New Feature at 3Daily Winners

NFL Rookie Salary Insanity

SOMETHING needs to be done pretty soon about the ridiculous amounts of money going to the top NFL draft picks. Why? Because right now new Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford, who hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL, makes more money than three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady! The rookie salary scale needs to be capped or at least restructured where picks are slotted into established salaries and first-rounders don’t make more than established stars. Here’s the problem: The players getting hurt most are the lower-round draft choices and the veterans who become salary cap casualties later on in their careers. If a good portion of the Lions’ dollars are going to Stafford, that means less at the back end for a solid, productive veterans. The way it is now, if a team is wrong on a high, first-round pick, the franchise is doomed for years. If Stafford turns out to be Joey Harrington, the Lions will be hamstrung for years to come — in much the same way as the San Diego Chargers, who were terrible for years after bagging the useless Ryan Leaf. Cap critics complain that in a league with a rookie scale, there’s far less incentive for an athlete to stay in school and improve his stock. Our answer to that argument? Our bologna has a first name and it’s O-S-C-A-R...

Back Up The Van

Brett Favre was released from the reserve-retired list by the New York Jets on Tuesday, making the quarterback a free agent if he decides to AGAIN come out of retirement. The 39-year-old Favre, who spent one disappointing season with New York, had requested the move several weeks ago through agent Bus Cook, but insisted he has no plans to come out of retirement for a 19th season. “Nothing has changed,” Favre said as reporters rolled on the floor in laughter. “At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.” Also getting the pink slip was Arizona Cardinals RB Edgerrin James, a move that many expected when the Cards used their 1st round draft pick to snare Ohio State RB Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells. Arizona also released CB Rod Hood and DE Travis LaBoy to clear salary cap space in order to sign new deals with linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Adrian Wilson – and eventually with WR Anquan Boldin (now officially known as ‘The Disgruntled Anquan Boldin’).

Thoughts from the House of Sports.