Ray Rice, Matt Forte Invoked Inspirational Words of Rod Tidwell in Securing Big Money Deals

When All-Everything wide receiver Rod Tidwell emotionally exclaimed for his over-involved agent Jerry McGuire to “show me the money,” the fictional footballer may have seemed a bit greedy. But in fact, he had a valid point.

The careers of football players, especially skill players like Tidwell, are short and the chances to capitalize off of their unique skills are often times cut as such. So, when the opportunity to break the bank presents itself, any player would be foolish not to hold out for their payday.

Ray Rice and fellow feature back Matt Forte did just that during the offseason, and both were rewarded handsomely on Monday. Both backs finally received the big-money deals that they’ve earned over the past four years, each locking up a cool $17 million of guaranteed cash over the next few seasons.

Forte, who made just $600,000 last season, had been looking for a new deal for almost two years before reaching an agreement at Monday’s franchise-tender deadline. The Bears’ standout halfback scored a big raise with the new contract, getting $32 million over four years in Chicago.

Meanwhile, over in Baltimore, Rice was busy working down to the wire to get a deal done to remain with the Ravens beyond 2012. Rice, who made around $700,000 in 2011, also got a significant raise in the form of a five-year, $40 million contract which nearly mirrored the one Texans running back Arian Foster received in March.

Both backs were not only able to turn their under appreciation into major paydays, but rather they also earned it. Since each back was taken during the first day of the 2008 draft, they’ve nearly mirrored one another’s production.

Forte, taken 44th overall out of Tulane, finished third in the league with 1,715 yards from scrimmage during his rookie season and appeared to be an absolute steal for Chicago. Since, Forte has improved his ground game and become a more legitimate threat out in the open field with more 900 yards rushing, to go with at least 50 receptions in each of his four seasons.

Rice, the 55th overall selection from Rutgers, has also been a beast out of the backfield since overtaking Willis McGahee as Baltimore’s feature back at the end of 2008. Rice has since gained 1,200 yards or more along with more than 63 catches in each of his past three seasons. He’s finished in the top three in yards from scrimmage over the past three years, and even led the NFL with a whopping 2,068 last season.

The two stud running backs have not only reached elite status within the league, but they have come to redefine the position in today’s NFL. So while the likes of Drew Brees and Payton Manning solidify their near $100 million purses, why shouldn’t a few of the game’s most dynamic players be rewarded in a similar fashion?

While they may not deserve quite the same dough as top-flight quarterbacks, I’d say averaging $8 million per year is pretty good haul.