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15 Athletes Who Are Paid Way More Than They Are Worth

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15 Athletes Who Are Paid Way More Than They Are Worth

Joe Flacco Ravens
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When a team and a player agree to a big contract, it’s usually too early to tell if the player’s performance during the duration of the contract will justify the amount of money he is going to earn. Sometimes, however, it seems like just about everyone but the team signing the player knows right away that the team will regret the contract before too long. Here are 15 athletes who make way more than they are worth.

15. Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon Pelicans
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15. Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon Pelicans
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The Pelicans shooting guard was once one of the youngest, most promising players in the NBA. That bright future has since been derailed by injuries, and Gordon is now a shadow of his former self. Gordon will make just under $15 million this season as part of a four-year, $58 million contract.

14. Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard Phillies
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14. Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard Phillies
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The 2006 NL MVP has not been the same player since he signed a five-year, $125 million extension in 2010. The four worst seasons of his career have been during that contract, and Howard is set to earn $25 million in 2015 and 2016. Howard hit just .223 for the 2014 season.

13. Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols Angels
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13. Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols Angels
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It’s pretty startling how quickly the Angels first baseman went from the consensus best hitter in baseball to one of MLB's most overpaid. After a less-than-inspiring 2013 season, Pujols rebounded but still came nowhere near approaching his usual pre-Angels statistics. Pujols raked in $23 million in 2014 and still has seven years remaining on his 10-year, $254 million contract.

12. Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler
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12. Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler Bears
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The Bears quarterback is 31 years old and as inconsistent as they come. To warrant the seven-year, $126.7 million deal he signed in January, Cutler needs to play like an elite quarterback. Cutler has not thrown for over 20 touchdowns in a season since 2010.

11. Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder Rangers
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11. Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder Rangers
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The massive first baseman cashed in during free agency in 2012 by signing a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. After just two years in Detroit, Fielder was flipped to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler. A neck injury ended Fielder’s 2014 season after just 42 games and only three home runs.

10. Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford Dodgers
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10. Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford Dodgers
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Crawford hit the jackpot in 2010 when the Boston Red Sox signed the speedy outfielder to a seven-year, $142 million contract. After struggling mightily with the Red Sox, Crawford was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he still performed nothing like the star he was in Tampa Bay. Crawford was paid $21.1 million in 2014.

9. Gerald Wallace

Gerald Wallace Celtics
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9. Gerald Wallace

Gerald Wallace Celtics
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The Celtics forward used to be perhaps the most underrated player in the league. Now at 32 years old, Wallace’s athleticism has decreased significantly and he is not nearly the same player he once was. Wallace has played just three minutes so far in 2014 and is owed $10.1 million.

8. Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton Angels
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8. Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton Angels
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The Angels signed the 2010 AL MVP to a five-year, $125 million dollar contract prior to the 2013 season. Hamilton had a major down year in 2013 and had by far the worst year of his career in 2014. To make things worse, the outfielder went 0-for-13 in the postseason.

7. David Clarkson

David Clarkson Maple Leafs
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7. David Clarkson

David Clarkson Maple Leafs
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It was clear to everyone except the Toronto Maple Leafs how much they overpaid for the right winger. Clarkson’s first year of his seven-year contract (you read that right, seven) was a disaster with five goals and 11 points. The Leafs will pay Clarkson $5.25 million this year and for the next five seasons.

6. Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco Ravens
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6. Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco Ravens
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Sure, Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in 2013, but he’s not nearly worth the contract he was given just a little over a month later. At the time, the contract made Flacco the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Flacco’s deal is for six-years and $120.6 million. In 2016, Flacco will carry a cap hit of $28.6 million!

5. Tim Lincecum

Tim Lincecum Giants
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5. Tim Lincecum

Tim Lincecum Giants
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“Big Time Timmy Jim” dominated hitters on a consistent basis earlier in his career for the San Francisco Giants, but those days are long over for the diminutive pitcher. The two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time World Series Champion has not had an ERA under 4.00 since 2011 and was a non-factor in the 2014 postseason. Lincecum made $17 million in 2014 and will make $18 million in 2015.

4. B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton Braves
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4. B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton Braves
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Since his arrival in Atlanta, the former Tampa Bay Rays star has been a huge disappointment. Upton has been one of the worst everyday players in baseball over the past two seasons for the Braves. Prior to the 2013 season, Upton and the Braves agreed to a five-year, $75.5 million contract.

3. Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford Rams
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3. Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford Rams
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It’s hard not to feel bad for this former No. 1 pick even though he signed a contract with $50 million in guaranteed money in 2010. An ACL tear ended his 2013 season after just seven games, and another tear to the same ACL this preseason knocked Bradford out for the year.

2. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez Yankees
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2. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez Yankees
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Coming off of a season-long suspension in 2014, it is anyone’s guess what type of player A-Rod will be at 39 years old. Even more concerning for the Yankees and their payroll, Rodriguez will be paid over $20 million a year through 2017.

1. Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson Nets
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1. Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson Nets
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The Brooklyn Nets guard is off to a good start in 2014, but is grossly overpaid. Johnson has what most believe to be the worst contract in the NBA. The contract pays him just north of $23 million as part of a six-year, $123.5 million deal.

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