On the eve of the Super Bowl, I was offered an assignment on the highest-paid athletes. I chose not to accept it, but I did do some research before making that decision. While doing my research, I found a list of the National Football League players with the highest salaries during the 2013 season and was shocked to learn that Tom Brady was tied for 13th -- on his team.
Brady, whom I ranked the NFL’s fifth best quarterback ever in a Storeboard blog, had a salary of $1 million during the 2013 season. That’s a pittance for a star of his magnitude, but don’t feel sorry for him. He also got a $30 million bonus when he signed a five-year contract that ends after the 2017 season and will earn $2 million in 2014, $7 million in 2015, $8 million in 2016, and $9 million in 2017.
Another odd thing about “The 25 Highest-Paid Players In The NFL” list is that there are only two running backs and two wide receivers on the list. This is not an aberration. For decades, quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers were the glamour positions and the highest-paid positions, but I wrote an article on NFL salaries by position a couple of years ago and receivers and running backs were the seventh and eighth highest-paid positions based on average salary.
Quarterbacks were first, defensive ends second, offensive linemen third, defensive tackles fourth, cornerbacks fifth, and linebackers sixth.
Seven of the 25 highest-paid players are quarterbacks and four are defensive ends. The highest paid players in 2013 were:
1. PEYTON MANNING: Pictured above on the right with Tom Brady, the Denver quarterback earned $15 million in 2013.
2. JARED ALLEN: The Minnesota Vikings defensive end earned $14.3 million in 2013.
3. (tie) ELI MANNING AND DARRELLE REVIS: Peyton’s younger brother, the New York Giants’ quarterback, and the Tampa Bay cornerback earned $13 million.
5. TAMBA HALI: I never heard of him, but the Kansas City linebacker earned $12.3 million.
6. PHILIP RIVERS: The San Diego quarterback earned $12 million.
7. ADRIAN PETERSON: The Minnesota running back earned $11.3 million.
8. MICHAEL JOHNSON: The Cincinnati defensive end earned $11.2 million.
9. DAVID HARRIS: The New York Jets linebacker earned $10.9 million.
10. ANTHONY SPENCER: The Dallas defensive end earned $10.6 million.
11. Jason Peters, Philadelphia OL, $10.4 million; 12. (tie) Chris Johnson, Tennessee RB and Joe Thomas, Cleveland OL, $10 million; 14. Julius Peppers, Chicago DE, $9.9 million; 15. (tie) Brandon Albert, Kansas City OL and Drew Brees, New Orleans QB, $9.8 million; 17. Champ Bailey, Denver CB, $9.5 million; 18. Brandon Marshall, Chicago WR, $9.1 million; 19. (tie) Sam Bradford, St. Louis QB and Cortland Finnegan, St. Louis CB, $9 million; 21. (tie) Sidney Rice, Seattle WR; Jay Cutler, Chicago QB; Henry Melton, Chicago DT and Randy Starks, Miami DT, $8.5 million; 25. Josh Freeman, Minnesota QB, $8.4 million.
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