Reports: Money differences leave QBs out

ESPN.com ^ | 2-6-06 | ESPN.com news services

[joyspring777]

When the NFL unveiled its MVPs from the previous 39 Super Bowls, only three living members skipped the ceremony.

Former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw decided to stay home, while former Dolphins MVP Jake Scott was traveling in Australia.

Montana, the league's only three-time Super Bowl MVP, turned down the invitation over money, Newsday and the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Bradshaw, who told league officials that he wanted to be with his family, also took issue with the fees, the Chronicle reported. Bradshaw, through a representative, denied the Chronicle's report that there was a dispute over money.

Former MVPs were given $1,000 for incidental expenses while in Detroit, along with other amenities such as plane tickets, car rental and game tickets.

Sources told each paper that Montana asked for a guarantee of at least $100,000 in appearance money.

When the league balked at Montana's demands, the quarterback declined to be in attendance.

[joyspring777]

What is Montana's problem? He is so special he wants $100,000 while the others come for game tickets (no small bonus), plane tickets and $1,000 expense cash?

Montana is classless! Notre Dame is talking to him this morning, no doubt, and letting him have an ear full! What a fool!

[dead]

I didn't miss him.

[joyspring777]

I am looking for more info on Bradshaw. Neither of these guys should be hurting.

This is a mistake they will regret the rest of their lives, or should if they have any character.

[originalbuckeye]

Wow. I always thought Montana was pretty respectable. I may have to rethink.

[Rumierules]

Why would anyone pay Montana 100K to attend the SuperBowl. As if his appearance would boost attendance?

[jveritas]

Talk about ultimate greed. A cheap and classless act like this by Joe Montana will make a dark spot in his record.

[joyspring777]

You know, he played in the day when there were no pick rules in taking a defender OFF the receiver.

John Madden really broke through in the year or so following them not winning SBs. They were called for one on a touchdown which was called back. Madden said they had been doing if for years.

If I were a QB, knew which guy was going to have the defender picked off, and couldn't hit...I must be blind. Montana's coaches took advantage of that situation again, and again, and again...until the league passed rules to prohibit it, then the years the officials had to learn it, and have the guts to call against them...the SB champions. All the while...they won, and won and won.

I was an official in three sports, albeit not football or professionally. You hesitate to make the new call, especially against the top team.

Montana had way too much help to propel SF to those titles from the "set picks" SF would run. HE KNEW WHO WOULD BE OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joyspring777]

That is putting it mildly. When all the others, save Bradshaw, were there for the same package.

Both Montana and Bradshaw will have to live this down for a long time.

How can Bradshaw NOT be there? He is TV analyst, former Steeler.

Rooney is chewing his butt off today too! What a boob! This will renew all the discussion about him not being smart enough to play QB in the first place.

Classless on Bradshaw's part too!

[joyspring777]

Bradshaw will get nothing but cold stares the first time he does a Pittsburgh game next year! Ouch!

He is going to have to ask forgiveness of the entire Pittsburgh Steeler organization.

He has a good job with Fox, so he could NOT have needed the money.

[the OlLine Rebel]

This is disconcerting. I like both Bradshaw and Montana. I'll still like them, but this will be a mark I won't forget next time something negative happens.

[Echo Talon]

Good for Montana! He doesnt owe the NFL anything and for them , not to pay him for his time is outrageous! Im glad he took a
stand, how much $ did the NFL make on this horrible event? How much $ have they fined players this year? They cant afford $100,000? Good job Joe dont let them use you!

[jveritas]

Bradshaw looks like a sleazy used car salesman ( no for offence used car salesmen) so do not expect class from this guy.

[dfwgator]

Former MVPs were given $1,000 for incidental expenses while in Detroit

There's your reason.

[jveritas]

Everything for you is about f***ing money. The QB's show yesterday was not about money but about the history and the greatness of football.

[jveritas]

That is the dumbest reason ever. Would you not go to Detroit if someone payed for your plane ticket and gave a you a $ 1000 to spend? Give me a break, Montana has millions of dollars and for him not to go there because of this insane reason is an indication of a very low and cheap character. Cheap people should hide in shame.

[nathanbedford]

The QB's show yesterday was not about money but about the history and the greatness of football

And what was the appearance of Mick Jagger all about? Do you think he got $100,000? I do. I think a willing buyer paid more than $100,000 to a willing Jagger to be titillated by his grotesquely. Certainly, it was about money. The whole of the super bowl is about money, just ask the millions of dollar per minute advertisers.

We must move away from this left wing notion that somehow money is evil. Money is how we as a society place value on almost everything, including love and our time. Joe Montana is entitled to negotiate his price and the NFL is entitled to decline to pay it without moral judgments from us.

Is Bradshaw more to be admired than Montana? The former because he preferred time with his family, the later because his price was not met. But was that Bradshaw's real reason? Guess what, I do not care.

But I do care if society replaces the free market place with soupy notions of "history" or "greatness." What the hell does football skills have to do with greatness? I say give Montana the Pete Rose trophy and end this sham.

Take it from me,

Shoeless Joe Jackson

[joyspring777]

These comments are freaking pathetic!

Montana owes the NFL for life's opportunties afforded him by their industry.

He is bigger than the other 30 or so guys who did come?

Montana is King Size SMALL here, and so are you for defending him in such a repugnant, selfish way!

[joyspring777]

Game Tickets (plural). Don't forget those!

and I am sure they all had great seats offered!

[petitfour]

Name the "sources." Otherwise, this is just like some WP or NYT article.

Maybe Bradshaw did not want to appear on ABC. Maybe Montana did not want to tell the NFL his real reason for declining to be there.

It was neat to see Bart Starr and Broadway Joe. Roll Tide!

[joyspring777]

The source is ESPN.com. They are most respected sports news source on the planet!

Ask them who their sources are.