I have always thought about this and I think it can work well.  We all get salaries that we can live off of, pay our bills, feed our families, etc.  Then we all pay into 401Ks, or get pensions, or have some form of retirement plan.  Why can't pro athletes be treated in a similar fashion as far as their compensation goes?

Obviously these guys should get bigger salaries than you or i wasting away in our cubicles, but I think this could be worked out to be extremely successful.  The NFL could give everyone game checks, starters getting more than bench players just like a manager gets more than the managed.  They could also have all kinds of incentives to reach in order to receive bonuses, kind of similar to the way a sales person has commission quotas that need to be reached.  If you run for a 1,000 yards, get a bonus.  If you pass for 3,000, get a bonus.  If you dont fumble, get a bonus, etc. etc. etc.. This can also be implemented for entire teams as well.  If you win, your check is more than the losing team's checks.  If you win playoff games or even the Super Bowl, you get large bonuses.  The same can go for division titles as well.  Then, after the fact, if a guy has a Hall of Fame career, make that man a filthy stinkin rich millionaire.  If he is a bust or if he blows his knee out, he still got paid for his time on the field and any achievements that may be reached, but he will not be payed like the guy who had a Hall of Fame career. 

I believe this would not only benefit players who have awesome careers, but it would also fix the retirement situation the NFL is currently dealing with.  Not only that, but imagine how much harder guys would play.  They would actually be trying to perform well in order to get paid.  Winning would matter more to these pampered athletes as they would get paid more if they win.  The days of the diva WR or DE (Osi you son of a bitch) would be OVER.  Guys holding out for big contracts and such would all end.  You also would not have to worry about these guys living lavish and ruining their lives in nightclubs or blowing all their money on ferraris.  Lots of upside I think they should just make me commisioner.

Just something I though of while I sit and await the end of the lockout.  Good stuff?