Forbes: NFL's Most Overpaid and Underpaid Players

[JeffGollin]

There will always be clusters of overpaid, underpaid and "just right" players on every team.

Fate is a seldom-predictable lady. Your highly paid QB gets injured. Your highly paid WR is stifled by a QB who can't throw or has no time to throw because the OL sucks. A 6th round draft pick is forced to step in for an injured veteran LB and plays lights out. So they rip up his contract but he then goes out and tears up a knee.

It's all a giant crap shoot. The best a team can do is play the percentages and expect them to work in their favor over the long haul. But, even then, there will be a couple of clubs who'll roll the dice on a player and get lucky (thereby earning the reputation as "geniuses" - translation: Kurt Warner) and a couple of clubs who roll the dice and come up empty thereby earning the reputation as "dunces" - translation: Kevin Kolb). Note - same team: one day a genius/another day a dunce - go figure.

 

[BigRedRage]

are we really debating on HOW larry spends his money? what do we care? I care about how he reps our team, bring revenue to our team (so the bidwills can spend more and not be so tight) and how he plays on the field.

He is an NFL icon. More so than C Johnson on the lions and Johnson make more money.

Fitz will renegotiate soon, push some money back, cuff some up front and always does right by the team. His contract is of no concern to me, nor how he spends his money in the community.

 

[Mulli]

Oh geez, this again. Do you all think Levi Brown can play right guard? Was Leonard Davis a better tackler or guard? And what about Adrian Wilson at OLB?

 

[Jim Otis]

How much was that contract Tony Romo just signed with the Cowboys ? How much younger is Tony than Carson , three months and three weeks ?? How far have the Cowboys gotten with Tony as the QB ?? I don't have a problem with Larry's contract .

 

[JCSunsfan]

It's amazing that yards per catch is the standard. A wr can not put up yards without a qb to get the ball to him. We all know how that has gone. Yet Fitzgerald has handled all that adversity as a gentleman. He could have been getting much bigger numbers on another team. That kind of locker room presence is priceless.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Character matters?

Character matters. Which is why a zillion little kids in Arizona name Larry as their favorite player. It's also one of the reasons their parents buy them Larry jerseys. He's a good guy. He talks about his mom. He wears pink in October for a reason. He puts in extra practice then stands and signs autographs. Fans, especially parents who don't want their kid becoming enamored with a guy headed for rehab, like the guy who does that. And he's a great player.

He's the Big Star to Average Joe who isn't as obsessed with the Cards as we are.

The Bidwills pay him a ton because he's worth a ton to them. Take away Larry and what have you got? A team that went 5 - 11 without someone to like.

People like Larry. There's no price tag on that.

 

[earthsci]

Character matters.

In ten or so years we will be posting and some newbie will join the board. When we ask him (or her) how someone from Sandusky, Ohio or Weymouth, Mass became a Cards fan they will answer, "I really liked Larry Fitzgerald when I was a kid." That will happen with thousands of kids throughout the country. I can guarantee you that it will be a lot more kids than will say that they became a Cowboys fan because of Dez Bryant.

 

[Shane]

In ten or so years we will be posting and some newbie will join the board. When we ask him (or her) how someone from Sandusky, Ohio or Weymouth, Mass became a Cards fan they will answer, "I really liked Larry Fitzgerald when I was a kid." That will happen with thousands of kids throughout the country. I can guarantee you that it will be a lot more kids than will say that they became a Cowboys fan because of Dez Bryant.

The fact that this team supposedly "needs" that speaks volumes to the culture in AZ. The Cowboys don't need Dez Bryant to have good character to have droves of fans lining up to cheer for them years from now. Neither should AZ.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I agree with K9 in this case. I think K9 can rub people the wrong way however I think he makes a good point here.

For the salary Fitz is pulling down you can go out and get a above average LT, a very good WR to replace Fitz and a very good RB. Now to me that does more to improve this team than one outstanding WR like Fitz.

As a matter of fact you can grab one of these positions in the next draft and get top notch at the other two positions in free agency or trade. Now I can protect my QB, immensely improve my running game and still have an above average or top flight WR to throw to.

I would think that would do more to get this team into the win column more often than one great WR and you would still get a nice flow of money back into the community.

Valid argument.

But, why must it be Fitzgerald's contact that is the problem.

What about the millions sunk into the Kevin Kolb's, the Stewart Bradley's, and currently the Daryn College's on the roster.

I have problems with signing poor players to ridiculous huge contracts before I have a problem paying Fitzgerald money.

