As someone with a decade each on both sides of the business of football—representing players and working with teams—I’ve used my media pulpit for the last several years to scream from the mountaintops about the folly that goes on every year with reporting and discussion of NFL contracts. Alas, even with a decent following and a respected voice, I have failed again as headlines blare about NFL free agent contracts worth (illusory) amounts of $50 million, $60 million or even $80 million.
In the NBA, MLB or even the NHL, a contract that says it is worth $80 million is actually worth $80 million.