Young Says Free Agency Would Harm NFL
A less restrictive free-agency system in the NFL would cause morale problems and a decline in the quality of professional football, General Manager George Young of the New York Giants testified Wednesday.
Young, the second witness for the league in the antitrust suit brought by eight players, said top performers, including quarterbacks, would get most of the money. He said players such as tight ends and linebackers would get less.
“What we’ll end up having is no middle class,” Young said. “We’ll have ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ ”
Players’ attorney Jim Quinn, in cross-examination, said disparities already exist in today’s contracts. Quarterback Joe Montana is paid $4 million per season, while the average offensive lineman makes 10% of that, Quinn said.
Free agency would lead to guaranteed contacts, Young said, which would reduce the motivation of players to perform at a high level.
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