There's a huge misconception when it comes to professional sports players and their salaries. Everyone assumes they're making so much money and that they are living all fine and dandy. The truth is SO many football/basketball players are actually struggling to get by. Struggling... I just used that term extremely loosely. It's not like they have millions saved up in their savings account.
To all of us, it seems like so much. Even rookie contracts... I'd LOVE to be making $300K a year! But in actuality that money goes quickly. Many of these players come from nothing. Even if nothing, the vast majority, their families never had much growing up. When a player finally makes it, they aren't being asked to provide for Family and friends... it's assumed. EVERYBODY comes out of the wood work and is getting some sort of share. Mom, dad, brothers, their possies, etc.
It's not uncommon for sports players to have to take out loans b/c they are "being taken advantage" of and then they have to repay their debts as they get paid. A lot of the guys are 21-26 years of age and all of a sudden they're making more money than they can dream of. They go out and are spending $20K+ on their credit cards a month, buying this and that.
Now you can fault them for for Giving their money to family/friends, you can fault them for not having a budget/being good with money, you can fault them for spending WAY beyond their means. I'm not excusing that one bit but I can see where they are coming from. They come from families that make $20-$40K a year and have to feed 5 mouths to all of sudden being the baby making all the money for the whole family, paying for everyones stuff. I would suffice to say that if you take the average person and double their salary.. they will not live in their means. They'll overspend, they'll blow all the money. How many normal Americans are in over their head in debt because of this? A LOT. It's not b/c they aren't making enough, it's because they don't know how to be smart with their money.
These players are all playing for their second contract. That's when they FINALLY hit it big, if they're smart can begin wiping out most of their debt, they are a little older, a little more mature, etc.
Does Dunta fall in this category? I have no idea. But he played his heart out for his second contract. I'm not saying what's fair/not fair, right or wrong. The injury is a huge concern. But I can imagine he's ready for the long term deal that finally takes care of him and his family. Family in pro sports is not just wife and kids. It's wife, kids, momma, mom's husband, uncle, aunt, cousins, close friends, etc.
EDIT: sorry this kind of turned into a rant. I just kept writing and writing. Goldensilence, this wasn't really meant for you but just addressing a big issue that so many people have a problem with (and understandably). Just quoted you cuz you were the most recent post