Top 20 Most Overpaid Athletes in America

Starting Pitcher

New York Yankees

2008-2009 salary: $11 million

2005-07 average salary: $13.7 million

Average past three seasons: 39-25

4.29 earned run average (ERA)

176 innings

Mussina’s had a great career; his 254 lifetime wins rank 40th all-time.
But his best days ended before his big Yankee contract, with declining
innings totals and a winning percentage just a hair better than his
team’s.

Relief Pitcher

Philadelphia Phillies

2008-2009 salary: $6.4 million

2005-07 average salary: $3.3 million

Average last three seasons: 3-4

3.7 ERA

71 innings

After putting up stellar numbers for the Astros from 2003 to 2005, Lidge
regressed during the next two seasons. His ERA climbed to 5.28 in 2006,
the year his salary jumped to $3.975 million from $500,000. The good
news: This year’s trade to Philadelphia seems to have revitalized him so
far–he hasn’t allowed an earned run in his first 15 innings.

Outfielder

New York Yankees

2008-09 salary: $13 million

2005-07 average salary: $13 million

Average last three seasons:

.291 batting average (BA)

.359 on-base percentage (OBP)

15 home runs (HR)

73 runs batted in (RBI)

The Red Sox aren’t two-time World Series champs (2004 and 2007) for
nothing. Credit Boston’s brain trust for resisting the urge to overpay
for the popular-but-fading star after the 2005 season, when the Yankees
came waving free agent cash.

Outfielder

Los Angeles Dodgers

2008 salary: $8 million

2005-07 average salary: $5.7 million

Average last three seasons:

.287 BA

.329 OBP

2 HR

42 RBI

A lead-off hitter with great speed, Pierre has averaged 61 stolen bases
over the past three seasons. But that asset is undermined by an abysmal
on-base percentage (he’s walked just 33 times a year since 2005), let
alone his nonexistent power. No wonder Pierre has bounced around with
four different teams during a nine-year career.

Outfielder

Seattle Mariners

2008 salary: $17.1 million

2005-07 average salary: $12.5 million

Average last three seasons:

.326 BA

.372 OBP

10 HR

61 RBI

Yes, Ichiro is a hit machine, and people marvel at the way he’s racked
up over 200 hits each year since entering majors from Japan in 2001. But
he doesn’t walk much (fewer than 50 in every season but one), making his
on-base percentage less than stellar for a lead-off hitter with limited
power. He also badly trails other veteran outfielders in extra-base
hits. A nice player, but eight-figure singles-hitters only buy so many
wins. Only Ichiro’s strong defense keeps him from the No. 1 spot on the
overpaid list.

San Francisco 49ers

2007 contract salary cap value: $11.1 million

Percentage of team cap: 11.5%

Average cap value 2005-07: $7.3 million

Average last three years: 87 tackles, three interceptions

The 49ers are paying for the two Pro Bowl seasons Clements had with the
Bills. His $10.5 million bonus for 2007 took up a ton of salary cap room
for a 5-11 team that needs help in a lot of places.

Cornerback

Kansas City Chiefs

2007 Contract salary cap value: $9.4 million

Percentage of team cap: 11.1%

Average cap value 2005-07: $5 million

Average last three seasons: 62 tackles, two interceptions

A Pro Bowl pick twice with the Dolphins, Surtain has averaged 62 tackles
and just over two interceptions since going to Kansas City. Still a
solid defensive back for sure, but not at 11% of the salary cap.

Defensive Tackle

Denver Broncos

2007 contract salary cap value: $7.4 million (with N.Y. Jets)

Percentage of team cap: 8.7%

Average cap value 2005-07: $6.9 million

Average last three seasons: 54 tackles, 3.5 sacks

Robertson has developed into a solid nose tackle but never lived up to a
contract that reflected his being the fourth overall pick in the 2003
NFL draft. On April 24, the Jets sent him to Denver for an undisclosed
2009 draft pick.

Cornerback

San Diego Chargers

2007 contract salary cap value: $8.6 million

Pct. of team cap: 8.7%

Average cap value 2005-07: $6.5 million

Average last three seasons: 70 tackles, two interceptions

Jammer has never made all-pro despite being the fifth overall pick in
the 2002 NFL draft. He’s a tough, physical player but not considered a
top “cover guy” who blankets pass receivers regularly.

