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How Much Are Athletes Worth?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Southbeach, Jul 23, 2011.

  1. Southbeach

    Southbeach Banned

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    Many believe that all athletes are highly overpaid and very greedy. My question here is is to find out why, and if that is a fair description.


    Athletes normally start out in grade school by spending a lot of time playing their game, while other kids are playing or, in some cases, studying. Sometimes it's due to parental pressure, and others is just for the love of the game.


    Then comes Jr High and High School, when, for months, you have structured practices and games. This takes a few hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. Your "off season" and your "off time" is your own but, spent in the weight room and trying to develop your skills. For many kids, there is no time to be kids.


    Then, if you're good enough, you move on to college, where the time spent and pressure is magnified tremendously. Are you good enough to do this for a living? In most cases, no but, you still can't give up that dream.

    Finally, it comes down to D-Day, when pro teams decide if you're worth a shot. Thousands of players, with your same dreams are available but, only a few hundred are going to get the chance. Most dreams are shattered, with some moving on.

    After all those countless hours, and knowing that if you're average, you will play for maybe 4 years, how much is a player worth?
     
  2. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    They're worth my Sunday afternoons.
     
  3. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    I don't see much people saying they're overpaid. The problem comes in when you have a guy like Sprewell saying a couple million isn't enough to feed his family or a guy making $10 million a year saying someone else is being greedy and making too much or they're not getting enough. It doesn't play well in middle America when someone who's a millionaire uses the same rhetoric as the small union in Tennessee.

    The reason owners often get reprieve is because they put in a risk. They started a business that would not be around if they weren't around and took a chance on something when they could have just gone broke. The risk factor is on the owner's side which is why they make more and why they often get slack when they want more money. Workers are important to the business. But, I've never seen employees with no business though I have seen businesses with no employees.
     
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  4. SCall13

    SCall13 ThePhins QB

    $5-$10 million a year to play a game? One that they LOVE? WAY too much. How much are soldiers worth? Not tooting my own horn because I'm in the Army, but we get paid crap to something that is far more dangerous. Makes me physically ill to hear professional athletes ***** about money. I played football because I loved it. Would I have liked to get paid millions for it? Sure. Hell, ONE million a year would be freakin' outstanding.
     
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  5. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    $38 an hour max. $68k per year max.
     
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  6. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    I can't ignore the entertainer aspect. They are more than just athletes, they are entertainers. It's hard to say that the millions that some of the mediocre-talented entertainers is more justified than NFL players putting their bodies on the line.

    To me, you could argue that NFL players should be pId more than other sports, like baseball.
     
  7. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Underpaid when you consider the industry they are in.
     
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  8. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

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    How many players get paid $5-10 million a year? Not that many. Maybe 5% of the league if you're lucky. I bet maybe 20% of the league (and that's being VERY generous) gets paid $1 million a year.

    They're professional athletes. It's a profession. Not many people can do it and that's why they're paid, IMO, appropriately.
     
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  9. steveincolorado

    steveincolorado Spook, Storme & Pebbles

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    All you need to do is go look at your own company. Just take a wild guess at what you think your company brings in per year. In your opinion, does 48% of what your company takes in goes towards employees?
    There's no way to come up with exact figures, unless you have access to that info, but just take a wild guess.
     
  10. SCall13

    SCall13 ThePhins QB

    The point I was making is that the ones who are paid $5-$10 mill a year have no right to *****. They are overpaid to do something they LIKE. And still whine like 6 year olds.
     
  11. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    That really doesn't make sense, because every industry is going to going to be different. You would be better served looking at compensation throughout the entertainment industry. How much does Jay Leno make?
     
  12. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

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    It's just a select few though.

    There are guys in the Army that are douchebags... but that doesn't make you one. I am sure you don't want to be labeled as something because of someone else's actions.
     
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  13. steveincolorado

    steveincolorado Spook, Storme & Pebbles

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    Your missing at what I'm trying to say. The players are going to make 48%ish of all revenue, does your company give their employees 48%?
     
  14. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Yes.
     
  15. miamiron

    miamiron There's always next year

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    20% making a million a year is way to low

    Look at our team

    Soliai
    Long
    Crowder
    Moses
    Fasano
    Incognito
    Dobbins
    Polite
    Marshall
    Starks
    Bell
    Carey
    Culver
    Odrick
    Davis
    Pouncey
    Sapp
    Merling
    Carpenter
    Misi

    that's quite a few over 1 million a season and I may have missed a few

    http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/
     
  16. PhinGeneral

    PhinGeneral PC Texas A&M, Bro Club Member

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    If you compare an athlete's worth relative in importance to other occupations, then yes, they are way overpaid.

    But they are in the entertainment industry, which is governed not by social importance but by a willingness of consumers to watch and spend money on the product. They make what they make because we are willing to spend the money to be entertained by it. And to that end Athletes are worth whatever we are willing to spend on the product.
     
