Forbes released a list of the 10 most overpaid players in the NFL in 2012. Check out what their criteria was and the list, then let us know what you think….
According to Tom Van Riper From Forbes:
We came up with our list of overpaid players not through sheer stats – that makes little sense in football, where team systems and game plans drive many of the numbers -but by using basic common sense. We looked at all NFL players making at least $5 million in 2012 (there are 169 of them) and determined which have given back the least performance-wise over the past few years. Who’s getting All-Pro money without making All-Pro? Who’s been having trouble staying on the field consistently?
Within the framework of responsible spending, there will always be players who are relatively overpaid (or underpaid) for what they produce.
The List:
1. David Harris
New York Jets
2012 Salary: $12 milllion
Good linebacker, but the second-highest paid defensive player in the league? Harris has been All-Pro once (second team in 2009) in five years.
2. Karlos Dansby
Miami Dolphins
2012 salary: $10.7 million
League’s second highest paid linebacker has been a steady performer for eight seasons but never an All Pro.
3. Johnathan Joseph
Houston Texans
2012 salary: $9.75 million
Terrific last season, but the corner drafted in the first round in 2006 has started a full 16-game season once (2009) and been named All-Pro once (2011).
4. Marcedes Lewis
Jacksonville Jaguars
2012 Salary: $9.6 million
Receiver’s big 2010 season (58 catches, 700 yards, 10 TDs) was his only standout performance in a six-year career.
5. Santonio Holmes
New York Jets
2012 salary: $9.25 million
League’s sixth-highest paid receiver has broken 1,000 yards just once, with Pittsburgh in 2009. Steelers let Holmes and his questionable attitude go for a fifth round draft pick to the Jets, who promptly gave him a five-year, $45 million.
6. DeAngelo Williams
Carolina Panthers
2012 salary: $8.7 million
Running back was very good in 2008 and 2009, otherwise limited contributions through six seasons.
7. Antonio Cromartie
New York Jets
2012 salary: $8.25 million
Corner sees a lot of action as opponents prefer to pick on him instead of Darrelle Revis on the other side. Cromartie’s high-risk, high-reward style leads to big plays but also a lot of burn marks.
8. Sidney Rice
Seattle Seahawks
2012 salary: $8.2 million
Wide receiver has had trouble staying on the field throughout a five-year career, doing little beyond his 1,312-yard All Pro season of 2009.
9. Vernon Davis
San Francisco 49ers
2012 salary: $8 million
Tight end had 78 receptions and 13 TDs in his 2009 Pro Bowl season. Didn’t approach those numbers in any of his other five seasons.
10. Darren McFadden
Oakland Raiders
2012 salary: $7.8 million
Running back has played just 46 of a possible 65 games since the Raiders took him No. 4 overall in the 2008 draft. McFadden rushed for 1,157 yards in 2010; no more than 614 in any other season.
