You might be right...I'm in my early 50's. Times have changed a lot.You must not have worked at the same fast food restaurants I did. It was total equality no matter how much better you were at the job. It took me about 4 months to find another job in a different industry. The lineman example you use is exactly what happened to me. As long as you were on the roster, you got paid the same amount whether or not you performed at the same level. That type of system could lead to complacency rather than competition for the better deal.
I hope the drive to want to be in the NFL will be the factor for a few of the lineman. Others, will hopefully get their education and be productive in society and not work fast food.