Analysts, coaches, rabid fans, casual fans and even players voice their opinion on whether or not student athletes should be monetarily compensated. The question can get technical and complicated, but the answer is surprisingly simple. These kids have every right to profit off their own name and, under no circumstances, should anybody have the right to deny them that.

Nick Saban, University of Alabama’s football coach, makes $5.3 million per year. The university generates an astounding $45 million from football according to timesfreepress.com. A.J. McCarron, Alabama’s star quarterback, makes nothing. Zero. Everyone profits except the people who actually do the work. The reality of college football is it’s a billion dollar business. Stop playing the moral card about how they already are paid by way of an education and understand that these players who generate millions of dollars don’t make a cent, while everybody around them is benefitting.

The USA prides itself in promoting a capitalist system. When a person does something well and what he does is in demand, he is free to capitalize on this and gain financially. These rules seem to apply to everyone except college athletes.

A college art student does not get punished when they sell a painting on the side, but when a star football player such as A.J. Green sells his jersey, it’s suddenly a crime. It’s a ridiculous double standard that serves no purpose. If a player works hard enough to where their signature on a football or jersey is worth money, they should not be penalized.

The bottom line is college athletes are being stripped of their rights. I get they are on scholarship. I get the idea of paying players is tough to get used to, but it’s the only way to make things fair. These kids are being used by universities as unpaid employees in a business which generates millions of dollars yet does not come back around and help them.