Dead Money
The answer lies in actual money paid and the risk of future salary-cap misery. First of all, not everyone has Snyder's gold-lined pockets. According to official league figures sent to each club and dated Nov. 25, 2003, the Redskins led the NFL in "dead money" -- cash paid out to players no longer employed by the team -- last year with $14.5 million. That figure was double the league average of $7.3 million. In 2001, they paid out $14.8 million to players no longer on their team and $13 million in 2002. For fans, that may seem like the price of doing business, but most bosses would be reluctant to shell out $45 million for people who don't work for them anymore.
-Sportsline.com's Pete Prisco
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