A case can be made the two lowest-paid in the NFL are Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.
Both were drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010 – Sanders in the third round; Brown in the sixth.
Only Brown is still with the Steelers. Along with Atlanta’s Julio Jones, Sanders is considered one of the league’s top two receivers. He is drawing a $6.25 million this year.
Sanders is pushing Demaryius Thomas as the Denver Broncos’ top receiver. Sanders is making $5.6 million this year in the final year of his contract.
Consider T.Y. Hilton is averaging $13 million a year and Jeremy Maclin’s contract averages $11 million per.
“I mean this sincerely: The city of Denver has been really good to me,” Sanders said. “I want to be a Bronco. I want to be a Bronco for a long time. I want to retire a Bronco. Hopefully everything works out. I’m sure both sides will come to something. We’re going to see how it goes, but right now it’s not about me. It’s about this team and about winning championships, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
Then again, Sanders is also about to get what money can’t buy – a Super Bowl ring. Well, it’s possible to buy one, but Sanders and his teammates earned it.
“I don’t think you ever put 2015 just behind you because every day I’m going to go home and talk to my ring,” Sanders said. “I’m going to lay next to it, sleep next to it and eat breakfast next to it. It’s never gone. That’s one of those seasons when you say put something behind you, it’s one of those seasons that gives you confidence, that allows you to poke your chest out. I’m going to be 60 years old and say, ‘Hey, 2015!’ I’m never going to put that behind me. I don’t ever want to put it back."
