Shannon Sharpe believes that players should not have to carry the financial burden of keeping a team together and that it should not be the players' responsibility to take pay cuts.

“The CBA should not be put on the player in position where he has to carry the burden in order to keep a team together. A system does that, we have a problem. I agree. Don't put that on us. Don't put that on us on the players.”

Rich Paul acknowledges that taking a pay cut to help a team's situation depends on the individual athlete's goals and personal circumstances.

“it depends on your situation and it depends on what's important to you.”