Kostka, a squarely built 6-foot, 225-pounder who only played one year, received offers from the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Dodgers. He recalled that "a team would send me a wire and say they'd give me $3,500". He later said: "I'd send a wire back and say Green Bay or the Chicago Bears said they'd give me $4,000. I kept that up". Kostka eventually culminated the bargaining by signing a $5,000 contract,[2] along with a $500 bonus, with Brooklyn. "That was a big deal then", said Kostka. "I think like Nagurski was in the league about three years and making $400 or less. Most of the guys were making $50 a ball game".
