That’s a Nice Paycheck…for One Kickoff

Link to article: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/26/one-kickoff-paid-handsomely-for-dave-rayner/

In class on October 20th, 2011, we discussed the relationship between sport and economics.  Some of the topics we covered were; conditions for growth of commercial sports, the economic beneficiaries from sports, top paid athletes, leagues operating as monopolies, and even some top generating franchises.  The one topic that stuck out the most was with whether or not professional athletes are considered “overpaid”.  Some key reasons that this argument even exists are touched on in Coakley’s text on page 382.  The main reason for astronomical salaries has to do with the concept of free agency.  Coakley, on page 381, suggests that up until the mid-1970’s, professional athletes have had no power to control their careers, and instead, the owners controlled them through what was known as the reserve system.  Coakley also explains that free agency allows players to seek contracts from teams in exchange for their services.  This leads to a bidding war which increases player salaries dramatically.  

In this example, a free agent kicker, Dave Rayner, signed his league minimum contract with the Oakland Raiders.  He took the field for the Raiders on October 23^rd, and only kicked off one time during the duration of the game.  The Raiders then released him that Tuesday, and was scheduled to pay him about $40,000 for that one kickoff.   According to the census that was conducted in 2010, that is almost equivalent to the average amount an 18-24 year old male with a bachelors degree, would make in an entire year.  That seems a little bit absurd to me.  A kicker in the NFL doesn’t contribute to the proper function of our society, but yet he receives approximately $40,000 for ONE kickoff.

 But in the end, is it really the athlete’s fault? According to Coakley, one of the major contributors to this has been the player unions.  He explains that player unions have fought for free agency, and continue to fight for it when owners try to put restrictions on it in new CBA discussions.  All in all, astronomical salaries are prevalent in today’s major sports due to the roll free agency plays in the signing athletes; some people disagree with these salaries, and others understand them, which group are you apart of?