Does getting older equal more money?

As players hit 30 years of age or older, which doesn't apply to quarterbacks, the money they made in their 20's is not nearly the same.

We have all seen veteran players, like Saints defensive end Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma, take substantial pay cuts to stay with their respective teams.

This offseason, many veteran players saw the free agent money dry up fast, and once you hit that certain age threshold for a player, it is a substantial pay reduction.

But on Friday, former Indianapolis Colts defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney had patience pay off for him. One of the league's premier pass rushers agreed to a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers that carries a base value of $8.75 million.

The 33-year old Freeney, who has recorded 107 1/2 quarterback sacks since entering the league in 2002, has a contract with the Chargers that carries a maximum value of $13.35 million, with $4.6 million tied exclusively to sacks.

In late March, 34-year old Ed Reed, who will go down as one of — if not the — greatest free safety of all-time, left the Baltimore Ravens and signed a 3-year contract worth $15 million dollars and $5 million was guaranteed with the Houston Texans.

Now Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson waits for a big money offer to come his way.