The NFL is a monster with more faces than Sybil.
The League is one of the last bastions of socialism (although a few radical capitalists in its ranks threaten to tear down Ivan's wall).
It's beyond arrogant (which is starting to irk politicians, who believe they have exclusive rights to arrogance).
It's incredibly hypocritical (it deplores gambling on football games, although, without the billions of dollars thrown down in illegal and legal wagering, which computes to TV cash, it might be rugby).
It treats some of its own better than others. Several towns have lost teams only to get new ones (ever hear anyone talk about San Diego's chances should the Chargers pack up? Has Commissioner Roger Goodell been here to help?).
What the NFL isn't, for the most part, is stupid.
So it's been fascinating to see how much money the wise league bosses dole out to rookies. In a recent address, Goodell, an employee speaking for owners who created this mess in the first place, called the practice “ridiculous.”
“There's something wrong with the system,” he said. “The money should go to people who perform.”
In fact, it's borderline insane, although one has to wonder: If Goodell and his buds were to get the players union to go along with less for freshmen – I've never understood why the union backs rookies who aren't members until they've signed – would the extra money actually go to veterans who deserve it, or straight to the owners' wallets?
I wonder.
The vets, the ones who have built the game and left blood on the lawn, have been slighted, many of them cut when they're about to make what is deemed to be too much money.
In London recently with the Saints' Reggie Bush to promote October's San Diego-New Orleans game there, Chargers tailback LaDainian Tomlinson sounded off on rookie salaries, remembering he once was a rookie himself.
“It's ridiculous,” LT told BBC Sport. “You haven't thrown a ball and you get all this money. It's like hitting the lottery. Most of the time, people take it for granted.
“It's very frustrating. The veterans are what make the league. They keep it at a high level. Most people don't tune in to see rookies. They tune in to see the Peyton Mannings, the Tom Bradys; they want to see guys like that. There needs to be a rookie salary cap, no question.”
Bush, who as a rookie received $26 million in guaranteed money, thought otherwise, naturally. “It is what it is,” the Helix High grad said. “I've never had a problem with it. I think it gives college athletes something to strive for.”
And, in some cases, something not to strive for, once they strike it rich. Incentive sometimes can be lost in a nightclub or the trunk of a Rolls.
In a question-and-answer session at the end of a symposium at Chautauqua Institution, the commissioner singled out Michigan tackle Jake Long, the first player selected in the draft in April. Miami signed him to a $57.75 million contract, $30 million of it guaranteed.
“He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money,” Goodell said. “Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money.”
Now that's a shame. What Goodell might as well say is there are some dopes – and there certainly are – evaluating incoming talent who shouldn't pay for their mistakes.
It's why there are so many bad teams in The League and why smart guys such as Chargers GM A.J. Smith and the Colts' Bill Polian flourish in a sea of nincompoops who put tape measure and stopwatch ahead of football playing ability. The nincompoops deserve to pay for their errors.
But that doesn't mean all this dough should be going to unproven athletes. How would you feel if you've been good at your job for years and your boss brought in an overnight wonder straight out of college at 10 times your salary to do the same work?
Goodell said NFL owners failed to see the economic future when they ratified the collective bargaining agreement a few years back (the bosses since have killed the CBA). That's their problem. I won't cry for billionaires, and if things are so bad, why do they give out $30 million to rookies and then take it out of the fans' pockets?
The owners now are stepping in what they have created. But just because they've been ignorant doesn't make the rookie thing right – unless you're an agent.
“You know how I feel about agents,” said the Chargers' Smith, laughing. “Roger has called it out. It's on the front burner now. It always has been kind of crazy. These guys are getting paid like this for being great college players. It's asinine.
“Judge me on my job, not what I've done in college. The $30 million guy could be a bust. Where's the motivation for some of them? It's a cliche, but find guys who will play for nothing. A lot of kids don't know how much money they're making once the ball is kicked off.”
But too many of them do. As do the owners.
Nick Canepa: (619) 293-1397; nick.canepa@uniontrib.com
