Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was one of the three highest paid players on American sports teams in 2013, according to an ESPN survey of worldwide sports salaries.

Stafford, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady were three of only seven professional athletes in the world who made at least $31 million last year. This is based strictly on salary, not endorsement money.

Rodgers ($40 million) was ranked fourth while Stafford ($31.5 million) was sixth and Brady ($31 million was seventh.

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson ($25 million) was tied for 16th with Peyton Manning and MLB’s Ryan Howard and Cliff Lee.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)