Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck became the highest-paid NFL player ever this past week, signing a six-year, $140 million deal, with $87 million guaranteed.
Sounds like a lot, right?
No so much, at least compared to the most recent round of NBA free-agent contracts.
According to ESPN, by guaranteed money, Los Angeles Lakers center Timo Mozgov, who just signed a four-year free agent deal for a reported $65 million, would be the fourth-highest paid NFL player, behind Luck, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, all quarterbacks, all experienced and all full-time starters.
Mozgov, 29, has career averages of 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game and was relegated to the bench for the second half of last season.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) took issue, tweeting, "Call me a hater but these NBA deals are insane. I have to Google the players getting paid. #nonamechecks #productiondoesntcount."
The NBA salary cap is at an all-time high, which means the contracts being agreed to are colossal.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Daxton Swanson tweeted, "The NBA handing out money like church programs."
The sheer size of the NBA's free agent offerings have some NFL players wishing they'd chosen a different sport, at least according to their Twitter feeds.
• Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker: "Seeing all these basketball contracts....I need to work on the jumper."
• Minnesota Viking linebacker Brandon Watts: "Jesus, I'm about to sign up for summer league, NBA just throwing money."
Some took a different tack, pointing out the inconsistencies between the two leagues:
• Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay: "Man what a time to be alive to be a NBA bench player."
• Washington linebacker Will Compton: "How does the NBA and NHL have such a better player contract situation than the NFL??? These deals are insane."
• Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee: "Hey @NFLPA... Let's chat with the folks from @NBAPA ASAP."
Others decided to make plans for the future:
• Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jerel Worthy: "I'm putting my son in all basketball camps ASAP lol we need some this NBA money."
• Free agent cornerback Richard Crawford Jr.: "Dear future children, Basketball, baseball, and soccer. Sincerely, Pops."
• San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith: "I'm about to have my boys out there swinging a bat and shooting jumpers haha folks are making bank out here."
Guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the locker room.
Wilt's worth it
It's not just NFL players shocked by the amounts being given to NBA players. According to David Whitley of the Orlando Sentinel, "the money in the NBA has gone from crazy to stark-raving-needs-a-lobotomy insane."
It's so crazy, he did the math on what superstar Wilt Chamberlain, if he were 50 years younger and still alive, might be worth in today's market.
Whitley started with Chamberlain's best statistical season, 1961-1962, when he averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds, figuring that, combined, that's about 1,380 percent better than Timo Mozgov's totals.
According to Whitley's math, since the big Russian is getting $16 million a season, "Wilt the Stilt" would now be worth an annual salary of $220.8 million.
"At those prices, I'm thinking comeback. Sure, there's that whole death problem. But Wilt's old agent should contact a faith healer or the producers of The Walking Dead.
"Get some life into the old chap. In the NBA's new Funny Money era, even the biggest stiff is worth $15 million a year."
Sports quiz
Which of the four major professional sports leagues -- MLB, NHL, NBA, or NFL -- has the highest minimum yearly salary for players?
Answer
The NHL league minimum is $575,000. The NBA is second ($525,093), followed by major league baseball ($507,500), and the NFL ($450,000).
Sports on 07/04/2016