Why a free market makes sense for NFL contracts

The record-breaking NFL rookie contracts are last month's news, but what's surprising is that few people are actually criticizing the whiny veterans who are upset about rookies getting their pay day. The way I look at it is that a free market will set a fair price for talented players. Sure, some teams might be willing to overpay to get the big-name rookie, but thats the way a free market works. Sometimes people pay a premium. If I'm a team owner, sure Tom Brady is valuable, but is he really worth that much more than Matt Ryan's 6 year $66 million deal? Brady is older and likely to begin fading in the coming years. Whereas a fresh rookie like Matt Ryan is a gamble that could pay off big if he can deliver the goods. To put this argument into perspective, let's compare NFL players to BMWs. Let's say Tom Brady is...