Why do we care what players get paid?

[jazzcat22]

Fans are concerned about the salary cap and having a player eat up a high percentage of it. It can result in not being able to re-sign other players and top free agents. It doesn’t make a any sense to go cheap at the most important position on your team with an average QB so you could hang on to other players.

It doesn't matter as much as many think, IMO. Say the save $10 million that does not mean they will go sign a top FA for that $10 million. And if the get 2 payers at $5 million each, well, that is about what they paid 4 or 5 players last year anyway that they brought in.
It really does not matter. It works itself out, so I don't get concerned over it, nor care. Not going to lose any sleep or waste any brain cells over it.

 

[aikemirv]

You're exactly right. Fans have become overly concerned with salaries. They can no longer kick back and enjoy a game or team. I'll admit, I became that fan, but realized it just took away some of the enjoyment and honestly don't care that much about it anymore. Put talent on the field...as much of it as you can and make a SB run. That's what I want the team to do. If it costs a couple of throwaway seasons in the future, so be it.

When the average cable bill is about $150 per month, of course fans have been concerned with salaries - do you guys not understand that every penny they make comes out of the fans pockets!

 

[Adreme]

When the average cable bill is about $150 per month, of course fans have been concerned with salaries - do you guys not understand that every penny they make comes out of the fans pockets!

If a player takes less though the owners are not suddenly going to cut the price of tickets or have the amount of commercials in a game reduced (the latter being broadcasters anyway) or offer discount on merchandise. The owners are going to try to make every cent they can and it is up to the players to decide if they want to get their share or leave it for the owners (or well other players because it is a salary cap).

 

[garyo1954]

"If the players accept the deal, they will receive 48 percent of the league’s revenue after deductions, starting in the 2020 season, about one percentage point more than the current 47-53 percent split with owners.

In 2015, in response to mounting criticism for its quickly growing revenue, the NFL gave up the tax-exempt status it had held since 1947. The league now exists as a trade association made up of and financed by its 32 member teams. 31 of these teams are owned individually, only the Green Bay Packers retains its non-profit status. The NFL earns the lion’s share of its money with TV deals. According to Statista, more than 50% of the league’s revenue came from TV deals in 2015, a year when the league made about $12 billion. Other revenue streams include ticket sales, merchandising, and licensing rights and corporate sponsorships.

In the case of fans, ticket prices go up, anything with a team logo costs more. I had a laser business. If I wanted to produce anything with a team logo for sale, I needed to pay for licensing rights.

Doesn't matter if they are working with a set amount they can spend, like any other business, they pass the costs on to the consumer.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/062515/how-nfl-makes-money.asp

 

[plymkr]

I don't care how much players get paid. If it was up to me every player would have a 40 million a year salary.

I care about the salary cap and putting together a competitive team. So I care if one person takes a large percentage of that salary cap then it could affect the competitiveness of the team.

 

[aikemirv]

If a player takes less though the owners are not suddenly going to cut the price of tickets or have the amount of commercials in a game reduced (the latter being broadcasters anyway) or offer discount on merchandise. The owners are going to try to make every cent they can and it is up to the players to decide if they want to get their share or leave it for the owners (or well other players because it is a salary cap).

That's backwards thinking. If revenues go down, salaries go down.

If viewership goes down, ad prices go down and TV contracts go down. Simple economics.

I should buy some of you one of these!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/570206.Economics_For_Dummies

 

[Aviano90]

When the average cable bill is about $150 per month, of course fans have been concerned with salaries - do you guys not understand that every penny they make comes out of the fans pockets!

I understand, I just don't give a damn anymore.

 

[CouchCoach]

I hate to say this, but I'm thoroughly annoyed with the Prescott drama. I'm ready to put him on the next Titanic.

It is not Prescott or his agent making this a media event.

I wouldn't mind Booger & Son on the next Titanic and have them holding onto Cate Winslet's board because that girl ain't sharing. And the son would hold onto his father's tux tails all the way down.

