The crack of the bat sounds a lot like the ding of a cash register every time Yankees slugger Aaron Judge connects on another home run.
We’re about to find out whether footballs can make that same sound when thrown through coverage … or when cradled tight while crossing the goal line … or when rolling loose on the ground after a strip sack.
Judge’s decision to reject the Yankees’ Opening Day contract extension offer of $213.5 million over seven years and instead play out his final year before free agency is the current gold standard for athletes who bet on themselves. He may have made himself another $75 million-$100 million while hitting 55 home runs and counting.
As a new NFL season begins, which players have the ability and are in the best position to pull a Judge? In other words, keeping in mind that MLB contracts are bigger and more guaranteed than NFL contracts, who can make a boatload of extra money based on performance under pressure in his contractual walk year?



