NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with some comments in regards to the current way of paying Rookie contract.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/04/25/good...wasting-money/
"I think over these three days, we will give $600 million in guaranteed money to these rookies that you’re hearing their names. $600 million. And if let’s just say half of them don’t make it and the money is equivalent to this, that’s $300 million out the door. It doesn’t go to veterans, it doesn’t go to owners. It goes to somebody who couldn’t play the game. That’s wasting money.”
It is a bit of an issue in the NFL. A lot of veteran guys who had to play for cheap rookie contracts and make it, still don't earn very good salaries on their second contracts because of the money teams tie up on rookies.