5 NFL players who lost out on a big payday due to off-field problems

#3 Josh Gordon

Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon

Josh Gordon was once one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. After a solid rookie season in 2013 with the Cleveland Browns, Gordon led the league with 1,646 receiving yards during the 2014 season, while being selected as a first-team All-Pro.

Since his incredible 2014 season, Gordon's career has gone downhill. He has been suspended six different times for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

He has signed with several teams on low-salary contracts, but missed out on a massive payday, considering how much wide receivers are paid in the modern game.

#4 Antonio Brown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown had one of the best six-year runs by any wide receiver in NFL history during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls and five straight All-Pro teams while leading the league in receptions and receiving yards twice.

After forcing his way out of Pittsburgh, Antonio Brown signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, but was released before even playing a game due to off-field conflicts. He lost out on $30 million as a result. The rest of his career has been defined by controversies and he has never signed as lucrative a contract since.

#5 Ray Rice

Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice Press Conference

Ray Rice exceeded 1,600 total yards in four consecutive years from the 2009 to 2012 seasons, including leading the NFL with 2,068 total yards during the 2011 season. He was in the prime of his NFL career until an incident off-the-field ended his time in the sun.

Rice was caught on camera in a physical altercation with his then-girlfriend and now-wife Janay Palmer, causing the Ravens to terminate his contract. He missed out on nearly 10 million dollars and was never picked up by a team again.