Terrell Suggs: Rookies should have to earn their money

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 22, 2011, 4:46 PM EDT

When Terrell Suggs was drafted 10th overall by the Ravens in 2003, he thought it was great that Top 10 picks could get big contracts before ever playing a down in the NFL. He doesn’t think that anymore.

In an interview with Sports with Coleman on Fox 1370 Sports Radio in Baltimore, Suggs said he supports a rookie wage scale and hopes that’s a part of the next Collective Bargaining Agreement — even though he would have hated a rookie wage scale when he was a rookie.

“When I was coming in as a rookie I thought that was the biggest baloney I had ever heard,” Suggs said. “But now being a vet, being on the other side of the fence, and seeing the vets that have been in the league for years, have longevity and still haven’t reached that payday, I think it’s pretty unfair, and definitely the rookies should have to earn their money.”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/22/terrell-suggs-rookies-should-have-to-earn-their-money/
-----------------

It's no surprise a player's view on this would correlate with where he's at in his career. I agree with Suggs' view now ... rookies should have to earn their money. There should be a rookie pay scale. Then after their first year (or second or third), they should have the option to negotiate.

Just because a player is a star in college doesn't mean he's going to pan out in the NFL. Teams should be able to see how they do before committing tons of money to them.

agreed

there are so many examples

j russell is the one that sticks out the most. how much money did he get to stink?

Maybe Suggs should also give back some of the money he stole a couple of seasons ago with his horrendous play right after signing his huge multi-year contract?