Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1 year

[Skooby]

Ironically it's Jim Kelly's total earnings versus Mario Williams last season. It's pretty neat to look back & think how much our HOF players were paid back then, wow:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly is the NFL`s highest paid player with a 1987 base salary of $1.1 million, an NFL Players Association survey reported.
Kelly also was tops among package deals with a five-year contract that will pay him $8 million, or an average of $1.6 million a year. Miami quarterback Dan Marino was second with a six-year deal that pays $9 million. Marino, whose arrangement included a $2 million signing bonus, will be earning $500,000 in 1987.
Quarterback Jim Everett of the Los Angeles Rams had the best total package among 1986 rookies. He signed a four year deal worth $2.55 million. Atlanta nose tackle Tony Casillas ranked second among rookies with a four year package that pays $2.35 million.
The average salary among 1,532 players was $203,565 in 1986.
The survey showed NFL owners cut back on rookie salaries in 1986, but showed salary hikes for veterans.
TOP NFL SALARIES
Jim Kelly has the highest base salary in the NFL.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Rank Team Player Pos. `86 Salary `87 Salary
(1) Buffalo Jim Kelly QB 1,000,000 1,100,000
(10) Cleveland Bernie Kosar QB 700,000 800,000
(2) Denver John Elway QB 900,000 1,000,000
(28) Kansas City Bill Kenney QB 625,000 675,000
(2) L.A. Raiders Marc Wilson QB 900,000 1,000,000
(19) Miami Hugh Green LB 650,000 750,000
(8) New England Raymond Clayborn DB 800,000 825,000
(9) N.Y. Jets Joe Klecko DL 675,000 812,000
(13) San Diego Dan Fouts QB 750,000 750,000
(12) Seattle Steve Largent WR 700,000 770,000
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Rank Team Player Pos. `86 Salary `87 Salary
(34) Atlanta William Andrews RB 530,000 535,000
( ) Chicago Walter Payton RB 685,000 *
( ) Dallas Danny White QB 605,000 *
(27) Detroit Joe Ferguson QB 640,000 690,000
(5) N.Y. Giants Lawrence Taylor LB 850,000 900,000
(32) Philadelphia Ron Jaworski QB 500,000 600,000
(2) San Francisco Joe Montana QB 950,000 1,000,000

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-03-11/sports/8701150873_1_salary-list-top-nfl-salaries-base-salary

[BillsFever21]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

That's the way all sports have went in the past couple decades. I remember in MLB when Bobby Bonilla signed a 5yr-29 million dollar contract during the 1991 season it was an earth shattering deal. Now you have some utility players making that much a year.

Hell they are still paying him over a million a year till this day over a 25 year span. When he finally left again in 1999 him and the Mets came to an agreement to spread the 5.9 million they still owed him out over 25 years with interest so he wouldn't go broke. In essence that 5.9 million will turn into over 25 million dollars for him. Smart move on his part and pretty stupid of the Mets. they invested that money and other funds with Bernie Madoff.

A few more decades from now when the top QB's are making 50 million a year and the lowest ticket price is $200 a game everyone will look back and say them were some cheap contracts back then.

[mrbojanglezs]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

tv contracts were also not over a billion dollars

[Skooby]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

tv contracts were also not over a billion dollars

Still, one year versus a HOF career is really hard to fathom.

[Homegrown]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

"Sure, we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot, too."

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

and people get mad at fast food workers trying to just make an extra buck... Christ our priorities are ****ed

[SquishDaFish]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

Who gives a flying ****. Sports got huge. Which equal large tv money which in turn the owners spend more. Its not really thr players fault on that

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

Who gives a flying ****. Sports got huge. Which equal large tv money which in turn the owners spend more. Its not really thr players fault on that

I don't think people are blaming them really, just that the income level and purchasing power is getting to an astronomical level... I mean, lots of people work hard and get about 500 bucks a week... I mean really? is there any really substantive answer for that type of income inequality? is supply and demand really a good barometer here on human value lol. im sure it is to a certain level, but at some point...lol

[SquishDaFish]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

Im not saying its not out of control. But comparing a players salary to one back in the stone age makes no sense at all. Its just plain stupid. But then again look at who the originator of this thread is and it makes all the sense in the world

[CoolBreeze]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

Phil Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" stated he was offered $60,000 in the 1960's to back up Sonny Jurgenson. He figured, even though that was a lot of money at the time, why get the crap kicked out of himself for that. Also, it interfered with duck season...

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

Im not saying its not out of control. But comparing a players salary to one back in the stone age makes no sense at all. Its just plain stupid. But then again look at who the originator of this thread is and it makes all the sense in the world

if you adjust for inflation, it is important to track wages/salaries... its flows into our whole society and its relationships

[CoolBreeze]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

You are also forgetting to add the rate of inflation conversions. 1.1 million in 1987 is equal to around 3 million today. (If my math is correct)

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

You are also forgetting to add the rate of inflation conversions. 1.1 million in 1987 is equal to around 3 million today. (If my math is correct)

still ridiculous, especially if you account for purchasing power between lower class and upper ones

[Skooby]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

You are also forgetting to add the rate of inflation conversions. 1.1 million in 1987 is equal to around 3 million today. (If my math is correct)

$2,056,302.82.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Highest paid player in 1987 didn't make as much in his career as Mario did for 1

And the salaries of regular joes are only about 2.5 times higher.