Football fans hate it when players talk about money. The common belief is these players have such inflated salaries already that they must be a bunch of greedy, entitled narcissists to be audacious enough to complain about their incomes or hold out in pursuit of a better deal.

It is a sentiment that makes sense on the surface, but has no merit upon further inspection. A look at some common fan complaints shows these arguments have more holes than a truckload of Mr. Potato Heads.

How much respect do you need?

A common line from players embroiled in public contract negotiations is: “It’s not about the money, it’s about respect.” Fans hate this and dismiss it as a PR ploy.

However, there is plenty of truth to this sentiment. Every one of us has been in a situation where we were paired with a coworker who was underqualified and overpaid. There is nothing more infuriating than getting paid less money for doing more work.

At one of my previous jobs, I was offered a promotion to assistant manager. Before accepting the position, I asked all the other assistant managers how much they were earning. When it came time to discuss my new salary, I asked for something just above what all the other assistants were making, because I felt I was the superior employee.

When I was given the salary I requested, all the other assistants — who had been perfectly content with their salaries prior to that — were suddenly furious that someone who just moved into that position was making more money than them.

In short, they felt disrespected.

Life in the NFL is no different. How do you think Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas ended up with nearly identical $70 million extensions? If either player accepted a lesser deal, he would have felt his team appreciated him less than the other guy.

You much does it take to feed a family?

Another go-to line of players in contract talks is, “I’m just trying to do what’s right for my family.” That leads to the obvious response, “How big is your family?”

Take the case of Ndamukong Suh, who before entering free agency expressed his desire to stay in Detroit. The Lions offered him a new deal that would have made him the highest paid defensive player in the history of the league, but the Dolphins submitted a slightly richer bid and thus won Suh’s services.

Fans in Detroit throw up their arms and wonder, “How is a nine-figure deal not enough to provide for your family?”

What is left unmentioned is these players incur some ridiculous expenses. They must pay an agent, an accountant and other handlers. They often times pay millions of dollars per year in taxes. And their “family” includes much more than parents and siblings. Cousins and childhood friends come out of the woodwork begging for help and angel investments.

The best example of this is Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith, who had to literally cut off his family after they mooched the entirety of his rookie contract.

“I’m not trying to be hurtful, but I’m not making this money so other people can live off it,” Smith told ESPN.com. “You have to understand: This game doesn’t last long at all.”

Where’s the loyalty?

Fans are quick to condemn players who chase dollars for their lack of loyalty. For some reason, a player’s effort to maximize his earnings creates the perception he values money more than football. It’s an odd double-standard to uphold, given that NFL franchises are the most disloyal of all the major professional sports.

Unlike in the NBA and MLB, NFL contracts are only partially guaranteed. Teams are free to cut players at any time and for almost any reason, while paying only a portion of the contract’s remaining balance. Because of that, players have to be more aggressive in securing guaranteed money while they can. They know their time for making bank is limited, as the average NFL career lasts just 3.3 years (5.5 years if you don’t include undrafted players).

“In any other business other than football, you’re allowed to think about money,” former Ravens and Jets linebacker Bart Scott told MMQB.com. “Even in football, everyone is supposed to think about money — except the players. I don’t get it. Head coaches in college can leave schools for more money. Coordinators can leave teams to become head coaches for more money. But players aren’t supposed to think about money. Why?

“Organizations aren’t loyal to them. Have a bad year? They’re looking to restructure. Everyone in the city loves you until you leave. Then they burn your jersey. Get hurt? See you later.”

A great example of what Scott is talking about can be found in the spat between Plaxico Burress and Nick Saban that took place earlier this offseason. Burress was incensed after Saban said the NFL should delay giving players draft projections until bowl season is over. Saban believes players are distracted by the prospect of life in the NFL and unable to focus on the task at hand.

Burress shrewdly pointed out the hypocrisy in that statement. After Burress’ junior season at Michigan State, Saban reportedly told the Spartans he would return for another season and suggested to Burress he should bypass the NFL Draft and play another season of college football. One day later, Saban jumped ship for a more lucrative offer from LSU.

“They kids are just chasing a dream that you were,” Burress tweeted to Saban.

The uncomfortable truth is this is a job for these players. That doesn’t mean they are not passionate about what they do, the same as a doctor or lawyer can be passionate about his or her profession, but players rightfully expect to be compensated in a way that reflects the rarity of their skill-set and the demand for their services.

It’s not just a gridiron, it’s an office. It’s not just a franchise, it’s an employer. And it’s not just football, it’s a business.

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