NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has shared a strong message for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and other high-profile quarterbacks regarding their massive contracts.
Prescott recently signed a record-setting $240 million contract extension, sparking mixed reactions in the sports world.
Barkley, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, expressed his concern about star quarterbacks signing big-money deals that, in his opinion, don’t always benefit the team.
“I think all these guys are stupid, to be honest with you,” Barkley said in an interview on Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B.
He explained his position by pointing to NFL stars Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes who took less money in order to help their teams.
“You look at the two guys, Tom Brady and Pat Mahomes – neither one of those guys have ever been really the highest-paid player because they always take less money so they could actually pay other players,” Barkley said.
“I’m sitting here watching for the last however many years, every quarterback that became the highest-paid player never won another championship because they can’t afford to pay other people.”
Barkley’s main argument is that top-tier players like Prescott should consider taking less money to help their teams afford other players, which he believes increases the likelihood of winning Super Bowls.
Brady, widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, and Mahomes, who is carving out his own legacy, are both examples of players who have prioritized team success over the highest possible paycheck.
However, Barkley didn’t direct all his frustration at the players. He called out agents as a driving force behind these mega-contracts.
“They’ve got to realize their agents are scumbags,” Barkley said. “They’re trying to get every dime for their pocket. They’re not worried about the team, they’re not worried about the franchise.
“They’re just like, ‘I’m going to get you the most money, so I can get my big cut.’ And I’m sitting here just watching as a player like, dude, tell your agent to shut the hell up, get you something in that neighborhood, fair market value, so we can actually pay other players.”
As usual, Barkley’s opinion has been met with plenty of people who agree – and plenty of people who disagree.
On one hand, we all know that if a top player takes less money, the team will be better for it. Brady is the perfect example of an elite player who routinely helped the team by taking less money.
It’s safe to assume Mahomes’ current contract will soon be restructured to give him more money. However, it would be a surprise if the unselfish Mahomes demands to be the highest-paid player in the league, even if he deserves to be.
On the other hand, many people think it’s each player’s responsibility to demand as much money as they can possibly get, knowing that it moves the needle for the rest of the league as well as the future of the sport.
Also, it’s crystal clear that the salary cap will keep going up and up and up.
Thanks to the massive television contracts along with the fact that the NFL is getting more and more popular by the second, $60 million today may look more like $40 million in a few years.
What are your thoughts on Barkley’s comments? … Where do you stand on the issue???