Pay day

Financial windfall awaits many young talents

Every year people are shocked when they hear what some NFL players make for playing a game. Some are overpaid, for sure, but others are grossly underpaid for what they've accomplished -- and it won't be long before they are quadrupling their salaries. Let's take a look at the best bargains in 2001 and where their salaries are headed.

All Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did was lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, earn the game's MVP honors and make the Pro Bowl, all for $298,000. There's hardly a precedent for how much to pay this kid, but the starting point has to be the deal Jake Plummer signed after just two pro seasons. Plummer had just gotten the Cardinals into the playoffs and the team rewarded him with a $15 million bonus and a deal that averaged $6.9 million a year. Brady's got to be worth more and his agents know it. Stay tuned for one of the all-time blockbusters.

Brady won't be alone in changing the financial landscape of the NFL. Look at the spot the Bears' linebackers have put themselves in. Rosevelt Colvin earned $477,666 and wound up with 10 1/2 sacks and two interceptions. Colvin's agent should study Chad Brown's contract in Seattle. Brown has a salary over $4 million and he produced 8 1/2 sacks and zero interceptions. The Bears are going to be writing a big check before too long. And it won't stop there. Warrick Holdman collected $481,000 and finished up fifth in the NFL with 97 tackles. By comparison, Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks had five fewer tackles and was paid $2.6 million this season.

Chicago has to realize success and production cost money, both on offense and defense. Bears wideout Marty Booker grabbed more receptions than Randy Moss or Terrell Owens but only earned $529,000 this past season. The team may have to consider moving Marcus Robinson, who again is coming back from injury. With Booker and first-rounder David Terrell, Chicago can't afford three high-priced receivers in an offense that loves to pound the ball on the ground. Booker's output closely matches that of Detroit's Johnnie Morton, whose deal averages $2.6 million a year.

This year two very underpaid pass rushers may soon find the Wells Fargo truck pulling up to their homes. The Rams' Leonard Little was third in the league in sacks with 14 1/2 and earned $515,000. The Packers' Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila had 13 1/2 sacks and made just $302,000. Neither player is a full-time starter, but neither is the Chargers' Ray Lee Johnson, who gets $3.1 million a year in his present deal.

Few tight ends make big money, Still, San Francisco's Eric Johnson knows his modest $249,000 salary will soon go by the wayside. With 40 catches and three touchdowns, Johnson was the fourth-most productive tight end in the NFC. Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Chad Lewis earned a $1.3 million bonus with his $800,000 base salary. If the Niners wait too long, Johnson will cost them much more than that down the road.

Finally, two young offensive linemen are in line for substantial pay raises. Green Bay's Mark Tauscher is one of the lowest paid starting tackles in the league at $312,000. If Philadelphia's Tra Thomas can average $3.7 million a season, Tauscher can expect at least half of that in the next year or so. Hank Fraley got his chance to start at center for the Eagles and did very well for a guy on the books for $301,000. His sights should be set on the deal Casey Weigmann, a former Bears backup, signed with the Chiefs last year. Weigmann got a $2 million bonus in a deal that averaged $1.7 million.

Any club that thinks it will be the first not to pay its underpaid players is dreaming. And that dream could become a nightmare. The longer a team waits to address these contracts, the more it will pay.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNNSI.com.

 

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