Billy Bajema Says EA Sports Deal Is ‘Dumb,’ Players Would Pay to Be in Game

It’s been intriguing to see the EA Sports NCAA Football payouts start rolling in after the $60M lawsuit was settled earlier this year. Not all players are getting the same amount of money, and some are getting a lot more than others.

The max you can receive, by the way, is $7,200.

Billy Bajema, was not one of the 29,000 athletes who filed a claim against EA Sports.

“I thought it was a silly opportunity to get money,” Bajema told The Oklahoman. “And it leaves college players who would like to be on there, not on it. I know a lot of guys are getting checks, and that’s cool. But it’s disappointing if guys are doing that and players are not able to be on there anymore. Truth is, I don’t know anybody who didn’t want to be on there. Heck, we’d have paid to have ourselves in the game.”

Bajema is probably right about this. What’s better over the course of one’s life? Being in a video game with the likeness of your face and your athleticism or, on average, $1,200?

And this is why EA Sports could get away with this. Because it’s a small deal to each individual, but when you add all those together, you have a big product if you’re EA. Until the O’Bannons came along anyway.

Of course Bajema also earned $6 million in his career so maybe this is a little bit of an easier argument for him to make.