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Many coaches around the NFL have seen their salaries cut in the wake of last week's lockout. In fact, the USA today reports that 13 teams have immediately docked their coaching staff 25-50% following the breakdown of the labor talks. What's worse, coaches are being told to keep quiet about it.
"I never have seen as many coaches who are angry and scared," Larry Kennan, the executive director of the NFL Coaches Association, said Wednesday. "Ownership really has taken a hard line on (slashing salaries). In several cases, (teams) have said, 'We will fire you if we find out that you've told anyone what we're doing.' It just isn't right."
The only team we know for sure that has slashed salaries is the Green Packers, who have cut the pay of their head coach and GM. Nice reward for that Superbowl win huh? I assume cubic zirconium Superbowl rings that turn your finger green will be handed out next?
The problem is that the owners aren't losing any money now and yet they're taking money from the coaches. Players get paid during the season, so the owners aren't outlaying any extra cash right now. Plus, they're still expecting coaches and front office to continue draft preparations like normal. So these guys are doing almost the same work as usual for less money. I can see how they'll have less to do around minicamp/OTA/training camp time... but slashing their salaries now?
That said, coaching salaries have been growing at a rate even faster than player salaries over the past decade... and who is to blame for that?
One NFL owner who helped fuel the rise in compensation for assistants is Dan Snyder of the Washington Redskins. For years, the franchise boasted the highest-paid set of assistants — including multiple coaches who had yearly seven-figure deals — in the history of sports.