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8 Athletes Who Fell Off After Signing Big Contracts

October 04, 2018


8 Athletes Who Fell Off After Signing Big Contracts

In pro sports, theres a reality that fans, coaches, team managers and players themselves forget. Its easy to get the job, but its hard to keep it.Sure, were exaggerating when we say its easy to get a job in a major league - only handful of people on the planet ever will become pro athletes. But whats also true is that just because youve made into the big leagues, it doesnt mean that your future is guaranteed in it.Weve seen countless examples of promising and even star players who earned big bucks, but failed to keep up production because of declining performance, persistent injuries or off-court antics.And it often happened not too long after they signed huge contracts.

1. Ben Wallace

Ben WallaceDuring the mid-2000s, Ben Wallace was establishing a name for himself as one of the most dominant players in the NBA, and one of the leagues best rebounders. He went on to win a championship with the Detroit Pistons, All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Defensive First Team awards. The result? A four-year $60 million contract to play for the Chicago Bulls.But as a quickly as the money began piling up, Wallaces numbers began falling down. He remained a fairly good rebounder, but his offensive play got worse (which wasnt great to begin with) - hed average only 5.7 points per game. He was then sent off to the Cleveland Cavaliers during year three of the deal, where he was just unable to produce at all.

2. Alex Rodriguez

Alex RodriguezA little more than a decade ago, no one would expect to see A-Rod on a list like this. After all, from the late 90s to the mid-2000s, he had an unstoppable home run pace (youngest ever to hit 500) and had hit the 40-40 club years before. In 2007, he signed the largest ever contract in American sports at the time, a 10 year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees. The only person to have ever signed a contract that big, ironically, was A-Rod himself back in 2000, which was a 10-year, $252 million contract.But his winning streak came to an end when he struck out with the media. In 2009, he admitted to using PEDs in the early 2000s. Although he did break some records in his twilight years, he also had some of his worst years. For example, the 2012 season where his poor performance and numbers kept him on the bench during the playoffs.

3. Albert Haynesworth

Albert HaynesworthIts sad to lump someone in the category of wasted talent, but thats where many critics would put former big defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth. In both 2007 and 2008, Haynesworth was monstrous as a defender for the Tennessee Titans, acquiring as many as 6 sacks in 13 games in 2007 and 8.5 sacks in 14 games during 2008. As one fan on Reddit put it, he was literally our WHOLE defense. In early 2009, Haynesworths raw ability garnered interest from the Washington Redskins, which led him to sign a $100 million contract to play with the team.But what looked like promise quickly turned to problems. Aside from some run-ins with the law, Haynesworth was notorious for skipping practices and his fitness deteriorated so much that he failed conditioning test numerous times (likely made worse by injuries and medical problems). He was also known for being argumentative and critical of the teams coaching. After putting up bad numbers, he was suspending for the rest of the season. Haynesworth is no longer in the NFL.

4. Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert ArenasGilbert Arenas proved himself as a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. He turned into a basketball favourite in the mid-2000s, most notably in 2005, when he led the Washington Wizards to their first playoff series in 10 years. He also quickly became known for his clutch-shot making skills on the court, which is half the reason why he got his name Agent Zero (the other half being because his jersey number was 0). His ascent to NBA greatness led him to signing a six-year, $111 million contract extension after the 2007-08 season.But after Arenas brought a gun to the team locker room (to settle gambling debts with a teammate), his rising stardom took a hit. He was suspended for most of the 2009-10 season, and he never quite rebounded after that, both in terms of his public image and his performance.

5. Mike Hampton

Mike HamptonA solid and promising pitcher from the start, Mike Hampton went on to become a star in the NLCS in 2000. He delivered a stellar campaign for the New York Mets, putting forth 16 shutout innings. Hampton received a massive offer for his performance - an eight-year, $121 million contract which at the time, was the biggest contract for a pitcher in MLB history.How did that turn out? Well, lets just say that Hamptons next two seasons were nothing short of abysmal. He posted a combined ERA of 5.75 and was traded during the off-season. It wasnt all bad for Hampton afterward since he recovered his performance on the Atlanta Braves, but his post-2000 slump left an unsightly dent on his records.

6. Vernon Wells

Vernon WellsThe 2006 season was the year Vernon Wells crushed it. His .303 batting average and 32 home runs propelled him to new heights as All-Star outfielder. As a result, the Toronto Blue Jays offered him a seven-year, $126 million contract which he signed that year. For fans and the team alike, it looked like Wells had nowhere to go but up.Unfortunately, he succumbed to gravity. By 2007, his batting average dropped nearly 60 points and his HR count halved from 32 to 16. In 2008, which was shortened for him due to an injury, he managed to make a short comeback, but fell back into the dumps again for another five more seasons with the Jays (2 seasons), the Angels (2 seasons) and the Yankees (1 season).

7. James Shields

James ShieldsJames Shields has dealt with some ups and downs from the start of his career until now. However, during the 2007 season, Shields began make to turn the tables by flexing his pitching ability, notably his changeups. He was also revered for throwing four shutouts and finished third in Cy Young voting in 2011. He was the only Tampa Bay Rays pitcher to win a World Series game (game 2 in 2008 World Series). Shields financial reward was a four-year, $75 million contract he signed with the San Diego Padres in 2015.For such a lucrative deal however, Shields was simply unable to deliver. Although he started in 33 games for his ninth straight season, he gave up an average of one home run a game, which led him to lead that count in the NL. Even when he was shipped off to the Red Sox, his unlucky streak continued with him giving up 31 home runs in just 22 starts.

8. Jeremy Lin

Jeremy LinBack in 2012, Linsanity began. An underdog from the beginning, Jeremy Lin had been cut by both the Warriors and the Rockets. Then he landed in New York and went from an underdog to a roaring lion. In one game he dropped 25 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists against the Nets. In his next game he put up 28 points against the Utah Jazz, then 23 points against the Wizards. He truly silenced his critics - Kobe Bryant being one of them - when he sank 38 points against the Lakers. In a two-week period, Lin had gone from an unknown to the NBAs fastest rising superstar, and went on to sign a three-year, $25 million deal with the Houston Rockets.But Linsanity was more like a historical event than an All-Star in the making who had found a new-found groove. His streak ended after just 26 games. He struggled to keep the momentum going on the Rockets, struggling with his shooting percentages and was averaging far fewer points per game. Very quickly Lin receded back into his former shell, although hes still remembered as an icon and inspiration for the Asian-American community.

They Can Jump, But Will They Land?

Hopefully this article serves as a sobering reminder to all sports fans as well as parents and coaches grooming young athletes. There are no guarantees of sustained, long-term success in an athletes career, even after signing multi-million dollar checks.Its important for players to keep their heads down and focused on their game, always working to master their skills and staying fit. More importantly, they have to learn how to be a team player, handle criticism and acknowledge their weaknesses. Those who are humble enough to treat their position with the utmost respect are the ones with a true shot at career longevity.

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