Football is not a game or even so much a sport as it is entertainment. You are paid based on what the market says and what kind of money can be made off of you being on that team. If you accept less - you're punishing everyone else at your position who has a contract coming up. Think that will play with the other members of the the union.
You want people doing it for the love of the sport - watch some of the obscure olympic sports or D2 and D3 college sports.
