Earl Thomas’ One-Finger Salute Raises Questions: What’s A Superstar Worth?

In the aftermath of a broken leg, a middle finger, and one hellacious Tweetstorm, one of the most pressing questions in the NFL this week has to be:

What is the value of a superstar?

That’s the question the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers have been asking themselves since this summer when Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell announced they wouldn’t report to the teams without a new contract or trade.

In the NFL, players have a short shelf life; in many circles, players are thought to physically peak at age 30 and then begin experiencing a steady decline in performance (though 40-somethings Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Adam Vinatieri are doing just fine, thanks).