Jump to content
[[Template core/front/custom/_customHeader is throwing an error. This theme may be out of date. Run the support tool in the AdminCP to restore the default theme.]]

10 highest-paid players in the NFL


MustOfBeenDrunk
 Share

Recommended Posts

The news is filled with headlines touting million-dollar contracts for professional football players. But there's more to those contracts than just a flat rate.

 

"As contracts have evolved, there are now various mechanisms for guarantees beyond a signing bonus: roster bonus, option bonus, future guaranteed salaries and salary advances, plus one-time incentives," Andrew Brandt, a former Green Bay Packers executive who runs National Football Post, a website that covers the business of the NFL, said in an interview with Forbes.com.

 

As such, the highest-paid professional football player varies depending on the information you consider. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, for example, makes more than twice as much in endorsements as any other NFL player. The estimated $15 million he made in endorsements in 2010 was nearly half of his $30.8 million in total earnings. While that makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL, his total earnings rank only 17th among the world's highest-paid athletes and ninth among American athletes.

 

Additionally, how much a player earns depends on his performance on the field. So while you may read about a multimillion-dollar contract, only a small portion of that is guaranteed.

 

So although there are a number of different ways to look at how much each player makes, we've ranked the 10 highest-paid NFL players by the amount they were guaranteed in 2010, according to Forbes.com.

 

1. Peyton Manning

 

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Position: Quarterback

 

Guarantee per year: $15.8 million

 

Background: Manning is guaranteed to collect on the last year of his contract. There have been rumblings about a new deal that would make Manning the highest-paid player -- ever.

 

2. Nnamdi Asomugha

 

Team: Oakland Raiders

 

Position: Defensive back

 

Guarantee per year: $14.3 million

 

Background: Asomugha is guaranteed $28.6 million over 2009 and 2010, and wins free agency in 2011 if he isn't paid at least $16.8 million.

 

3. Donovan McNabb

 

Team: Washington Redskins

Position: Quarterback

 

Guarantee per year: $11.5 million

 

Background: Before he was traded to the Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles restructured the final two years of McNabb's contract with a large sum of guaranteed money.

 

4. Champ Bailey

 

Team: Denver Broncos

Position: Defensive back

 

Guarantee per year: $9.5 million

 

Background: Bailey had been elected to the Pro Bowl nine times in his career. 2011 is the last year of his deal, and critics wonder if he'll make as much when he turns 33.

 

5. Sam Bradford

 

Team: St. Louis Rams

Position: Quarterback

 

Guarantee per year: $8.3 million

 

Background: Bradford was the top overall draft pick in 2010. The rookie's contract got him six years and $50 million guaranteed.

 

6. Ndamukong Suh

 

Team: Detroit Lions

Position: Defensive tackle

 

Guarantee per year: $8 million

 

Background: Suh, also a rookie, was this year's second pick after Bradford.

 

7. Elvis Dumervil

 

Team: Denver Broncos

Position: Linebacker

 

Guarantee per year: $7.2 million

 

Background: In 2006, Dumervil was a fourth-round draft pick. Now a starter and a Pro Bowl veteran, he has a six-year contract worth a guaranteed $43.2 million.

 

8. Julius Peppers

 

Team: Chicago Bears

Position: Defensive end

 

Guarantee per year: $7 million

 

Background: Before going to the Bears, Peppers was a Carolina Panther for eight years. He signed a six-year, $91.5 million deal with Chicago, but only $42 million is guaranteed.

 

9. Matthew Stafford

 

Team: Detroit Lions

Position: Quarterback

 

Guarantee per year: $6.9 million

 

Background: Stafford was the top overall draft pick in 2009, getting six years and almost $42 million guaranteed from the Lions.

 

10. Gerald McCoy

 

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Position: Defensive tackle

 

Guarantee per year: $6.6 million

 

Background: Yet another rookie to make the highest-paid players of 2010, McCoy was the third overall pick this year. His five-year contract with Tampa Bay is worth a potential $63 million, with more than half guaranteed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information