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20 DENVER Business Journal february 6-12, 2015

Big bucks of sports

BY Sam Klomhaus [email protected], 303-803-9235, @SamKlomhaus pro athletes’ salaries past and present Joe Sakic $300,000 (1998-99) In his second Super $7,900,000 (2000-01) Sakic Bowl-winning season, Elway made a paltry made nearly $8 million in the Avs’ $300,000 in base salary (before bonuses, most recent Stanley Cup year. of course) thanks to salary cap maneuvering by him and the Broncos. Elway’s contract originally had him being paid $4.05 million, Todd Helton but Elway and the Broncos restructured the contract so they could sign that year’s draft $10,600,000 (2003) In Helton’s picks and free agents. This made him the best season in terms of MVP voting, lowest-paid starting quarterback in the NFL. he made just over $10 million. that year, although the Broncos back-loaded the contract and gave Elway the money he was actually worth during the first few years Alex English after he retired. $1,500,000 (1987-88), English banked over a million dollars in a season in which he was elected to the All-Star game He has until March 9 to make his decision on whether to return to the Broncos next year. Manning’s 2015 salary becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the roster on March 10, which means he and the Broncos must come to some kind of agreement by then. If he decides to stay on, Manning is due about $19 million next season.

During Troy Tulowitzki’s, What they bought with their money below left, rookie year with the Rockies, some teammates made fun of him because he idolized Derek Jeter, below right. Tulo’s response? To buy bottles of Jeter’s cologne, “Driven,” and hand them out to the team.

Peyton Manning bought Wes Welker bought Von Miller bought 21 Papa John’s pizza a racehorse named the entIre team franchises in 2012 when “Undrafted” for cowboy hats. he moved to Denver. $50,000 in 2011.

How they make money outside of sports

Ryan Clady invested in a startup that makes devices for muscle icing. It started when Clady hurt a ligament in his foot and started Von Miller has a burgeoning looking for ways chicken empire. A poultry science to make the icing major at Texas A&M, Miller has Wes Welker won a bunch of money process easier. expressed his desire to go into the betting on the Kentucky Derby. He discovered chicken business. Miller currently Like, in the $50,000 range. He was Hyperice, liked it, owns more than 40 chickens, handing out hundred dollar bills to and now he is an which he keeps on a farm in Texas. strangers after the race because he investor. won so much.

Sources: Spotrac, Philly.com, Hockeyzoneplus.com, Baseball-reference.com, Denver Post, New York Daily News, NFL Live, USA Today, The , Forbes photos: manning, miller: Eric Lars Bakke, ; Tulowitzki, jeter: thinkstock