Kudos to Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz for siding with Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis, who are skipping the team's mandatory mini-camp this weekend in protest of their contract situations.

"One of the things that makes the NFL great for fans is that there aren't guaranteed contracts. One of the things that makes the NFL player the least secure and most underpaid athlete in major American sports is the lack of guaranteed contracts.

When it comes to money, management has the hammer and players are the nail. The only thing guaranteed is the signing bonus up front. Beyond that, nothing.

...

As fans, you're upset about Wayne and Mathis. For crying out loud, isn't $6 million enough?! He signed the deal of his own free will! And I get that. Most of us can't relate. Most of us don't make $6 million a year. Most of us have zero security; just look at the newspaper business.

I would respond this way: As long as NFL contracts are not two-way streets, I will tend to defend players who seek to maximize their earning power."

Careers in this sport are too brief to begrudge an NFL player from maximizing his earnings, especially when the player isn't necessarily seeking to be paid more, and is just looking to have as much of what he's about to earn guaranteed.

As I wrote in "The Rookie Sacrifice", "players aren't paid based on what they have done, they're paid based on what they're going to do". Mathis and Wayne are still performing and producing at Pro Bowl levels. They have arguably outperformed their current, front-loaded contracts, and are not seeking golden parachutes.

Peyton Manning takes priority this off-season, but I suspect the Colts will take care of both men before the regular season starts, as well.