Proven backups who have had starting roles. Jamies, Dalton, Brissett, etc. Stidham is tied with Jamies for the 10th highest paid backup. Agree that they are inflated, but why pay a guy who has never proved he's worth the $?
I mean, it doesn't really matter why; that's what the market conditions are.
And I'll posit that Ryan Clark doesn't know what a thug is if he thinks Payton is one. Payton is an egomaniacal prick (who I wish was still our head coach), but not a thug.