[MIJB#19]

Oscar Meadows sixth on all-time Merchantmen money ranking
Recently retired offensive tackle Oscar Meadows ranks sixth on the all-time Merchantmen money list. In 15 seasons in Maassluis, Meadows cumulated nearly $248 million in cap figures. He had moved into sixth place at the end of the 2083 season, surpassing 2057-2065 quarterback Lester Lowe. The money list is lead by five hall of famers, with the top four all members of the Merchantmen's only IHOF Bowl winning squad in the 2066 season.

The absolute top 10
1. DT Shaun Hartman $337.42M
2. CB Peter Tucker $334.89M
3. LB Edward Ross $299.56M
4. C Tom Anaya $299.18M
5. QB Bryson Chow $279.12M
6. T Oscar Meadows $247.93M
7. QB Lester Lowe $215.17M
8. WR Riddick Stanley $206.08M
9. LB Antonio Battle $202.07M
10. LB Gabe Hamilton $201.99M

The top 10 will likely see some changes once the 2086 season roster has been determined. Quarterback Ellis McAlister has accumulated $189M and is due $42M the upcoming season. It seems likely his actual cap figure for the upcoming season will be different, depending on where McAlister and Merchantmen management end up in negotiations. Moving up to seventh place right behind Meadows looks very likely. No other player currently on roster is within a reasonable shot of the $200M figure.

Due to increasing cap figures over the decades, recently active players are dominating the all-time money list. On the relative figures towards the overall cap space spent on players, a different top 10 becomes visible. Quarterback Russell Harrison, in 2030 traded over failed contract negotiations, has managed to accumulate the highest relative cap figure. In his twelve seasons on roster he averaged roughly 10.7 percent of the team's total cap spent, adding up to 128.47 percent.

The relative top 10
1. QB Russell Harrison 128.47
2. QB Bryson Chow 98.9
3. DT Andy Cottle 96.81
4. DT Charles Gomez 95.15
5. DT Shaun Hartman 93.41
6. CB Peter Tucker 90.72
7. QB Louie Flannery 88.82
8. WR Gabe Springer 84.1
9. LB Edward Ross 80.54
10. C Tom Anaya 79.95

It seems unlikely anyone of players currently on roster will soon threaten this top10. Quarterback Ellis McAlister has a relative figure of 43.98, defensive tackle Glen Stiegler 42.53 and guard Harvey Hank 38.89. Oscar Meadows recently retired with a 61.88 figure.

Most notable on the relative cap figure list are defensive tackles Andy Cottle and Charles Gomez. Of the top 10, they are the only two not to get elected into the IHOF's Hall of Fame. Gomez' career was deemed too short by the HOF Committee, while Cottle's cap figure has possibly been influenced by the Merchantmen overpaying for his services playing at the then considered most important position.

Three Merchantmen Hall of Famers are considered to have been slightly underpaid. Running back Stanley Givens played 4 seasons in orange-white-and-blue, earning roughly $41M and just 7.05 percent of the cap figures. Fellow running back Norbert Talley accumulated just under $132M in 8 seasons, with roughly 5.95 percent of the cap figure in each of those seasons. Defensive end Daquan Strugielski and his two Defensive Player of the Year awards got rewarded with just over $125M and roughly just 2.77 percent of each season's cap figure in those 12 seasons.