Regardless of Position, NFL Needs to Pay its Stars

We hear time and time again how professional athletes are selfish and overpaid. Well they need to be, especially in the NFL.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'veon Bell is once again holding out for a new contract because once again the Steelers have decided to put the franchise tag on him, a one-year deal worth about $15 million. 

For the average fan, 15 mil is nothing to complain about and they're right. Who wouldn't want to get paid handsomely for doing what you love?

What the average fan usually doesn't realize, or fails to remember, is that a football player's average career lasts a mere 3.5 years. The average time for a student to get a bachelor's degree is 5.1 years. 

So for the Steelers not to make sure their best player is rewarded with a well earned contract, tells you all you need to know about how superstars are not treated equally. 

Meanwhile in Green Bay, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are close to a new deal. No fan, specifically a Packers fan, will argue against this. Rodgers is the face of the organization; possibly the best quarterback in the NFL. Rodgers also has two years and about $40 million left on his previous contract. Yet, there are no cries from the fans and media that Rodgers needs to play out his contract.

The Los Angeles Rams have spent $114 million in guaranteed money to wide receiver Brandin Cooks, running back Todd Gurley II, and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. All three are amazing players and deserve their money, but it's the player they aren't paying that is more newsworthy. 

Another Aaron, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, is considered the best defensive player in the league and like the Steelers with Bell, the Rams and Donald have not made much progress in a long-term deal.

If NFL teams don't want to pay players the caliber of Bell and Donald, than no player is safe, much like the careers of your average NFL player. And that is a huge problem.