So when an NFL player is earning hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, why does the promise of another $1,000 or so provide any extra motivation?
It’s a question that was addressed during Monday’s PFT Live.
The easy answer is that it’s human nature to constantly seek validation, and that the issue isn’t about money but it’s about something more immediate than making it to the Pro Bowl or getting a postseason award.
But don’t take our word for it. Even though former Saints safety Darren Sharper has been saying too much about the situation, he hit the nail on the head on WWL on Monday by comparing the payments to helmet stickers in high school or college: “Those are just ways to give guys rewards to have them to be notified throughout their peers on the team that, hey, this guy is making big plays and is allowing us to go out here and win games,” Sharper said. “They’re a contributor to our team.”
Before this is over, the NFL and the Saints will wish that they had gone with helmet stickers instead.