Quarterbacks get more credit than they deserve and more blame than they deserve, the old saying goes. Then why do they get more money?
Of the 28 starting quarterbacks this weekend, 17 are working for $1 million salaries this season. An additional five are $1 million benchwarmers. Here is the list, including base salary, roster and reporting bonus
(signing bonuses not included):
$2 million men-Joe Montana, 49ers, $2.55 million and Jim Everett, Rams, 2.4.
$1 million men-Jim Kelly, Bills, $1.5 million; Dan Marino, Dolphins, 1.5; Warren Moon, Oilers, 1.5; Bernie Kosar, Browns, 1.5; John Elway, Broncos, 1.45; David Krieg, Seahawks, $1.4; Phil Simms, Giants, 1.4; Vinny Testaverde, Buccaneers, 1.36; Ken O`Brien, Jets, 1.3; Randall Cunningham, Eagles, 1.275;
Jeff George, Colts, 1.25; Boomer Esiason, Bengals, 1.2; and Troy Aikman, Cowboys; Wade Wilson, Vikings; and Jay Schroeder, Raiders, a million each.
Less than $1 million men-Bubby Brister, Steelers, $875,000; Timm Rosenbach, Cardinals, $700,000; Steve DeBerg, Chiefs, $675,000; Chris Miller, Falcons, $550,000; Steve Grogan, Patriots, $520,000; John Fourcade, Saints, $400,000; Jim Harbaugh, Bears, $320,000; Mark Rypien, Redskins, $300,000; Mark Vlasic, Chargers, $290,000; Anthony Dilweg, Packers, $195,000 and Calvin Peete, Lions, $115,000.
The five millionaire benchwarmers are Green Bay`s Don Majkowski, the Jets` Tony Eason, Detroit`s Andre Ware, Dallas` Steve Walsh and San Francisco`s Steve Young.
– Opening day in football is 10 times more important than opening day in baseball. With only 16 games to play, winning is 10 times better and losing 10 times worse.
For the last two NFL seasons, all six division champions opened with victories. That means no team lost its opener and recovered to win a division. Three division champions lost openers in 1987, two in 1986, but it`s the exception.
– One of the reasons for escalating salaries is Plan B, the league`s restricted free-agent system. Of the 184 players who changed teams this year under Plan B, 110 remain under contract, according to Management Council figures. That`s 59.7 percent. Last year, the total was 135 of 229, or 58.9 percent.
Of the 110, 90 players are on active rosters, 14 are on injured reserve, five on ”physically unable to perform” and one on ”non-football injury.”
Teams spent close to $5 million on signing bonuses to Plan B players who were cut. That`s $5 million down the drain.
The Packers signed 33 Plan B players over the last two years. Only seven are left. They signed 13 this year and have two left. They paid $730,000 in signing bonuses for the 13 and $605,000 was spent on players who were cut. Now you know why Don Majkowski asked for such a hefty raise. He figures if the team can afford it for players who never even make the roster, they can afford it for a Pro Bowl quarterback.
”You know where Lombardi said you`ve got to pay the price? It works both ways,” Packers linebacker Tim Harris said. ”If the club isn`t willing to pay players who perform in the league, next time they look up we`ll be 4-12 again.”
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Cleveland Browns linebacker Clay Matthews reluctantly signed a one-year contract for $895,000 after failing to get the $950,000 the Browns shelled out for Plan B cornerback Raymond Clayborn.
”If this shows anything, it`s that players should do whatever they have to do to be left unprotected,” Matthews said.
You mean like wildly lateral an interception in a key game? Matthews did that and lost the ball against the Oilers last year, but apparently to no avail. The Browns won.
– The Giants claimed third-string Eagles quarterback Matt Cavanaugh on waivers this week, which means they must assume his $510,000 salary. The Giants are trying to break a four-game losing streak to the Eagles Sunday night, and Cavanaugh is a walking Eagles playbook. He designed the sideline signal-calling system.
”I`m not naive enough not to know they`re going to ask me some questions about it,” Cavanaugh said.
”If we wanted a spy, we could get one a lot cheaper than that,” Giants General Manager George Young said.
– The Bears passed up claiming Eagles wide receiver Cris Carter and recalled rookies Tom Waddle and Quintin Smith instead. The Vikings grabbed Carter. He has limited speed but one specialty-scoring touchdowns. He runs the ”fade”
pattern and outjumps defenders perhaps better than any receiver in football.
”We felt Carter was the best player out there,” Minnesota General Manager Mike Lynn said. ”The Giants claimed him, too, and they know him better than anyone.”
The Vikings` addition of placekicker Donald Igwebuike from Tampa Bay also should help a team that has trouble scoring from in close. Igwebuike never has missed from inside 35 yards (41 of 41). He also never has missed inside a domed stadium. His longest kick is 55 yards in the Metrodome. The Bucs cut him because they wanted longer kickoffs. The Bucs apparently plan to kick off more often.