 

[Mulli]

How about focusing more on building a winner and not seeing how big a fan club the WR can build?

 

[Mulli]

Valid argument.

But, why must it be Fitzgerald's contact that is the problem.

What about the millions sunk into the Kevin Kolb's, the Stewart Bradley's, and currently the Daryn College's on the roster.

I have problems with signing poor players to ridiculous huge contracts before I have a problem paying Fitzgerald money.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

The fact that this team supposedly "need" that speaks volumes to the culture in AZ. The Cowboys don't need Dez Bryant to have good character to have droves of fans lining up to cheer for them years from. Neither should AZ.

Agreed.

But AZ does need Fitzgerald, again, part of the business of football is selling the team.

You are not going to sell to many tickets with:

2 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN NEARLY A CENTURY

UoP is the house that Larry built.....literally.

The Cowboys can sit back and rely on their colors to bring in tickets. The success that organization has had in its history has a couple decades of die-hard fans that pass that legacy down from generation to generation.

The Cardinals certainly do not. Not at all.

Thus they need their face of the franchise, and there are not too many that are better at being the face of a franchise than Larry.

The Cowboys are a good example, but the Patriots are even better. They know they have more fans invested in their colors then the players, and they more than any time, can get rid of whomever. Its not fair, but that is part of the business of the NFL.

 

[Mulli]

Agreed.

But AZ does need Fitzgerald, again, part of the business of football is selling the team.

You are not going to sell to many tickets with:

2 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN NEARLY A CENTURY

UoP is the house that Larry built.....literally.

The Cowboys can sit back and rely on their colors to bring in tickets. The success that organization has had in its history has a couple decades of die-hard fans that pass that legacy down from generation to generation.

The Cardinals certainly do not. Not at all.

Thus they need their face of the franchise, and there are not too many that are better at being the face of a franchise than Larry.

Not literally! He didn't build anything.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Not literally! He didn't build anything.

Bah!

You and your grammar.



Can't you just let me sound stupid!!

 

[Mulli]

Bah!

You are your grammar.



Can't you just let me sound stupid!!

Haha, just busting your chops!

 

[blindseyed]

People like Larry. There's no price tag on that.

Actually there is, it's $120 million tag lol

 

[earthsci]

The fact that this team supposedly "need" that speaks volumes to the culture in AZ. The Cowboys don't need Dez Bryant to have good character to have droves of fans lining up to cheer for them years from. Neither should AZ.

It's not the culture, it's the history. They may have a relationship but they aren't the same thing. Winning brings fans. If Dallas went the next ten or fifteen years going 5-11 with a 7-9 thrown in there once in a while, they wouldn't be collecting a whole lot of non-Texas living fans. The next best thing to getting them to like your team is to like the players on your team. That will bring some fans into the fold.

All that said, Larry is a part of changing the culture and history here.

 

[kerouac9]

Valid argument.

But, why must it be Fitzgerald's contact that is the problem.

What about the millions sunk into the Kevin Kolb's, the Stewart Bradley's, and currently the Daryn College's on the roster.

I have problems with signing poor players to ridiculous huge contracts before I have a problem paying Fitzgerald money.

Those things aren't mutually exclusive or inclusive.

Again, I don't begrudge Larry Fitzgerald one dollar of that contract. But let's not pretend that Fitz wasn't venting his frustrations on the field in the view of the cameras last year, either. "Poor Fitz" was a regular meme in fantasy and hard-core NFL coverage last season. He was dead last in receiving DVOA and DYAR last season. That's largely not his fault, but those numbers are what they are, and Percy Harvin was pretty productive with a chump like Christian Ponder throwing him the ball.

A significant part of the money that Fitz has gotten in his last two contracts has nothing to do with his value to the team on and off the field, and has much to do with the fact that he had the team over a barrel with his cap number on the contract that he was playing on. That particular reason, more than any other, is why Fitz is overpaid.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Haha, just busting your chops!

I know.

But more importantly, is it bad that I used bad grammar when trying to talk about grammar.

words....I tells ya, so much more difficult than numbers


0111100001101001010101010001001001111110111011010010101111

 

[Mulli]

I know.

But more importantly, is it bad that I used bad grammar when trying to talk about grammar.

words....I tells ya, so much more difficult than numbers


0111100001101001010101010001001001111110111011010010101111

How dare you!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Those things aren't mutually exclusive or inclusive.

