The Best-Paid Bench Warmers In Sports

It wasn?t so long ago that Gilbert Arenas was riding high. One of the NBA?s premium scorers from 2004 to? 2007, the shooting guard played in three All Star Games? during his days with the Washington Wizards, ultimately cashing in with a six-year, $111 million contract.

The roll didn?t last. First, injuries robbed Arenas of all but 15 games during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons combined. Then in December 2009, Arenas, for some reason, thought it would be a good idea to bring his gun collection into the Wizards locker room. He may have meant no harm, but the NBA doesn?t mess around with threats to its image. The league came down on Arenas with a 50 game suspension. Since returning, he?s been dealt to the Orlando Magic, waived, and then picked up by the Memphis Grizzlies.?

Arenas has started just two games over the past two seasons, averaging 19 minutes and seven points a game off the bench. All while pulling in about $37 million, including $19.3 million this season.

At age 30, Arenas could still reestablish himself as a star. But for the time being, his career arc reads like a VH1 musician?s biography: from unknown (a second round draft pick in 2001), to stardom (over 25 points a game for three seasons), to downfall (bench warmer).? But with that contract, he?s the best-paid bench warmer out there. Many saw him as the owners? poster boy during last year?s NBA lockout.

Arenas beats out Cleveland Indians? designated hitter Travis Hafner ($13 million, prevented by injuries from playing a full season for five years) and New Jersey Nets? center Mehmet Okur ($10.9 million, with bad back severely limiting his time the past two years.). Okur, who was traded to Portland late in the year and then immediately waived, may wind up back in his native Turkey next season.

In Pictures: The Best-Paid Bench Warmer in Sports

To determine the most expensive bench warmers across the North American sports landscape, we zeroed in on those making $5 million or more in their most recent season whose playing time didn?t stand up to the big salary. We cut some slack for those suffering sudden injuries following years of playing regularly (example: Jayson Werth), but not for those having trouble staying on the field for an extended period.

Others qualifying as best paid bench warmers: St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith ($10 million), the second overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft who?s played in just 29 of 48 possible games since then, San Francisco Giants? utility man Aubrey Huff ($10 million), who got a big contract after he contributed to the Giants? 2010 championship teams but who?s been up just 58 times this year after a poor 2011 season, and the Seattle Mariners? Chone Figgins ($9.5 million), once an exciting player with the Angels who?s flopped since signing with the Mariners in 2011, relegating him to part-time duty.

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