The Packers’ top two money-makers together at the Pro Bowl in February 2012.
USA TODAY Sports

I bet you thought that Aaron Rodgers was the highest-paid player on the Green Bay Packers’ roster in 2012?

Think again … it was Charles Woodson. The recently-released Packers cornerback, who missed more than half of the 2012 season, made $11,562,500.

Charles Woodson has bowed out as a Packer, but he most likely will command a nice salary with whomever he signs.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Rodgers? Well he came home with a sweet $9 million even.

These numbers, provided by Fox Sports, break down individual salaries and where they stand among all 53 men on the roster.

Rodgers was second among those on the 53-man roster, but considering the 51 bone-crunching sacks he experienced last season, there’s no question in my mind that he earned every one of those American dollars.

Last year’s Green Bay Packers payroll situated the team just about in the middle of the pack among all 32 National Football League teams. In fact, the team was fourteenth with a total of $107,837,787.

Don Barclay earned every penny of his salary in 2012.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

While Woodson and Rodgers led the way last year in individual salaries, the lowest paid Packers were Jarrett Boykin and none other than Don Barclay, the offensive lineman who ended up starting at right tackle for much of December and into the Playoffs. Boykin also saw spot time in December after WR Jordy Nelson went down with a hamstring injury.

Interestingly enough, three of the top 10 players earning the most for the Packers have already been (Woodson, Jeff Saturday) or will be (Greg Jennings) removed from that list. No doubt much, if not all of the money paid to those three players will be utilized in re-signing Rodgers, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews. Questions surrounding whether A.J. Hawk and Jermichael Finley will stick with the team should be answered sometime this offseason. Hawk and Finley were also among the top 10.

So, by the time next season rolls around, this list will most likely be vastly changed.

Here’s the top 10 for your review:

A few of the most productive players who didn’t crack the top 10 included Jordy Nelson (11), James Jones (12), Clay Matthews (17), Bryan Bulaga (18), and Randall Cobb (27).

Casey Hayward (29) defends during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to Cobb, who probably brought the team the best value for his pay scale, there were others who saw the field a lot, but didn’t see much in their paycheck. They included Brad Jones ($630,063), Casey Hayward ($601,750), C.J. Wilson ($502,588), M.D. Jennings ($465,833), Jerron McMillian ($465,146), and Dezman Moses ($391,166).

And as a side note, take a look at where Mason Crosby sits … I’ll let you insert your comments here …

Team salaries

When looking at total team salaries, it’s clear that money always doesn’t buy success.

Consider the team with the highest salary total in 2012. Well yes, the Kansas City Chiefs will also be choosing number one in this year’s NFL Draft. The Chiefs top-rated team salary was a whopping $128,051,400.

Right behind the Chiefs? Da Bears … $126,358,124.

The other teams in the NFC North: The Lions were #4 ($116,478,991) and the Vikings were right on the Packers’ heels at #17 ($105,263,631).

Consider also that of the five teams with the lowest total salaries, four of them were Playoff teams:

And the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens? They were ranked 25th ($98,730,030).

By the way, the other Super Bowl-qualifying team, the San Francisco 49ers, were rated third ($124,707,285).

Of course, the best value out there was the Indianapolis Colts. The Playoff team that surprised everyone came in with a measly team salary of $80,801,242. Now, that’s a success story.

Below you will find the Packers complete list, followed by the team total lists.

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The charts below are courtesy of Fox Sports.