How Much is Too Much Money for Any Person to be Paid?

Payton Manning

These are some comments on a story about Indianapolis Colt’s quarterback signing a $90 million contract for 5 years service.  Each paragraph represents an individual’s comments.  I have not edited the comments, only removed the name of the commenter.    I have put some of my comments to the comments in red.  Jump in and comment on your own.

This is why I don’t like American football anymore. Yes, it’s American to ‘go for the gold’, but it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth that salaries of players have no reality to a life-time salary for say, an upper middle class,, male executive over his working life. Even when you factor in ‘physical depreciation of the asset’ (Manning’s body being savaged during his career by defensive backs) it is an astronomical salary.

I agree, it is a high price to pay for a football player.  But I would not want to restrict the process that allowed him to negotiate it.

It may be that part of the problem with the USA economy is that over the past decade huge salaries have concentrated a large amount of dollars in the hands of high salaried people who cannot possibly spend that money as quick as they get it … hence money is taken out of circulation (sitting on the sidelines and not doing what money is meant to do, ie, circulate). And if the money is spent, it is spent on high end items that just keeps the money in a rarefied space, ie, not returning the working / middle classes that actually provide the bulk of the salaries.

Money out of circulation?  Of course the money is not out of circulation.  Money never rests unless you bury it in your back yard.  This is a socialist view of America.

Manning is a good fellow from what I have read — perhaps he will understand that the money is paid not just for football performance but also with the understanding that he will put it too good use (which means spend some of it on fans, kids, health care for others).

The key here, is that it is “his” money to do with as he pleases.  Thank God for America.

Now tell me, when the game is over what product has this person put on the shelf that you can take home to Feed, Cloth, Shelter or Protect your Family? We have farmers, Ranchers, Craftsmen, Doctors, Scientists, etc. that feed , cloth, heal and built this country and won’t 1/10 in a lifetime of what this player of a Schoolboy Game makes in a year. There is no person in the world that is worth this kind of money. Disgusting, and a waist of good resources. The truly sad part is that he will most likely be involved in something in the future that will either be illegal, immoral or destructive because this kind of money alway brings that on…and or kids will follow him because of his popularity,

Class envy at the extreme.  Note, that no matter how good a person Manning is, he will spend the money on something illegal, immoral, or destructive.   This is what the Democrats are trying to sell you on the issue wealth in America.  Only they (the Democrats and government) can spend money wisely.

Ok, So: Middle Class America do you not see why we are in such a mess culturally? when our priorities are so out of whack and we allow ourselves to idolize a guy who can throw a stupid football more than a scientist who could cure disease. Don’t get me wrong, I love all sports but I am against our society putting athletes, actors/actresses, rappers etc… on a pedestal as our we allow our social moral decay to destroy our culture from within. There needs to be a balance here, no one including Corporate CEO’s should make so much more money than all others around them. You cry out against the rich then you willing fork over money you don’t have to support criminals in the off season by buying their season tickets, sports memorabilia, sports clothing, albums, movies etc… I would rather support little league or my local school bands then these highly overpaid prima-donnas but hey that’s just me. I love capitalism, but if you’re going to bad mouth the rich you need to look in the mirror and ask where are your priorities? Doctor’s and Scientist’s who could help society on a far great scale or athlete’s and music stars who entertain the couch potato zombies???

This guy/gal is on both sides of the class warfare/morality issue.  I would just tell him that middle class America seems to support the NFL and it’s sponsors (Sponsors are where the real money comes from) very well.  Hence, big money for those that produce for the NFL, the players.

Peyton brings in much more than $90M in revenue for the Colts. It’s simple math. He deserves this because he’s worked very hard at being the best football QB out there. There’s obviously going to be people that are disgusted by it and the Colts will lose some revenue to that sentiment. However, people in general watch Peyton and watch the Colts – he deserves every cent of that contract. As for his salary relative to hard working upper-middle-class people – who cares? We work hard and get paid what the market demands of us. Peyton works hard (perhaps even harder?) and gets paid what the market demands of him. How much do you need to be happy? That’s relative. Obviously, money doesn’t equal happiness but that’s not for us to judge. Let the market take its course. If $90M is too much all of us will be disgusted and not watch him…

I agree with this one the most.

These salaries are beyond rediculus. It won’t be long until the average family won’t be able to afford to go to a game. Only the well off will be able to go to a game. The owners and the players don’t care about the fans. The only way to fix this is for fans to stop going to the games. Until than, it’s the sky’s the limit.

The NFL priced itself out of the “average family” range years ago.  But, at least for now, you can watch the game on TV for a minimal price.  However, watch out for the NFL network.  I truly believe they want all NFL games to be aired there.  That will be the beginning of their downfall.

I am so sick of these over the top salaries that come at OUR expense! You nor any other player is worth that level of income, which is why anything to do with sports costs so much, tickets, food, drinks, memorabilia, taxes to fund your stadiums! A normal working man could not afford to take his kids to sporting events.

See comment above.  But he is right in saying these salaries affect us “all.”   Everyone who purchases a product advertised is subsidizing these salaries just as much as any fan who goes to a game or supports the team.  You do not have to be a NFL to have financially supported them.  The cost of products advertised are where we all pay for Peyton