Kerry Rhodes: “There Should Be a Rookie Salary Cap”

In the wake of rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez being awarded a five-year contract with a maximum value of $60 million, including $28 million in guaranteed money, a few of the New York Jets’ veterans made the case for a rookie wage scale without begrudging Sanchez his big payday.
“I really think you should earn it,” safety Kerry Rhodes told Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News. “There should be a rookie salary cap. A lot of players come in and haven’t earned it yet. To have that much money right away is a huge step up without seeing what they can do on the field.”
It’s a fair point, and it’s certain to be raised by the NFL owners during upcoming negotiations with the players’ union for a new Collective Bargaining aAgreement.
“There could definitely be some tweaks,” offensive guard Alan Faneca said. “Any way to get money to the more proven players would be great.”
Meanwhile, all-purpose running back Leon Washington, who has been lobbying for a new contract, said he has no problem with Sanchez’s landmark deal.
“I don’t take it personally,” Washington said.
With veteran players like Rhodes, Faneca and others around the league voicing complaints about how much money the rookies are making these days, it would seem to raise the odds that a rookie wage scale is on the horizon.