In his latest argument advocating a rookie wage scale, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell didn't mince words about the inequity between paying unproven rookies more than experienced veterans who have made contributions already in the league.

"I love Sam Bradford(notes), and I hope he's great, but he probably made somewhere between $40 and $45 million the night before last," Goodell told fans during the NFL draft over the weekend. "He has not even hit the field yet and that's a guaranteed contract. So if Sam Bradford can't play, what good does that do any other NFL player? As much as I like these young rookies, and I do think they're terrific, it's crazy to give someone who hasn't proven themselves on the NFL field $45 million.