"The official numbers are in --

FRANCHISE
Quarterbacks -- $12,615,000
Offensive linemen -- $9,556,000
Defensive ends -- $8,644,000
Wide receivers -- $7,613,000
Cornerbacks -- $7,790,000
Linebackers -- $7,206,000
Running backs -- $6,999,000
Defensive tackles -- $6,775,000
Safeties -- $4,490,000
Tight ends -- $4,371,000
Punters and kickers -- $2,078,000

TRANSITION
Quarterbacks -- $10,182,000
Offensive linemen -- $8,267,000
Defensive ends -- $7,701,000
Wide receivers -- $7,040,000
Cornerbacks -- $6,766,000
Linebackers -- $6,493,000
Running backs -- $5,981,000
Defensive tackles -- $5,554,000
Safeties -- $3,984,000
Tight ends -- $3,612,000
Punters and kickers -- $1,926,000"

I'm surprised they dont differentiate the O line between Tackles, Guards and Centers. Seems to me that really good Tackles command more coin than Guards and Centers. But according to this a Tagged Center gets the same as a tagged Tackle.

That doesn't sound right to me either. They separate DEs and DTs so they almost have to separate OLinemen as well.

Isn't it amazing how the "unsexiest" of positions, the offensive line, has taken off? 2nd in salaries. It used to be that only TEs and kickers trailed them in salary. Now, with free agency, look at them. The market will always find the true value of a player. The artificial bullcrap that used to go on before free agency was so unjust.

Hopefully the Hall of Fame voters will take notice. The lack of guards and centers in the Hall of Fame is disgraceful. Those people have been given a job and instead they have shrank their duties to a level becoming of a bunch of stat watchers.

Two former Vikings, Randall McDaniel and Gary Zimmerman should be first ballot HOFs. These two were among the best players of their generation. I would contend that both were better at their jobs than Troy Aikman was at his. Better than Steve Young as well. Why is Russ Grimm still waiting? Why was Jerry Kramer never chosen?
Will anyone recognize the incredible body of work put forth by Bruce Matthews? 14 Pro-Bowls? Will that earn him first ballot status? I doubt it.

I will bet you a Kops cone, sundae or Malt that Matthews IS a first ballot FOHer.