This is a hobby horse of mine, so apologies. But - most NFL players aren't rich. They make less than a fancy lawyer for 3-4 years - maybe 10 if they're incredibly lucky - then they're left with injured bodies and a gap in their lives while they figure out what to do.
The Aaron Rodgers' of the world are exceptions, not the rule. The rule is the journeyman lineman who makes 600K for a couple of years then has four back surgeries.
You have to think of them like manual laborers in a really dangerous and difficult job, some of whom win the lottery and some of whom receive life-altering injuries.
Are they lucky to play in the NFL? Sure. But spoiled and rich are not words I'd use for those guys.
Here's the NFL minimum for veterans table. Looks impressive, yeah? spotrac.com/blog/nfl-minim…
These are literally the best people in the world at what they do. Yet, even the top of that is below the profits per partner of a mid-level law firm.
These are literally the best people in the world at what they do. Yet, even the top of that is below the profits per partner of a mid-level law firm.
Moreover, as football business guru, @AndrewBrandt has explained more times than I can count, their contracts are terrible - they dissolve into mist the moment they're no longer useful to their team.
Oh, but they get pensions. Yes, they do. And those are good. But (a) those only show up after they vest; and (b) they need it. Working somewhere that has a "joint replacement program" says it all, imo. nflpa.com/former-players…
I'm not saying we should feel sorry for NFL players. No. They're grown men making choices. I like choices. But they do a hard job to entertain us, and they're paid kind of badly in a world of rich people given their position. That's just true. /e
