Cuts Friday

The NFL is far and away the shadiest, shrewdest, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately (and on the cheap) business in sports. Let's look at some recent examples:

Player: LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back

Team: San Diego Chargers

Tenure: Nine years

Tomlinson, perhaps the best running back of the last decade, accumulated 12,490 rushing yards (second all-time) and 153 total touchdowns (third all-time) while wearing the lightning bolt. His skills were declining in recent years, so the Norvs released him (because, you know, you can break contracts in the NFL) to save $2 million in bonuses had LT made it to March.

Player: Brian Westbrook

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Tenure: Eight years

One of the more underappreciated stars, Westbrook was East Coast LT. His 2007 season alone is mind boggling (1,333 rushing yards, 771 receiving yards, 12 total TD's) yet he struggled to stay on the field due to injuries, and just hit the "oh shit, he's 30" running back wall. The Eagles saved $7.5 million by cutting him before next season.

Player: Jake Delhomme

Team: Carolina Panthers

Tenure: Six years (seven if you include 2009)

After quarterbacking the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003, Delhomme had two straight seasons of 3,400+ passing yards and 20+ touchdowns, and led them back to the NFC title game following the 2005 season. Then...well, last season happened. The Panthers will lose $12.5 million in guaranteed money to Delhomme by cutting him.

Wait, what? You mean not only are the Panthers not saving money by cutting Jake the Mistake, they STILL have to pay him $12.5 million? They're paying him to go away?

Jake Delhomme: The man who gets paid $12.5 million to go away in a floundering economy.

***

I know athletes are constantly criticized for being selfish and overpaid, but you won't hear me complaining when guys sit out and bitch about getting a new contract. The way the NFL is set up, I'd sit out after every good season to demand more money. These running backs only play until their mid-30's (at best) and perhaps suffer the most punishment, and the second you're not producing you WILL be cut. These NFL owners are shrewd, putting the most money in the last few years of contracts, knowing they can cut players before they even make it there.

Take Adrian Peterson, for example. He's 24 years old and in peak physical condition. After three seasons and 4,484 rushing yards, AP still has two seasons left on his rookie contract. What does he have, one good contract left in him? Take the money and run, Adrian.