Offensive Guard

Buffalo Bills

2007 contract salary cap value: $6.8 million

Percentage of team cap: 7.5%

Average cap value 2005-07: $3 million

The All-American from the University of Texas was a third-round draft
choice of the Washington Redskins in 2003. After four steady–but
unspectacular–seasons with the ‘Skins, the Buffalo Bills came calling
with an $18 million free-agent signing bonus in 2007.

Forward

Utah Jazz

Contract: six years, $86 million

Average last three seasons:

11 points, six rebounds, three assists per game

The former Russian star had a promising start to his NBA career, making
the all-rookie team after joining Utah in 2001-02. Overall, though, his
career averages of 12 points and six rebounds a game don’t back up his
big contract.

Guard

New York Knicks

Contract: four years, $76 million

Average last three seasons: 15 points, 5.5 assists

Marbury has been made too much a scapegoat for the Knicks’ troubles;
this is, after all, a guy who’s averaged about 20 points and eight
assists a year during his 12-year career. But $19 million annually is
still over the top for a guy who didn’t improve his team and who’s been
selected for just two All-Star games.

Guard

Houston Rockets

Contract: two years, $6 million

Average last three seasons: eight points, 3.5 assists

Francis signed a $6 million deal with Houston after his bloated
six-year, $85 million contract was bought out a year early. That means
he’s still averaged over $10 million a year since 2005 for eight points
a game. A terrific scorer during the early- to mid-2000s, Francis has
been hobbled by injuries and ineffectiveness in recent years. The Knicks’
decision to team him with Marbury last year in an all-overpaid backcourt
was pretty much a disaster.

Forward

Denver Nuggets

Contract: seven years, $91 million

Average last three seasons: 13 points, seven rebounds

Denver knew Martin was potentially damaged goods when they signed him
away from New Jersey in 2004, yet they lavished $13 million a year on
him anyway. He’s too much a solid-but-unspectacular role player who’s
only been healthy enough to play 199 of a possible 328 games since
coming to town.

Center-Forward

Detroit Pistons

Contract: three years, $36 million

Last three seasons: four points, 3.5 rebounds

Ratliff has been a decent front-court player at times but has rarely
been able to stay healthy, playing just 28 games over the past three
years. The Pistons are his seventh team in a 13-year career.

Left Wing

Toronto Maple Leafs

2007-08 salary: $5 million

Average salary past three seasons: $2.7 million

Average last three seasons:

28 goals

31 assists

59 points

After a 40-goal outburst for the New York Islanders in 2006-07, Blake
struck it rich with a free-agent deal with Toronto that more than
tripled his salary. But the 34-year-old slumped to 15 goals and a
minus-4 this past year (meaning on the ice for four more goals by the
opposing teams than for his own).

Left Wing

Buffalo Sables

2007-08 salary: $10 million

Average salary past three seasons: $4 million

Average last three seasons:

35 goals

30 assists

65 points

The former University of Minnesota star has come up with one stellar
season (84 points in 2006-07) since joining the Sabres. In his other two
years, he’s averaged 56 points and a minus-8. Not spectacular enough for
a guy who now takes 22% of his club’s payroll.

Defenseman

Toronto Maple Leafs

2007-08 salary: $7.2 million

Average salary past three seasons: $5.9 million

Average last three seasons:

13 goals

36 assists

49 points

A nice defenseman, but just one all-star honor in 2003-4, when he
finished fourth in the voting for the Norris Trophy, the annual award to
honor the NHL’s top defenseman. More recently, McCabe has totaled just
20 goals and 80 points over the past two seasons, with a plus-1 rating.

Center

Washington Capitals

2007-08 salary: $5.5 million

Average salary past three seasons: $3.4 million

Nylander has had his ups and downs since breaking in with the Hartford
Whalers in 1992. The Caps are his seventh team. Despite once being
tagged “the Swedish Wayne Gtretzky,” Nylander has topped 60 points in a
season just twice and has never made an all-star team.

Left Wing

Philadelphia Flyers

2007-08 salary: $5.2 million

Average salary past three seasons: $2.7 million

Average last three seasons:

24 goals

20 assists

44 points

A hard-hitting forward who’s racked up over 100 penalty minutes in a
season four times, Hartnell has never topped 25 goals or 48 points in a
season. He’s never been an all-star since being selected by the
Nashville Predators as the sixth overall pick of the 2000 NHL draft. Yet
the Flyers lavished big money on him last year to lure him from
Nashville.