Riley Reiff not concerned about Health

[hogeye]

That's quite the defense mechanism you have there.

I just think it's funny that you equate the NFL concussion issue to the Iraq war when the latter isn't remotely close to a concern for the average American.

 

[Hawkeye27]

I like what Cris Carter had to say about it when asked about this recently after Seau's suicide....

He basically said that football may end up taking him earlier than most men, but he's lived a life that only few men can dream of. So if football ends up taking up the back end of his life, he's fine with it because of the opportunity that he had to live out a life that many dream about but only few accomplish.

I really like this quote. When you look at it that way it starts to make sense why they get paid so much. Granted entertainment will always be paid higher, and the average nfl player's career is short.
What irks me is when I see former NFL players suing the NFL for injuries suffered on the field. Isn't there some sort of waiver they have to sign?
High reward= High Risk - "Love it or Leave it" -(Had to through a misplaced Stanzi quote in there).

 

[hogeye]

What irks me is when I see former NFL players suing the NFL for injuries suffered on the field. Isn't there some sort of waiver they have to sign?
High reward= High Risk - "Love it or Leave it" -(Had to through a misplaced Stanzi quote in there).

Especially when you're seeing players jumping into the lawsuit that were short-lived punters or even place kickers and practice squad guys that probably suffered few, if any, concussions.

I don't want to take too much away from the discussion as a whole. It's an issue that needs attention, but I agree that many players are starting to get too greedy and disingenuous about it.

 

[Hawkeye27]

Especially when you're seeing players jumping into the lawsuit that were short-lived punters or even place kickers and practice squad guys that probably suffered few, if any, concussions.

I don't want to take too much away from the discussion as a whole. It's an issue that needs attention, but I agree that many players are starting to get too greedy and disingenuous about it.

I can't agree with you more. I especially love the points about punters and kickers coming out of the woodwork lol. That is true though, players seem to be getting more and more greedy. But, in their defense, you could also say more and more of them are also being ripped off by their lawyers etc. But they need to learn how to manage their own money, or just don't combine legal services with accounting services. Haha, never turns out well.

I know this may sound crazy, but the overall love of the game seems low. I hate seeing college kids come out that are offered a myriad amount of money, and not even going to camp because they couldn't work out a deal. That is just pure greed.

This is why there is nothing like college football. I feel bad for them though because the NCAA is making a fortune off them and they don't get a little stipend for extra cash. - A scholarship is nice though lol

 

[ICHawk24]

I just think it's funny that you equate the NFL concussion issue to the Iraq war when the latter isn't remotely close to a concern for the average American.

Thats my whole point. Most of America focuses on crap that doesn't matter. 30,000 die annually in car accidents but we don't care. Thousands of soldiers killed and deformed overseas but we don't care. But two former NFL players commit suicide and a few dozen with early onset dementia makes us question if we should allow the sport to continue.

 

[ICHawk24]

One other example of cognitive dissonance: steroids are ruining baseball but more or less ignored in football.

 

[hogeye]

Thats my whole point. Most of America focuses on crap that doesn't matter. 30,000 die annually in car accidents but we don't care. Thousands of soldiers killed and deformed overseas but we don't care. But two former NFL players commit suicide and a few dozen with early onset dementia makes us question if we should allow the sport to continue.

That's not my point though...my point is that I don't think as many people care about the NFL concussion thing as what you believe in comparison to other issues.

The media cares, and specifically the sports media, but this is clogging up a whole lot of time or interest outside of the sports world.

In general, I agree that most of America isn't tuned into what matters...our politics is demonstrative of this. Go ask 5 people today who their elected representatives are at the local, state and federal level and you aren't likely to find one that can name them all.

 

[storminspank]

People die because of their jobs all the time.

Think about the percentage of firemen or police officers that are killed every year.

I agree it's an issue with concussions, but these guys know what they are getting into, as to other people in their jobs. There are risks with everything.

 

[Billso]

Concern?? You want concern? Get a fricken job at Quaker Oats and be concerned about feeding your family! Be concerned about whether you are going to get laid off? Be concerned about breathing in corn dust and getting lung cancer?

Puh-lease!!!! Anyone making millions to play a game should not be looking for sympathy. Sympathy is in the Dictionary, between syphillis and suicide. Puh-lease!!

Your concern for other people is noted.

The average career length for a player who is on his club’s opening-day roster as a rookie is 6.0 years* The median salary is $770,000. So a typical player will make $4.6 million in 6 years, roughly $3.2 million after taxes. Unless they are very talented or skilled in another field, their earning power drops dramatically after retirement. A unionized police officer, longshoreman or city administrator may thus earn more than a typical NFL player in the full course of their lives - and this is not a criticism of unions.

And remember that former players currently in their 50's or 60's earned far less, and many of them are enduring serious medical issues now caused directly by their profession but not covered by prior agreements.

*the frequently-cited 3.5 yr figure is misleading, see NFL Communications - What is average NFL player

 

[Billso]

People die because of their jobs all the time.

Think about the percentage of firemen or police officers that are killed every year.

I agree it's an issue with concussions, but these guys know what they are getting into, as to other people in their jobs. There are risks with everything.

There are risks with everything, but police and firemen are relatively far down the list. Fishing, logging, aircraft, farming, ranching, mining,roofing and even truck driving are more dangerous than police work. Firemen aren't in the top 10. http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0009.pdf

 

[austinhawk]

Your concern for other people is noted.

The average career length for a player who is on his club’s opening-day roster as a rookie is 6.0 years* The median salary is $770,000. So a typical player will make $4.6 million in 6 years, roughly $3.2 million after taxes. Unless they are very talented or skilled in another field, their earning power drops dramatically after retirement. A unionized police officer, longshoreman or city administrator may thus earn more than a typical NFL player in the full course of their lives - and this is not a criticism of unions.

And remember that former players currently in their 50's or 60's earned far less, and many of them are enduring serious medical issues now caused directly by their profession but not covered by prior agreements.



Your math is fuzzy!! A cop would have to make 100,000 a year for 30 years and have NO taxes taken out to equal 3 million.

*the frequently-cited 3.5 yr figure is misleading, see NFL Communications - What is average NFL player

 

[Billso]

A cop would have to make 100,000 a year for 30 years and have NO taxes taken out to equal 3 million.

Just 30 years? Retire at 55?

Also, over 500 City of Seattle employees made over $150,000 in 2009 (not counting benefits), mostly not managers but ordinary dispatchers, cops, firemen, electricians and lineworkers. 2009 City of Seattle Employees List (Includes Gross Pay) A 35- or 40-year career easily gets you to $3 million after taxes.

And of course most older NFL players made nowhere near that $3 million.

 

[austinhawk]

Just 30 years? Retire at 55?

Also, over 500 City of Seattle employees made over $150,000 in 2009 (not counting benefits), mostly not managers but ordinary dispatchers, cops, firemen, electricians and lineworkers. 2009 City of Seattle Employees List (Includes Gross Pay) A 35- or 40-year career easily gets you to $3 million after taxes.

And of course most older NFL players made nowhere near that $3 million.

We should all move to Seattle!!!!! (I bet the tax base in Detroit isn't what it used to be) I'd like to see how many Detroit City workers make $150,000 a year. Stick to football Reily!!!!

 

[atomicblue224]

no thanks i love iowa . i`m here to stay