Want to know what’s great about being a pro athlete? To make a lot of money, it doesn’t’ even require for a player’s team to perform well, as an owner or general manager will decide to give a guy millions of dollars just because they are the team’s best player. That might not be the way to that most athletes want to be remembered for, but, unfortunately, only a select few can actually end their careers with a Super Bowl ring of postseason performances. And since there are so many guys who earn a lot, but are unable to elevate their teammates to that next level, here are the top-15 richest NFL players on teams that are straight-up bad during this 2014 season.
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15. Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville Jaguars) – $7.45 million
It might just be me, but it just appears that linebacker Paul Posluszny of the Jacksonville Jaguars always seems to be injured. A key offseason signing for the team a few years ago with the hopes that he would help change the culture and leadership for the Jags, Posluszny hasn’t been in the locker room enough to have an impact on his teammates, failing to provide what the team had hoped he would. And getting paid $7.45 million this year doesn’t help the team swallow that.
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14. James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams) – $9 million
A tackling machine at middle linebacker for the St. Louis Rams, James Laurinaitis might be having a bit of a down year in 2014, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t making a heck of a lot of money. Earning $9 million this season, Laurinaitis is getting his at the expense of his team, though, as the Rams are under .500 and all but out of the playoff race.
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13. Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – $10 million
One of the most consistent wide receivers of the past few seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vincent Jackson is well-worth the amount that the team is paying him—especially as he’s the only true target on the outside for their quarterbacks—but he is at the mercy of those signal-callers, as they’ve lacked consistency and big plays all season long.
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12. Percy Harvin (New York Jets) – $11 million
While he started the season on the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, wideout Percy Harvin ran into a bit of a dilemma in the Great Northwest, causing a rift that ended with him on a team that’s currently 2-11 and in turmoil in the New York Jets. While Harvin has shown to still have explosive skills and big-play ability, he hasn’t been nearly as effective since moving to New York. Still, seeing an $11 million paycheck this season, he’s still OK—well, financially, at least.
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11. Brian Orakpo (Washington Redskins) – $11.45 million
Averaging just under 10 sacks per season in the four years he has been healthy, Washington Redskins defender Brian Orakpo has seen two years in which the injury bug has bit him, causing him to miss significant time. While that’s good news for opposing throwers, it’s not great for the Skins, who have been ineffective without the former All-Pro, as they’ve struggled on defense and rushing the passer. Still, Orakpo is making just under $11.5 million this year, so at least he doesn’t have to endure the pain his teammates are going through.
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10. Chris Long (St. Louis Rams) – $12.06 million
Another St. Louis Rams player on this list, Chris Long has only seen action in three games due to injury this season, making the $12.06 million investment that his club has on him look pretty bad. What’s worse, the Rams have struggled on the field, finding themselves out of the playoff race with a record that’s under .500. Even with some big wins this year, St. Louis can’t be too happy that they’re headed for another season missing the playoffs.
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9. Charles Johnson (Carolina Panthers) – $12.66 million
He’s one of the biggest guys in the NFL, so the Carolina Panthers wanted to make sure that they had defensive tackle Charles Johnson in the middle of their defensive front for a long time. It’s too bad that the team have had its struggles this year, though, as they’ve taken a major step back following their playoff run last season. Still, Johnson has had a decent year and is making $12.66 million, so he’s at least somewhat happy.
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8. Gerald McCoy (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – $12.68 million
Another massive defensive tackle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Gerald McCoy is one of the most talented players on that side of the ball, showing skills and ability that are rare in a guy his size. Yet, even with McCoy manning the middle of their defensive front, his teammates and him haven’t have much success, with the Bucs struggling all season long on both sides of the ball and headed for another top-10 pick in the draft next year.
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7. Sam Bradford (St. Louis Rams) – $13 million
It has been quite the ride for former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams. While he has earned a ton of money in his career, he has had bad luck in staying on the field, enduring a number of injuries that have kept him out for extended time. And while making $13 million this season for not even taking a snap has to be pretty nice, it comes at the expense of both a lost season for him personally and for his teammates, as the Rams are headed for a season of missing the playoffs, again.
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6. Greg Hardy (Carolina Panthers) – $13.11 million
Playing in just one game this season due to a domestic violence charge in the offseason, Carolina Panthers defender Greg Hardy has really hurt his team in not being able to play, while also embarrassing the franchise with his decisions he made this summer. After a breakout year in 2013 saw him earn Pro Bowl honors and a big payout, Hardy’s NFL career is now in question, and his absence has led to Carolina’s struggles all year.
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5. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) – $13.71 million
Another victim of his own, poor choices, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the league MVP just two seasons ago thanks to his superb 2012 season that saw him fall just shy of the single-season rushing mark. Since then, though, Peterson has gotten himself in off-the-field trouble that has hurt both his image and his team, as the Vikings are headed for another season of missing the playoffs—even though he was set to earn $13.71 million this year.
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4. Eli Manning (New York Giants) – $16.25 million
A two-time Super Bowl champ, Eli Manning has the name and pedigree of a great quarterback. However, for whatever reason, he seems to be one of the most up-and-down passers that the game has ever seen, with him seemingly going from Pro Bowler one year to being completely lost the next. Unfortunately, for the Giants this year, Eli has fallen back to his old ways, turning the ball over and being part of a team that’s headed for a top-10 pick in next year’s draft—even if he is making $16.25 million in 2014.
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3. Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears) – $18.10 million
There are few quarterbacks as criticized as Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears—and with good reason. For making $18.10 million this year, Cutler hasn’t done enough to put his team in position to reach the playoffs, often making poor choices that cost his team games. Sure, the defense didn’t help him out this season—giving up loads of points to nearly every team they faced—but when you’re the starting quarterback who makes the most money on the team, expectations are a little bit higher.
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2. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) – $20 million
Traditionally, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints has been one of the best passers in the NFL. A likely Hall of Famer, Brees has had a 2014 season that he would much rather forget, though, as he hasn’t put up the type of stats that he, or his teammates, are accustomed to. With the team struggling to find itself all season, Brees has just been one factor in things going awry in the Big Easy. And with him making $20 million this year, the passer is often looked at as being the biggest culprit for the season the team has had.
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1. Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) – $20.75 million
Yes, the Atlanta Falcons may very well reach the postseason, but that doesn’t mean that they are having a good year. Sitting under .500, they have the privilege of playing in the NFC South, which, quite frankly, has been pathetic all season long. With no team with a winning record, one of these teams will be forced to win the division, meaning that they will host a playoff game—which is crazy. And while Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has had an OK year, he has been a shell of his past self, making his near-$20 million salary this year almost unthinkable.
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