Mark Craig: Veteran players mad at system, not Stafford

Vikings quarterback Sage Rosenfels was texting back and forth with his agent, Rick Smith, over breakfast Saturday morning.

The subject line: Matthew Stafford's contract.

That's Matthew Stafford, the Georgia quarterback who had just signed a six-year, $78 million deal with an NFL-record $41.7 million guaranteed as the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Detroit Lions.

"We were talking about it and it just blows me away," Rosenfels said. "Right or wrong, he makes twice as much money as Tom Brady. To me, it doesn't make sense."

In 2005, after becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to win three Super Bowls before his 28th birthday, Brady signed a six-year, $60 million deal ($26.5 million guaranteed).

Stafford got $15.2 million more in guaranteed money than Brady did four years ago. He got $10.7 million more in guaranteed money than Vikings defensive end Jared Allen did last year after leading the NFL in sacks the year before.

"It's outrageous, absolutely outrageous," Allen said. "The guy's never taken a snap. I'm happy for him, but we got guys in this league that have played 10, 12 years that earn their wages every day and they don't see that kind of money."

"Congratulations to [Stafford], and I think he'll do a great job and, hopefully, he earns every penny," Rosenfels said. "But if he's not successful, it's really going to put that whole organization on hard times.

"To be honest with you, I wish there wasn't these crazy numbers for these top picks. If I were a team, I wouldn't want a top pick. I'd want the late first round or the second round, because there's a lot of good players going to be taken 20 to 32 and 32 through 50. In Houston last year, we got [1,000-yard rusher] Steve Slaton in the third round."

And Brady, as we know, was a sixth-round pick back in 2000.

One person who obviously agrees with Rosenfels is Bill Belichick, Patriots coach/wizard. Belichick accepted a second-round pick for backup quarterback Matt Cassel weeks ago and then traded down twice in the first round Saturday. He gave up the 23rd pick for the 26th pick and a fifth-round pick. Then he gave up the 26th pick and a fifth-round pick to move into the second round and pick up two third-round picks.

By the end of the day, Belichick had stockpiled four picks in each of the second and third rounds. That's brilliant for a guy who can spot cheaper talent hidden outside the first round.

Last year, the Vikings had one of the best first days without making a first-round pick. They packaged the 17th overall pick in a deal to Kansas City for Allen. Great move.

This year, the Bears didn't make a single pick, yet I'd say they had one of the best first days simply because they packaged the 18th overall pick in a deal to Denver for quarterback Jay Cutler weeks ago. They also traded out of the second round for picks in the third and fifth.

"I like that move," Allen said of the Cutler trade. "You should have to earn your stripes. That's how I had to do it."

Rosenfels also liked the Cutler trade. After all, Cutler may have pouted his way out of Denver, but he's also a 25-year-old coming off a Pro Bowl season. He set Denver's franchise records for yards passing (4,526) and completions (384).

"The Bears did sort of what the Detroit Lions did [in getting a franchise quarterback], but they went for a guy who's already proven he has three or so years in the league, been to the Pro Bowl and done a great job for his team," Rosenfels said. "The Lions got the guy who is completely unproven."

"Nah, I'm not mad at him," Allen said. "If he plays this year, I won't try any harder against him. Heck, he's a Detroit Lion now. That's enough to make me want to go sack him."