Money makes the world go around and this is very true in professional sports. Most athletes have short careers and want to maximize their earnings. There’s nothing wrong with this but some bring it to the next level. They sold their souls to the highest bidder and didn’t care about public perception.
Some of them put their morals to one side because the potential money was too good. Others cannily signed contracts with teams in particular areas like Florida. We’ve seen players like Shohei Ohtani earn insane amounts of money after leaving their old teams. Check out the list below.
Tom Brady
Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before he finally departed for new pastures. Some folks will say he wanted to prove he could win without Bill Belichick. Others claim that he wanted a final new challenge and experience before retiring. But there’s a reason why he joined the Buccaneers over the Raiders or his beloved Niners.
Florida’s tax laws made it attractive for him because he could milk as much of his final contract as possible. He signed a two-year $50 million deal with Tampa Bay because it was the best financial option. There’s nothing wrong with that but it’s also true that he joined the highest bidder (via Fox Sports).