  17. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    Everyone is worth whatever they can get.
     
  18. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    Same as you and me, athletes are worth whatever the going rate is for their profession. And that is determined by how much revenue they generate.

    In the NFL, 1900+ guys generate NINE BILLION DOLLARS of revenue. And far from being greedy, they share their slice of the pie with former players, who aren't generating a cent today in terms of the product on the field. (Before anyone goes all self-righteous about this, I'm not saying the retired players don't deserve the billion set aside for them; just making the point that the players are giving up a lot for the old-timers, which is the opposite of selfish.)

    Teams can have all the fancy stadiums and great uniforms, but without the current players—the best of the best—they'd be fielding a lower tier product.

    Don't believe me? Look at the numbers for Canadian football or the arena leagues; they don't generate $9B combined. Not even close.

    So before you bemoan what NFL players are paid compared to your profession, ask yourself: Do I and others in my profession generate $4,736,842 each?
     
  19. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

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    No it's not.

    You're not taking into account the amount of players who played through training camp and didn't make the final 53 man roster.

    And you really don't understand how contracts work. Koa Misi isn't bringing in $1,000,000 per year. He's probably bringing in somewhere between $450-$550K. A good chunk of that contract is a signing bonus. Not to mention contracts are usually back-loaded (see Will Allen) and means they will likely give that player the boot unless he's performing at a high level.

    For the 2011-2012 season, here's a list of who is making over $1,000,000 BASE salary this year from Miami.

    Will D. Allen - $5,500,000.00
    Yeremiah Bell - $3,700,000.00
    Davone Bess - $1,013,333.00
    Vernon Carey - $4,150,000.00
    Dan Carpenter - $1,005,000.00
    Channing Crowder - $2,500,000.00
    Tyrone Culver - $1,250,000.00
    Karlos Dansby - $2,700,000.00
    Tim Dobbins - $1,700,000.00
    Anthony Fasano - $1,900,000.00
    Jake Long - $10,000,000.00
    Brandon Marshall - $6,500,000.00
    Lousaka Polite - $1,250,000.00
    Benny Sapp - $1,900,000.00
    Randy Stark - $3,625,000.00

    15 players... 2 of those players are making BARELY over $1,000,000. And I would be willing to bet that Will Allen, Tyron Culver, Tim Dobbins, and Benny Sapp aren't even guaranteed a roster spot. Hell even people have talked about cutting ties with Yeremiah Bell, Vernon Carey, and Lousaka Polite. I suppose you can throw in Paul Soliai to that list too, but I wouldn't until a CBA is agreed upon.
     
  20. Rdrunn004

    Rdrunn004 Active Member

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    My honest opinion about this situation is that I am getting annoyed be the players' sense of ownership in this negotiation. I love football and typically I side with the players in most situations because they are the ones on the field risking injury with little coverage for lingering complications after their playing days are over.

    However, I keep coming back to the fact that the players are nothing more than employees and even though their talents are valuable I believe they are pushing their luck a little to far already. I would not have a problem with them seeking better health coverage after their careers are over because quite frankly they deserve it, but that is far enough. The players would never be in the position they are in now if it wasn't for the owners taking the risk and investing their own money to develop the league. What money have the players invested? Do they help pay the salaries of other employees, do they purchase any of the equipment, do they invest in the stadium construction process, and do they participate in any other financial aspects of operating the teams they play for? The simple answer is no.

    Yet the players want to dictate what the owners should pay them and what they think they deserve. In hindsight, I place the majority of the blame on the owners themselves for letting it get to this point. The owners have lost control of their employees. I highly doubt that any significant amount of the players could earn anywhere close to what they already earn in the league elsewhere. Not to mention that a significant amount of players have not finished their studies and would be ill-prepared to enter the workforce outside of professional sports.

    With that said, players need to check their egos and owners need to take back control of their business. Player salaries are accountable for the ridiculous costs of attending sporting events now-a-days anyway. If the owners are able to take control of those salaries, perhaps attending these events would be much more affordable to the people who make this business thrive in the first place (THE FANS)!!!!!
     
  21. keypusher

    keypusher Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, not much to add to that. Compared to players of a generation or more ago, today's players are much better paid because they're getting a bigger chunk of the profits. But that's between them and the owners. Who are billionaires. I have no problem with seeing the money I pay for entertainment going to a great athlete rather than to a billionaire owner.
     
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  22. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    I think there is a line to be drawn within any industry. Yes, they hav a right to push for more, but as long as it does not keep the team from making forward progress, or keep he NFL from playing games
     
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  23. krypto

    krypto Banned

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    Not many people can be an M.D. yet they dont get paid millions of dollars...
     