Again, I don't begrudge Larry Fitzgerald one dollar of that contract. But let's not pretend that Fitz wasn't venting his frustrations on the field in the view of the cameras last year, either. "Poor Fitz" was a regular meme in fantasy and hard-core NFL coverage last season. He was dead last in receiving DVOA and DYAR last season. That's largely not his fault, but those numbers are what they are, and Percy Harvin was pretty productive with a chump like Christian Ponder throwing him the ball.

Agreed.

A significant part of the money that Fitz has gotten in his last two contracts has nothing to do with his value to the team on and off the field, and has much to do with the fact that he had the team over a barrel with his cap number on the contract that he was playing on. That particular reason, more than any other, is why Fitz is overpaid.

Agreed, but that is Rod Graves' fault. At least, IMO.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

The fact that this team supposedly "needs" that speaks volumes to the culture in AZ. The Cowboys don't need Dez Bryant to have good character to have droves of fans lining up to cheer for them years from now. Neither should AZ.

I've lived in AZ for 7 years now and there's one glaring thing about people in this state: they're nice. People hold doors. They're tremendously cheery. I've decided it's the influence of all the people from Minnesota and Wisconsin. My neighborhood (AKA Mayberry) is full of people waving and smiling. Even the mailman waves.

The Bidwills may be the cheapest owners in the NFL but I've never read one thing about them being a bunch of SOBs. They're nice.

Fan fest: nice people saying, "Excuse me". Training camp: nice people saying "Excuse me." I got the finger the other day from a 20-something driver and was so surprised I almost applauded her from having a little spunk.

The culture IS "nice".

(But I absolutely understand what you're saying.)

 

[Duckjake]

Those things aren't mutually exclusive or inclusive.

Again, I don't begrudge Larry Fitzgerald one dollar of that contract. But let's not pretend that Fitz wasn't venting his frustrations on the field in the view of the cameras last year, either. "Poor Fitz" was a regular meme in fantasy and hard-core NFL coverage last season. He was dead last in receiving DVOA and DYAR last season. That's largely not his fault, but those numbers are what they are, and Percy Harvin was pretty productive with a chump like Christian Ponder throwing him the ball.

A significant part of the money that Fitz has gotten in his last two contracts has nothing to do with his value to the team on and off the field, and has much to do with the fact that he had the team over a barrel with his cap number on the contract that he was playing on. That particular reason, more than any other, is why Fitz is overpaid.

Again more nonsense. Fitz is our Tom Brady, our Drew Brees our Joe Flacco. We have no billion dollar QB so the money goes to what we have instead a big time, big name WR. Who cares what anyone did last year? 2012 was one of, if not the worst, season in Arizona Cardinal history. What was his DVOA and DYAR in 2011, 2010,2009, 2008? You forget that players get paid in arrears. For what they did in the past. Not for what they will do next season.

 

[kerouac9]

Again more nonsense. Fitz is our Tom Brady, our Drew Brees our Joe Flacco. We have no billion dollar QB so the money goes to what we have instead a big time, big name WR. Who cares what anyone did last year? 2012 was one of, if not the worst, season in Arizona Cardinal history. What was his DVOA and DYAR in 2011, 2010,2009, 2008? You forget that players get paid in arrears. For what they did in the past. Not for what they will do next season.

Not in the NFL, they don't. Why do you think that Carson Palmer is getting paid so little?

Tom Brady and Drew Brees have proven to be productive no matter whom is catching the ball from them. Quarterbacks who have been proven over time to play at a franchise level deserve their contracts, IMO. They're irreplaceable.

Joe Flacco is in the same boat as Fitz is--and the same boat Mark Sanchez was in two years ago. Flacco got massively overpaid for playoff performances and won a Super Bowl in a contract year. Matt Stafford is similarly overpaid based on his performance.

Here's Fitz's DVOA and DYAR rankings for the last five years:
2008: 3rd, 7th
2009: 11th, 30th
2010: 71st, 71st
2011: 9th, 17th
2012: 86th, 82nd.

Clearly he's not the 82nd best wide receiver in the NFL, but he hasn't been a Top 5 NFL wide receiver in five years. You can't just pay a guy top 5 money year after year if he can't compete and produce at that level.

He's being paid like a Top 3 WR.

EDIT: I don't know why you bolded my comment without speaking directly to it, but I'm assuming that I put it a little inartfully. The gap between what Fitz should be making ($10-12M per year) and what he is making (north of $16M per season) is largely the amount of leverage that he had because of usurous rookie and second contracts.

 

[DoTheDew]

No WR should make what Fitz makes. Their impact on the game isn't worth >10% of the salary cap.