Enough is enough and it is time for a change to the NFL rookie player’s pay scale. Why can’t the NFL regulate what rookie make, the NBA does that and it works well. There has been talk for years but each year rookie pay is getting more outlandish. Granted NBAs contracts are guaranteed and the NFLs are not, but most players do get guaranteed money in their contract and a lot of players make most of their money with endorsements. And granted some rooks may be worth huge dollars (Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan), but most are not (Ryan Leaf, Mike Williams). Anyhow, shouldn’t players have to earn raises like everyone else, baseball and basketball players do?

Drafting a first rounder is basically like being put on death row for an NFL veteran mainly because first round draft picks get paid so much they almost have to play immediately, and sometimes they even get paid better than proven veterans.

Prime example Aaron Rodgers, a first round pick, ends up pushing out Favre, why because you can’t afford them both. The NFL shouldn’t let that happen. Aaron Rodgers shouldn’t have been paid multimillions his first year.

Sure Favre would have went eventually because you only need one quarterback essentially but its far worse at other positions but even look at another position, for example line backer, where Derrick Brooks and Zach Thomas are forced out to make room for younger draft picks, and clear salary cap to afford draft picks.

Teams can’t build dynasties anymore because they must choose between paying a proven aging veteran and an emerging young star, they usually can’t afford both! Teams should not have to choose between the maybe the next NFL star and a marquee franchise player whom served your team proudly for a dozen years.

Rookies can wait for the big dollars from the NFL and the Adrian Petersons and Matt Ryans of the world will be fine with most of their income from endorsement.

Roger Goodell should change this rule. Give people a base salary for getting drafted as a first rounder or second rounder and so forth.

Stop letting rookies rule the league, rookies shouldn’t be demanding trades like Eli Manning or threatening to sit like Michael Crabtree, because a team won’t meet contract demands.

Even Eli Manning would agree now, considering that the contract given to quarterback Matthew Stafford, selected No. 1 overall by Detroit this season, includes $41.7 million in guarantees. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, MVP of the super bowl, recently signed an extension that reportedly guarantees him $35 million.

Former LSU quarterback and number one overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell has agreed in principle to a contract worth at least $60 million over the next six years, and about $31 million of that will be guaranteed. It is the richest contract ever for a rookie.

Mario Williams now a DE for the Houston Texans inked a six year, $62.1 million ($26.9 million guaranteed).

To contrast LeBron James, arguably one of the best players in the league right now was given a three-year $12.96 million rookie contract. Sure, all of it was guaranteed, but that breaks down to $4.32 million per year – hardly an astronomical sum. He penned a five-year, $80 million contract extension in July 2006. But hey, at least he earned that fat check by playing like court king over the last three seasons.

Alex Smith whom is competing for playing time at QB for the 49ers signed a six year, $49.5 million contract ($24 million guaranteed) as a rookie in 2005.

The list could go on and on and on! So here it is for the last few drafts;

2004

Eli Manning was drafted by the Chargers and traded to NY Giants receiving a six year, $54 million ($20 million guaranteed). He did win a super bowl but let’s remember one thing about this guy, the Chargers didn’t want to trade him, and he demanded a trade by refusing to sign with them. So he turned out to be worth the dollars for New York, but still a prima donna rookie.

2003

Carson Palmer has played well for the Bengals when he plays, but has been plagued by injury. He got a seven year $49 million deal ($10.01 million guaranteed.

2002

As a rookie David Carr the QB for the Texans scored a seven year, $46.2 million deal with a $10.92 million signing bonus. The journeyman is quietly still in the league, he went to Carolina and now is with New York Giants (trust me I looked it up).

2001

Michael Vick was drafted at QB to the Falcons for six years, and up to $62 million with a $3 million signing bonus. May be the poster boy for why rookies don’t need too much money! Now he has financial troubles to boot!

2000

Courtney Brown a DE was drafted by the Browns for six years, and up to $45 million with a $10.9 million signing bonus. He was later cut and he now plays for the Broncos.

Most rookies aren’t worth the money and it is their own worst enemy! The get given a sense of entitlement and end up being cut because they can’t up to their contracts and then bounce around the league.

Make them earn it! College football isn’t always a great way to judge NFL talent. In some cases with no clear cut number one prospect the first pick can be an albatross, you can’t trade it and if you don’t pay him market value not what he’s worth, you waste the pick.

Starting rookies off with comparable veteran NFL salaries makes no sense! Rookies should be forced to earn the big pay day like everyone else! C’mon Goodell and NFL it’s time to make the change!