Money or winning?

[Mr. Scot]

If you were an NFL free agent, would you take significantly less money to play for a Super Bowl contender, or would it be "Hey, it's a short career so I've got to make as much as I can to take care of me and my family (and my five cars)".

If you had to choose one or the other, where would your priorities be?

(as to how much money "significantly less" means, that's up to you to decide)

[thefuzz]

Money almost always wins out, especially on that 2nd contract.  And that would hold true to me.

However, by the 3rd contract, if you are so lucky, I would be pushing for a ring/wins.

[uncfan888]

give me the money... until the last two years of my career. then put me on a contender to win a ring

[OldNorthPowell]

Somewhere in the middle. Most players go for the most money though and I do not blame them.

[CRA]

Depends where I am in my career...

if I was an old vet? I would consider making a ring a priority.  Take less to increase my odds of a ring 

If I was young? I'm going to largely follow the money. I likely would still have some restrictions on how far I would go chasing dollars but making the most I could make would be a priority. 

 

 

[Mr. Scot]

Keep in mind that injury could cut short your career at any time.  You're not technically guaranteed a "last few years".

Also worth remembering there are things like endorsements and visibility to consider. These things come much easier on a winning team.

[shaqattaq]

2 minutes ago, uncfan888 said:

give me the money... until the last two years of my career. then put me on a contender to win a ring

Is that you Jared?

[uncfan888]

Just now, shaqattaq said:

Is that you Jared?

rings don't pay these bills, my dude

[Cary Kollins]

Money all day everyday, unless you have been a star and already banked tens of millions to retire with.

 

[Mr. Scot]

4 minutes ago, uncfan888 said:

give me the money... until the last two years of my career. then put me on a contender to win a ring

Every Patriots free agent signing?

[Zaximus]

It would be something I wouldn't really understand unless I was in that situation.   To me, I would take the money, but if I was someone that has worked hard and trained all those years and had a decent nest egg already, maybe I'd want to win.

The problem with betting on a ring over money is, anything can happen and it's hard to win a ring.  I don't see how it would really matter unless your Hall of Fame chances were hinged on it.  

[uncfan888]

Just now, Mr. Scot said:

Every Patriots free agent signing?

hopefully they'll start saying the same about us

[shaqattaq]

3 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

Money almost always wins out, especially on that 2nd contract.

for example: Josh has earned $2.3 million in four years with the Panthers. He deserves to get paid. Now if the dollar amount is close, I'm sure he (like everyone) wants that ring.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, uncfan888 said:

hopefully they'll start saying the same about us

There is an alternate scenario, and one that I think is more relevant to us in Carolina.

Sometimes young guys sign with a good team to "grow their brand" and get their name out there, figuring they can cash in after that.

It's happened more than once here in the last few years.