Why hasn't any major athlete taken a huge pay cut in order to help their team get better players?

Umm, they have. Many times.

For example, Michael Jordan played for the Washington Wizards for $1 million per year....and then he donated one entire year's salary to 9/11 victims so he essentially played for no salary one season in Washington.

LeBron James and Chris Bosh both just took less than max-money to go to Miami in 2010. Wade also took less than max-money to fit Bosh and James on the roster IIRC.

Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins took far less than his market value to stay with the Twins. He could have made tens of millions more if he'd have gone to the Yankees or Red Sox.

As for why others do decide to take max-money: How long will your career be? Would you take a 50% pay cut for the good of your company? For the top football players like Manning, their career is usally done by their mid 30s. For most football players, the average career lasts less than 5 years. When you have a short amount of time to make 98% of the money you'll make in a lifetime you don't take a 50%-75% pay cut just to make the "team" better.

I don't see the owners taking huge pay cuts so that a team can spend more money in MLB (an uncapped league). I don't see owners taking a huge pay cut so that fans can pay less to go to games in any sport. Why should the players sacrifice their income and their future if nobody else in society is expected to do so?

a lot of players have

but that's not helping anything

if a player does that, then the front office will start trying to squeeze everyone out using the star player as a reason for them to do it (brady took a cut, you cant? you aint even half the player blah blah blah)

the patriots did this to their players after brady took a discount

it doesn't help, this is business, this is america, and this is real life

things don't work the way you idealistically imagine

i know you can't imagine this, but if, your whole life you worked to be the absolute best at something

and that something happens to be a very lucrative career, and you know you are better

how happy would you be if tom brady was making more than you?

since our capitalist society says, the guys who make the most, make the most because they are the best

how would you feel?

you wouldn't know because you, like me, are not in that category, but trust me, it's more than you think

Your right Brady did do that a few years back

Brett Favre while not takeing a cut in pay had the money deffered to him in later years to help the team stay under the salary cap.

There is no salary cap now.All teams make tons of money there is no reason for a player to take a cut for the team.

Yes they make big money and if I were in their postion I think I could live on the $5million.But I am not them so I can't think of what is going through their heads!

Actually back in 2004,s;the starting veteran running back Jerome Bettis,for the Pittsburgh Steelers,of the national football league,took a pay cut to free up payroll for the salary cap to allow the signing of rookie running backs,Amos Zeroiae, and Keomatu Ma'afaala.He took a step back and mentored the rookies which was extremely classy of him to do. A few years later he won Super Bowl XLV,in 2006 and retired after that game.

Joe Mauer the All Everything catcher for the Minnesota Twins turned down more

lucrative contracts to Re-sign with Minnesota because he wanted to play in front

of his hometown fans and help bring another World Championship to Minnesota.

It happens from time to time, but it doesn't get much press outside of the local area. When the Detroit Red Wings were the dominate team in the early 2000s guys like Brenden Shannahan and Steve Yzerman were taking pay cuts to get guys like Dominic Hasek. I recently heard that Charles Woodson of the Green bay Packers stated he would be willing to move to safety if that CB (I forget his name) from the Oaland Raiders decided to come to Green Bay.

Because of their greed. But I guess I'd be greedy also and Pick the 15-20 over 5 million. RT

What are you, a commie? Just kidding. Athletes are there to make money just like in any other profession. Would you take a pay cut so others in the company could keep their jobs? Not many would, at least voluntarily. Unfortunately, here in the US, it's every man for himself. For better or worse. And for Charlie Sheen, the pay cut could mean a few less hookers :)

1 reason is greed. Peyton Manning in the past did take a pay cut to get new guys on the team, but it looks like even he has gotten corrupted recently. It's sad, but an honorable athlete is rare. :( Sorry.

Actually, Matt Holliday says he would take a $5 million pay cut if it meant re-signing Pujols.

BQ- I would if I thought my team would go out and spend it. But not if they just wanted to save it.