 

[aikemirv]

I understand, I just don't give a damn anymore.

OK, I really don't care that much either because I don't go to games or buy merchandise. I understand that I pay extra for every item I purchase because it is advertised on TV and Sports viewership is a big reason why ads are so expensive.

The WHY should we care argument is ignorant however! It's like saying "why should we care if gas is $4 per gallon" or that movie tickets cost $15 a piece!

 

[nightrain]

No salary cap = no concern.

 

[Starforever]

Fans and their brilliance. The Jones family, is well aware of salary cap and team needs. Your frustrations concerning their business means squat. Our wants and desires, are not a part of the negotiations.

 

[CouchCoach]

People get paid for PERFORMANCE!

In every profession! If you don't perform most people just get fired!

They still have contracts in pro sports and a lot of that is paying performance forward.

 

[Aviano90]

OK, I really don't care that much either because I don't go to games or buy merchandise. I understand that I pay extra for every item I purchase because it is advertised on TV and Sports viewership is a big reason why ads are so expensive.

The WHY should we care argument is ignorant however! It's like saying "why should we care if gas is $4 per gallon" or that movie tickets cost $15 a piece!

Can't you get the information you're seeking with the total amount of the salary cap instead of needing to know the individual break down of the player salaries, for your example?

 

[gmoney112]

People seem to care more about the salary cap, that they don't understand + how contracts are structured, than the fact that you can now buy an entire barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil for the cost of 2 beers at Cowboys stadium.

 

[CouchCoach]

You're exactly right. Fans have become overly concerned with salaries. They can no longer kick back and enjoy a game or team. I'll admit, I became that fan, but realized it just took away some of the enjoyment and honestly don't care that much about it anymore. Put talent on the field...as much of it as you can and make a SB run. That's what I want the team to do. If it costs a couple of throwaway seasons in the future, so be it.

In a former career, I had Fox, ESPN and others as clients and at one time across all of the networks is was forbidden to talk about contracts during a game. They might mention he just signed one or had one coming up but no details and especially about dollars because the feeling was fans watched the games to escape part of that. Now, they might as well print what the player is getting paid under his name on his shirt.

 

[Starforever]

When the average cable bill is about $150 per month, of course fans have been concerned with salaries - do you guys not understand that every penny they make comes out of the fans pockets!

So, the bill is about $150, due to sports entertainment. Gotcha, do you attend concerts, go to movies, etc...where does that money come from, that pays those entertainers?

 

[JayFord]

I never understood why fans care about who gets paid what

it don’t come out my pocket

pay Prescott whatever you want.....

 

[Aviano90]

In a former career, I had Fox, ESPN and others as clients and at one time across all of the networks is was forbidden to talk about contracts during a game. They might mention he just signed one or had one coming up but no details and especially about dollars because the feeling was fans watched the games to escape part of that. Now, they might as well print what the player is getting paid under his name on his shirt.

Yeah, their new number is their cap hit for the year. NFL could increase revenue because you'd have to get a new jersey of your favorite player every year.

 

[CouchCoach]

If it were up to the owners, they wouldn't reveal what any player gets paid for a variety of reasons.

This is all about agents advertising for themselves. They're like those ambulance chasers advertising what they got for clients.

If Todd France gets the highest contract for Prescott, that's one huge feather in his cap and he's high on players' radar, he's high already with the time and rumored offers made.. It is not about getting what one is worth, it's a cash grab.

 

[DallasEast]

This forum is supposed to be about football, not economics.

I basically agree but the overwhelming majority of all forum discussion has been made from a financial perspective based solely on real or false player metrics. Almost zero discussion is based in economics.

To be fair, any discussion involving economics based professional sports team athletes' contracts is rarely done anywhere. Social media. Television. Radio. Practically all actual conversion boils down to, "Player A's physical abilities and team related achievements do or do not merit a certain level of financial compensation."

Again, zero economics are applied.