The Athletic published a terrific article about how the salary release plays out among the players. I encourage you to read the whole thing (if you can), but I had to share this gem.
The salary list also occasionally gets weaponized on the playing field itself. [Bobby] Boswell tells a story that’s made the rounds around the league over the past few years, one backed up by a player who was on the field during the game he refers to. During the New York Red Bulls’ famed 7-0 rout of NYCFC in 2016—a match which took place just two days after the release of the union’s salary list—Red Bulls midfielder Felipe turned to English international Frank Lampard late in the match.
“So Felipe is running his mouth to Lampard,” Boswell recounts. “And he says ‘you’re washed up, you’re overpaid,’ and then he points at the scoreboard or something and says ‘look at the score man, look how badly you’re losing’”
Lampard, a player who was making $6 million for his services in 2016 and one who’d go on to make $5,882 per minute he was on the field for NYCFC over two seasons—was unbothered.
“I have $50 million in my checking account,” Boswell recalls the former Chelsea legend replying to Felipe. “I’m not losing.”
“What could Felipe even say at that point?” Boswell said. “He couldn’t say anything."
https://theathletic.com/1022738/201...not-tell-you-how-much-trash-talking-there-is/“So Felipe is running his mouth to Lampard,” Boswell recounts. “And he says ‘you’re washed up, you’re overpaid,’ and then he points at the scoreboard or something and says ‘look at the score man, look how badly you’re losing’”
Lampard, a player who was making $6 million for his services in 2016 and one who’d go on to make $5,882 per minute he was on the field for NYCFC over two seasons—was unbothered.
“I have $50 million in my checking account,” Boswell recalls the former Chelsea legend replying to Felipe. “I’m not losing.”
“What could Felipe even say at that point?” Boswell said. “He couldn’t say anything."
