Multi-millionaire Philadelphia Eagles football quarterback Michael Vick filed for bankruptcy in 2008 after serving time for his involvement in illegal dog fighting. Although he was ordered to pay back creditors, he has spent nearly $6 million a year since then. Vick’s 2012 salary was $13.9 million, when he quarterbacked the Eagles to a dismal four-win, 12-loss season.
Glaring Examples Of Inflated Salaries The NFL players who earned top income in 2012, including salaries and bonuses, were Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis ($19 million), Elvis Dumervil, Denver ($18.9 million), and Peyton Manning, Denver ($18 million). Michael Vick was 9th on the list. Of course, at least half of that money could go out to a combination of agents, lawyers and Uncle Sam. And, in many cases, some is earmarked for ex-wives, girlfriends and child support.
Philadelphia Eagles History I’ve been an Eagle fan for decades, and attend many hometown and road games. The Eagles were awarded their NFL franchise 80 years ago, with a start-up fee of $2,500. Financial things have changed a bit since 1933.
Eagles stars of the past, including Steve Van Buren, Chuck Bednarik, Timmy Brown, Ron Jaworski and Harold Carmichael, never had annual salaries that would combine to equal Vick’s total of nearly $14 million in 2012.
How Does This Affect Me? Many sports fans are struggling financially in a bad economy, and to attend games, we must pay increasingly higher fees for tickets, stadium parking, food and drink. Creeping inflation may be a factor, but the skyrocketing salaries paid to players are passed on to fans who faithfully buy tickets.
When Eagles’ cheapest single game tickets first went on sale before the 2012 season, they averaged $182. By the final games of the losing year, they were selling for as low as $60. Will that be part of a supply-and-demand trend as fans get tired of the enormous player salaries that cause ever-increasing costs of attending NFL games?
Ask any NFL fan who must work for a living. Player pay is beyond obscene, and getting more outrageous every year. It continues to make attending games more and more expensive.
Would it be so unreasonable for the players to get paid just ten times what the average working stiff earns, instead of the 100-times they, their lawyers and agents now demand? After all, the athletes work only six months for their enormous pay, while the rest of us must do our jobs for the entire year.
What Can Happen The continuing increases in ticket prices bring in more money to the NFL, but they could eventually hit a breaking point. Technology is already making movie houses, as well as print magazines and newspapers obsolete. Are football stadiums next?
To some fans, along with larger and sharper home TV screens, comes the feeling of actually being part of the action. Viewing is considerably clearer and nearer than when sitting in cheap stadium seats. Will there come a time when we’ll find it much more comfortable and economical just to stay home?
We’ll be able to enjoy the games without needing to get off the couch, fight traffic, get robbed at the gas pump, pay heavy parking fees and buy high-priced tickets. Then endure noisy crowds and weather to sit on uncomfortable seats while consuming $10 hot dogs and $8 soft drinks.
Ted Sherman has been a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles since their inception in 1933 and and considers the 1960 Eagles team the greatest in NFL history. He is now retired, living in Los Angeles and awaiting the arrival of an NFL team. You can follow him on Twitter @travel4seniors.
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