what you are not seeing is that the teams have players insured. So if he blows out a knee it won't be the team paying him. But they get the cap space write off.Also the first contract is like communism. You are paid what the team want to in that slot. Now if it was someone that is on the 2nd contract i could somewhat agreeable with your analogy. How many of these guys are dribbling spit at the age of 40 from getting their head bashed in.