I think DeMeco Ryans is a nice young man, and I'm happy for him and his family

[Syrinx]

But doesn't this say something http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/36105283/ns/sports-player_news/">sick about our society?

Texans re-signed MLB DeMeco Ryans to a six-year, $48 million contract. The deal was first reported by beat writer John McClain, though ESPN's Adam Schefter had the particulars.

The contract contains a whopping $21.75M guaranteed and $26.3M in the first three years, including a $7.5M signing bonus and $7M base salary in 2010. A two-time Pro Bowler and captain of the Texans' improving defense, Ryans rivals Jon Beason as the second-best young inside linebacker in the game behind Patrick Willis. The 25-year-old did well to match Karlos Dansby's guaranteed money with the Dolphins. Ryans, Brian Cushing, and unsung SLB Zac Diles will form one of the top 4-3 linebacker units for years to come.

Forty-eight million dollars over eight years because he's big and strong and can blitz quarterbacks, playing a so-called game.

It would take the average teacher, if my math is correct, almost 1200 years (at $41,000 per year) to make that much money. Twelve hundred years!

Is any athlete, no matter how talented, really 200 times more valuable to society than a teacher?

I think this system we call free-market capitalism got screwed up somewhere along the way.

[Syrinx]

1. and yeah, I know I'm a total hypocrite

I was in favor of throwing money at Saban. I know. I'm not in favor of unilateral disarmament. And I'm glad we got a great football coach. Still, society is somehow out of whack. And I guess I'm part of the problem. Sigh.