TAMPA, Fla. — For the most part, we are accustomed to, and accepting of, outlandish contracts in sports. A hundred million over here, a quarter-billion over there? Been there, marveled at that.
Yet there have been some recent headlines in the NFL that, when put in the proper context, are actually quite stunning.
For instance, Aaron Rodgers signed a three-year, $150 million deal with the Packers in early March. That’s not the stunning part. Deshaun Watson got a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal from the Browns. Groundbreaking, but not stunning. Derek Carr just signed a three-year deal with the Raiders that will pay him more than $40 million a year. Foolhardy perhaps, but also not stunning.
