The guaranteed money handed out so far during NBA free agency prompted Washington Redskins safety Duke Ihenacho to take jabs at what NFL players receive in comparison.
Almost all NBA contracts are guaranteed while NFL deals only have a portion that are guaranteed and, therefore, NFL players rarely see the entire value of whatever contract they have signed.
On Wednesday, which was the opening day of NBA free agency, teams agreed in principle to pay over $1.4 billion in salary to players, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The spending spree prompted Ihenacho to air his complaints against the NFL's compensation system in a series of tweets, starting with this one:
All this guaranteed money NBA throwing. Meanwhile the NFL, which generates the most money wont even make the league minimum $1M
— Duke Ihenacho (@NachoLyfe) July 1, 2015Yes $1M minimum. That means every single player's salary in the NFL should start there. Highest risk of injury..brain trauma, richest league
— Duke Ihenacho (@NachoLyfe) July 1, 2015No security in football. Obviously unless you hit the lick.
— Duke Ihenacho (@NachoLyfe) July 1, 2015The NFL's minimum salary for rookies this season is $435,000 while a player with 10 or more years of experience will earn a minimum of $970,000. An NBA veteran with 10-plus years will receive a minimum salary of $1,499,187 this season. Rookies will make at least $525,093.
Khris Middleton agreed to a guaranteed five-year, $70 million contract with Milwaukee this week. That's $10 million more in guaranteed cash than last year's prized NFL free agent, Ndamukong Suh, received when he signed with the Miami Dolphins.
In February, Ihenacho's teammate, Andre Roberts, unleashed a series of tweets about guaranteed contracts, at one point asking when NFL players were going on strike.
When are we goin on strike again!! It's a about that time!!! Time to stand up!! #serious #timeforachange
— Andre' Roberts (@AndreRoberts) February 1, 2015Ihenacho, who is competing for the Redskins' strong safety job, said it's a problem that players have discussed -- and he took it public.
We players don't even speak our opinion on this because we don't wanna be fined or punished or whatever. But most of us feel this way.
— Duke Ihenacho (@NachoLyfe) July 1, 2015