than Flacco will with his new 120 mill contract.
The dude is rich, until he isn't, and if he isn't, there's no way the extra 4-6 million will amount to changing that. He's made far more than he had any reason to make based on on field performance, and when we traded for him, giving him the contract was insane.
That's a time where you risk losing him or paying out the nose, so that you don't risk what is more likely with an unproven player already knocked out of a game with a concussion his first start the previous season, that of having a cap albatross like Kolb. It's more important to get a good QB, then be too cute by half and sign an unknown and project him to be a star.
Kolb making 2 mill a season is still a good job. If he feels he can make more and wants to, it's his right, but business wise, it's in the Cards best interest to drastically reduce his cost or cut him.
Does Kolb want to see what he's worth on the open market? It is a risk, he could get a vet minimum deal or 2 million somewhere else. Or does he want to take the cut (if one has even been offered), try to prove something, and avoid moving his family and all the hassle that is associated with that for at least another season. It would also be coming from the team that has made him that rich.
The Dolphins GM that everyone laughs at overpaid for Matt Moore, but at least Moore isn't injured every other game.
With those concussions and rib injury, I'm still of the mindset he'd be better off just hanging them up.
