Imagine: an NFL "Pay based on Play" system
 

Rare these days are the guys that play driven primarily by heart, passion, competitiveness and love for the game. For example: Ray Lewis, Brett Favre... etc.

I think the game would be soooooo much better is players were all offered a base rate (per position), like an entry level salary, and then offered huge bonuses and incentives based off of performance and really, and also based on how well a team finishes. Not so much based off of stats because it would create extreme selfishness between teammates for plays / TD's... but based off of undeniable efforts and accountability. For example, this season, it's pretty safe to say all players carried their own weight and played beyond expectations... hence a Super Bowl winning season. there were no Jason Davids this year. Then for those, like Sharper, who played exceptional... like league leading exceptional... he would be entitled to extra bonuses and payouts.

You know you can sense when players bring the extra intensity to prove something or really for job security... they expel all of their efforts to impress then to cash in on years to come. It's after that they unfortunately tend to decline. Otherwise known as, "Job security"

If you set everyone at par, then reward them (um, pay them) dividends on the year they excelled that would be gratifying to them, but also assure that you are bringing back a competitor. Something like this would be a solution for the Sharper situation (for just a "one-of-a-million" example). so if they want to play like a bada$$ one year, show your gratitude, but leave the following years dividends open based on who shows up that year.

Now I know there are issues with injuries which are unpredictable and otherwise unfair, but it is what it is... they can continue to receive their base and just pay on IR, but void all incentives and huge payouts, just like they void all potential to pay out big per teams and owners.

Re: Imagine: an NFL "Pay based on Play" system
 

An interesting idea but difficult to manage. "undeniable efforts and accountability" can mean different things depending on who you ask. And if it also has to do with how the team performs it would only be harder because what if I'm stuck on a team out of contention where guys have given up? Should I get paid less then even if my effort is undeniable?

In a perfect world it would work like this, for now I would be happy if they just fixed the ridicolous rookie salaries.

Re: Imagine: an NFL "Pay based on Play" system
 

You might think that at first...but when you end up wondering who those guys are out there...you won't think the game is soooo great.

You'll find yourself wondering where all your favorite stars are...and then you'll realize that they all went over to that new league where they are not afraid to guarantee contracts...but at least you'll get to see PT a whole lot more.

Re: Imagine: an NFL "Pay based on Play" system
 

Agree. Fix rookie salary and everything else should fall into place.

Re: Imagine: an NFL "Pay based on Play" system
 

That only works in sports like golf and tennis where the player and ONLY the player determine how well they perform and they don't depend on the execution of others. What about a running back on a team that doesn't block well? Do pass reveivers on teams that are always down by 30 at halftime and get all kinds of yardage against 2nd half backups and soft defenses get paid more?