  24. steveincolorado

    steveincolorado Spook, Storme & Pebbles

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    I still think that if your money makers bring in the cash, they should be paid. Again, if your company brings in 1 mil a year, your money makers should get (overall), 480k. That's what the NFL players are going to get. If your not making 48%, then that's your fault. If your making more than 48%, then the NFL players should get more.
     
  25. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

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    Not all do, but some certainly do... They won't make as much per year than someone like Tom Brady, but I doubt they generate the revenue that Tom Brady does.
     
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  26. Alex13

    Alex13 Tua Time !!! Club Member

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    just like the players who risk their body to injuries, the soldiers risk their body on their own choice
     
  27. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    We all love football which is why we are posting on a message board to talk about it. However none of us were actually good enough to play it on this board so we're stuck talking about it. However anyone who is brave enough can be a soldier if they are willing to make the sacrifices necessary. Its not the same. The athlete is born with and cultivates a unique skillset; the soldier has heart and a willingness to take orders and learn and in some instances have a unique skillset as a leader or an assassin etc but the federal government just doesnt pay like the NFL or MLB etc.

    I agree they shouldn't ***** about money because comparatively to the rest of the public they make a pretty good fortune but after all this is America and they are free to make as much as someone is willing to pay. Do I value an athlete more or a soldier? A soldier to be clear, and I think most if not everyone would agree but there is a legitimate pricetag on entertainment. Just like an actor gets paid to act, a musician to sing and perform, an artist to paint...are picasso's paintings really worth millions when to me theyre just ink blots on a canvas? Hell no but to someone they are.

    There are more MD's then pro football players right? Supply and demand. If there were less M.D.'s, they might make more.

    Also like athletes all M.D.'s are not created equal. A pediatrician gets paid like an average lineman where as a brain surgeon gets paid like a star QB comparatively for their profession.
     
  28. steveincolorado

    steveincolorado Spook, Storme & Pebbles

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    Pat Tillman
    R.I.P.
     
  29. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

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    When people pay $100+ a ticket to watch you do whatever you do at your job.....then you can complain.

    till then...NFL players deserve whatever they get.
     
  30. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    No they don't. If they did, they wouldn't need the league or the owners.
    Hypothetical here. Deal never gets done. Owners told to walk,. Players told to walk.

    How much money do the 1900 players generate?
     
  31. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Hypothetical. How much would the players make with no CBA, and a truly free market? How much would an owner pay Peyton Manning if there was no salary cap?
     
  32. gafinfan

    gafinfan gunner Club Member

    While I don't begrudge players salarys - whatever the traffic will bare! Their worth to me, as proven by the actions over the last 130+ days is zip, nada, zilch, nothing!

    The US Navy SEALS are far more exclusive and much harder to become plus being paid far, far less! Yet their importance to you and I is not questioned. As for the love of what you do having any baring on payment in kind BS!

    The "I put my body on the line" hogwash doesn't pass muster either as there are many Jobs that carry as much danger or more as the playing of a game! As my stepfather would say "When the hell you going to get a real job?"

    Entertaining, maybe; Worth anything, not by a long shot!
     
  33. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Answer mine first.

    In response to the question, it's whatever someone is willing to pay them. If you can get $20 million, get it.
     
  34. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Do I get to pick the owners to replace them?
     
  35. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

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    It's worth your time apparently.
     
  36. gafinfan

    gafinfan gunner Club Member

    About 2 minutes worth ...... ! m2c
     
  37. MrClean

    MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member

    Yes sir, loggers, coal miners, firemen, et al, they do that at least as much as anyone.
     
  38. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    Only ignorant or extremely poor people think athletes "make too much money". There is no such thing as "too much money". An athlete, or any person who works any job, is paid what the market says they should be paid. It just so happens that the NFL market says their players deserve X amount of dollars because that's how much that market generates.

    Now, when you have a player whining about making "only" $10,000,000 you will find people scoffing at him. Or, when you have a player(s) trying to get partnership privileges without the partnership risks you will find people telling them to STFU.
     
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  39. dwhorton

    dwhorton New Member

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    don't know if this has been stated yet. the money is there so do you want the owners to get it,or do you want the players to get it ? the players take the health risks and that their choice i know.if it were me i would try to get all i could. this is what capitalism is you get paid your value to solve problems, the bigger the problem you solve the more you make. i think the industry as a whole like most sports make too much money.we are all to blame for that.
     
  40. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

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    NO.

    There are 2,500 active Navy Seals.

    There are 1,696 active NFL Players.


    about 1,000 attempt to make the Navy Seals each year, with an average of 200-250 succeeding.

    There are anywhere around 10,000 to 12,500 draft eligible players each year with only 224 getting drafted, and only about 105 to 130 making NFL rosters.

    http://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seals-frequently-asked-questions-faq.aspx#Gen1
     
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