Jamal says the NFL has to fix a big issue...fast!

The NFL has dropped the ball. Well, seeing as how they’ve been doing that a lot lately let me be more specific. The NFL has dropped the ball in terms of

The NFL has dropped the ball. Well, seeing as how they’ve been doing that a lot lately let me be more specific. The NFL has dropped the ball in terms of having a structured system for rookie contracts.

  

Look, I love Calvin Johnson as much as any fan, er, journalist. But a 6-year, 64-million dollar contract, 27 of which is guaranteed, is crazy. To pay that much to a kid who has never played a snap in the NFL is crazy. He may be worth every penny someday; he may make it to multiple Pro Bowls and be the best at his position, but as of now you can’t help but think that he’s a broken collar bone away from being a bust. I mean this is the Loin’s we’re talking about here: They get injured getting out of bed in the morning it seems. Like I said: ONE DAY he may be the greatest WR ever to play the game, but until then why pay him like he is? Make him earn those big bucks. Make him prove himself.

  

There’s also the issue of rookies who have never played a snap in the league being paid more than veterans who have been in the league for awhile. You can’t argue that these rookies get paid more because they’re better either, especially since you can’t know who’s going to be a bust or not (Anybody know what burger stand Ryan Leaf is working at?) Why give big money to unproven players when there are veterans on the same team who are more consistent and have more experience? The veterans have wives and kids, I’m pretty sure they could use a raise. (I’m not pulling a Latrell Sprewell and saying that can’t feed their families with a couple million, but you get my point)

  

The NFL needs to be more like the NBA, and I NEVER thought those words would come out my mouth. The NBA has a base rookie pay scale, where only two years of the contract is guaranteed and the third and fourth years are optional to the team. NBA teams don’t offer crazy contracts to rookies. Even “King” LeBron James rookie contract was average, even though he made a gazillion dollars in endorsements, his rookie contract wasn’t more than a few million dollars for the first two years, with options for the next two years. In the NBA you also don’t hear of the 22nd pick holding out for more money because he felt he should’ve went higher. News flash: You went 22nd for a reason! Play for what they offer you, perform well, and watch them offer you a big raise (Or in Brady Quinns case stick them for all you can get because you know you’ll be out of the league in 3-4 years)

  

The NFL’s number one pick, JaMarcus Russell is still unsigned because he wants mega bucks which he hasn’t earned yet. This guy was drafted in April and couldn’t get a deal done before the season opener in September! But soon enough the Raiders will cave in to his demands and give him more then he’s worth before finding out that he’s an unpolished QB, who’s mistake prone, but has a rocket arm. Maybe these QB’s are on to something: Get all you can, while you can because you never know when you might be calling Ryan Leaf to see if he has any jobs for you.