As NBA players continue to sign gargantuan contracts that are fully guaranteed, NFL players — current and former — are taking note. Specifically in this case, former NFL defensive tackle Terrance Knighton had a lot to say about NFL contracts compared to the ones being signed in the NBA.
Taking to Twitter Saturday night, Knighton unloaded with a barrage of tweets on this subject.
NFL makes billions a year. Time to get back to that negotiation table. And this time we need to stay strong and not budge. Make em Pay!!!
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
Aaron Rodgers should be making more money then James Harden
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
Tom Brady should be making more money then Steph Curry
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
Aqib Talib and Chris Harris should be making more then Evan Turner
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
I could name 30 people who should be making more money then Chandler Parsons
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
I could name another 30 that should be making more then Harrison Barnes
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
There were plenty more where that came from as well. And Knighton also made sure to let his followers know he’s not mad at NBA players for hauling in record-breaking contracts (like this one). Instead, he thinks NFL players should be making a lot more.
And I'm not saying NBA players should make less. Just that NFL players should be making more
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 8, 2017
And he has a pretty compelling reason for thinking this way.
Last year NFL took in 13 Billion in revenue. The NBA 4.8 Billion. Miss me wit that 53 vs 15 man roster crap. Next………………
— Terrance Knighton (@Coach_Knighton) July 9, 2017
The biggest issue is that the NFL owners have players over a barrel in a way. NFL careers are very short on average compared to NBA players. And the way things are done won’t likely change without players being willing to strike and miss out on game checks.
So while some of the top players might be willing to do that, there are far more for whom missing out on any money at all could be the difference between having a chance to get set for life and struggling after spending just a few years in the NFL.