These days, football fans can’t tell whether Matt Leinart is a businessman or a quarterback. Like many professional athletes, he has his sights set on green dollar bills instead of the green turf, disenchanting the fans who pay the GNP of a small country to see him throw and run – the same fans who pay him.This year’s NFL draft exemplifies how the passion for a game has dissipated into a money-hoarding business deal: Leinart, the 10th pick in the draft, has held out for two weeks because he felt as though he deserved more money than those who were drafted before him. Reggie Bush, although only dawdling for a bit, could have let down the city of New Orleans, and its football fans who treat him like a god, for money – talk about biting the hand that feeds him.

On Aug. 14, Leinart signed a six-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals that guaranteed him $14 million, with a potential to make $51 million, according to USA Today. According to the Fall 2005 TCU Factbook, the mean salary for a TCU professor as of Fall 2005 was $94,549. The professor, who fosters the student to go out and make millions, makes about $13.9 million less than Leinart’s guaranteed pay. In January, CBS 11 News reported that the starting pay for Fort Worth police officers is $43,000. The policeman who ensures safety of the fans and players at the game makes almost 326 times less than the rookie. Playing football is hard work, but it’s arguably not as important or as hard as teaching and certainly not more important than protecting lives.

Athletes should try to optimize their salaries, as their careers could be over at any time; however, players should check their motives and means. A few million dollars more isn’t worth a standoff. Professional athletes should get their priorities straight and put the sport and the fans higher than the salary.

– Managing editor Adrienne Lang for the editorial board