The new NFL superstar career

[erod]

'Twas a time when NFL players were about playing until they couldn't play anymore. Rack enough enough money, stats, and years in the league to plant their flag firmly in the league's history.

Not anymore. Today, the typical NFL career consists of two parts.

First, get drafted as highly as possible and play their tails off to create as much value and leverage as they can. Then, get that first massive payday, and BOOM, they're set for life already. Just play out that string in virtual cruise control until the bonus is covered, and it's off into the sunset.

Doug Baldwin. Joe Thomas. Calvin Johnson. Chris Borland. Even Andrew Luck recently. Rumors are that JJ Watt is about to hang it up. Jaylon Smith seems to already be looking forward to his post-career business interests. It's going viral.

That's the new and increasing goal of a very high percentage of players. Play for 6-7 years, and get out rich and healthy. It's not about success or records or accomplishment anymore. It's about the biggest pile of money as soon as possible, and finding an exit door.

So, should teams start to think twice about these big contracts? The Rams regret the Gurley deal. The Cardinals are getting little return out of the David Johnson deal. The league is full of heavy contracts that didn't pan out well for teams that wish they had a do-over.

So why pay anybody unless it's a quarterback? If some players are locking it down after they get that big signing bonus, then why owners commit to big contracts going forward?

If this trend continues, it could hurt players in the future. Teams may become much more gun-shy about these types of deals, and choose to just draft and release players at the end of their rookie deals as a policy. That means less money for players after that initial deal if teams are balking at big veteran contracts in the future.

How would Amari Cooper handle a massive pile of money? How will Zeke handle it? Jaylon and Leighton Vander Esch? Will Lawrence play with the same abandon now that he's rolling in dough?

Have these massive contracts killed the drive and desire for players in such a physically taxing game?

The days of the NFL lifers may be coming to an end. Records set by Emmitt, Rice, Strahan.....those are probably safe forever as players choose to play half as long as the greats did.

The new NFL career is upon us.

 

[SDCowboy]

I don't blame them. As soon as I had enough money to never have to work again, I'd retire that season, too.

And yeah, the huge contracts today are a big part of it. It's no longer a career, but a payday. Why play the game one second longer than you have to?

 

[blueblood70]

'Twas a time when NFL players were about playing until they couldn't play anymore. Rack enough enough money, stats, and years in the league to plant their flag firmly in the league's history.

Not anymore. Today, the typical NFL career consists of two parts.

First, get drafted as highly as possible and play their tails off to create as much value and leverage as they can. Then, get that first massive payday, and BOOM, they're set for life already. Just play out that string in virtual cruise control until the bonus is covered, and it's off into the sunset.

Doug Baldwin. Joe Thomas. Calvin Johnson. Chris Borland. Even Andrew Luck recently. Rumors are that JJ Watt is about to hang it up. Jaylon Smith seems to already be looking forward to his post-career business interests. It's going viral.

That's the new and increasing goal of a very high percentage of players. Play for 6-7 years, and get out rich and healthy. It's not about success or records or accomplishment anymore. It's about the biggest pile of money as soon as possible, and finding an exit door.

So, should teams start to think twice about these big contracts? The Rams regret the Gurley deal. The Cardinals are getting little return out of the David Johnson deal. The league is full of heavy contracts that didn't pan out well for teams that wish they had a do-over.

So why pay anybody unless it's a quarterback? If some players are locking it down after they get that big signing bonus, then why owners commit to big contracts going forward?

If this trend continues, it could hurt players in the future. Teams may become much more gun-shy about these types of deals, and choose to just draft and release players at the end of their rookie deals as a policy. That means less money for players after that initial deal if teams are balking at big veteran contracts in the future.

How would Amari Cooper handle a massive pile of money? How will Zeke handle it? Jaylon and Leighton Vander Esch? Will Lawrence play with the same abandon now that he's rolling in dough?

Have these massive contracts killed the drive and desire for players in such a physically taxing game?

The days of the NFL lifers may be coming to an end. Records set by Emmitt, Rice, Strahan.....those are probably safe forever as players choose to play half as long as the greats did.

The new NFL career is upon us.

Nothings changed except big money.. most average NFL careers were already 5-7 years thats long career in the nfl..those that stayed around longer have special makeup, a gene the other did not have..

Barry Sanders and Jim Brown completely different eras and money didnt come into it , did it?

we all act like this is new.. sure the bigger money makes it an easier decision but players dont truly play that long , its the NFL like I said avg Career "for most" players 5-7 years

those that make it past that are a special breed....Guys LIke Emmitt, Farve, Brady, Brees, Manning etc they loved football too much to let it go, it was in their DNA..the other loved it but not in the depths of their bones..

 

[erod]

I don't blame them. As soon as I had enough money to never have to work again, I'd retire that season, too.

And yeah, the huge contracts today are a big part of it. It's no longer a career, but a payday. Why play the game one second longer than you have to?

OK, then why would an owner EVER pay those contracts again unless it's a QB? There's no value there.

Just draft guys to replace them over and over. Rookie deals only on the roster. Period.

 

[OmerV]

That's what the big money does. And as much as I miss the old days, I can't honestly say I blame players. Football takes a toll on the body, and the reality is that it isn't just a game, it's their job, and most people like the idea of being able to retire early. Why wouldn't that also apply to football players?

 

[shabazz]

I don't blame them. As soon as I had enough money to never have to work again, I'd retire that season, too.

And yeah, the huge contracts today are a big part of it. It's no longer a career, but a payday. Why play the game one second longer than you have to?

Jerry Rice can explain that one. Pride and Contributing to a cause greater than ones self.

 

[erod]

Nothings changed except big money.. most average NFL careers were already 5-7 years thats long career in the nfl..those that stayed around longer have special makeup, a gene the other did not have..

Barry Sanders and Jim Brown completely different eras and money didnt come into it , did it?

we all act like this is new.. sure the bigger money makes it an easier decision but players dont truly play that long , its the NFL like I said avg Career "for most" players 5-7 years

those that make it past that are a special breed....Guys LIke Emmitt, Farve, Brady, Brees, Manning etc they loved football too much to let it go, it was in their DNA..the other loved it but not in the depths of their bones..

5-7 years wasn't the average for above average starters. Go back to those early 90s teams and look how long the starters played. It was much longer than that.

Barry Sanders retired early, but he still played 10 years.

 

[erod]

That's what the big money does. And as much as I miss the old days, I can't honestly say I blame players. Football takes a toll on the body, and the reality is that it isn't just a game, it's their job, and most people like the idea of being able to retire early. Why wouldn't that also apply to football players?

OK, so I ask again, why would you pay a player big money if he just becomes immediately comfortable and starts planning his exit?

Why pay a player that loses his fire the minute that bonus hits his account?

 

[OmerV]

OK, so I ask again, why would you pay a player big money if he just becomes immediately comfortable and starts planning his exit?

Why pay a player that loses his fire the minute that bonus hits his account?

The obvious answer to that is a team doesn't know in advance who will retire early and who won't. For now Andrew Luck is still the minority, and you can't judge all players by that standard.

 

[erod]

The obvious answer to that is a team doesn't know in advance who will retire early and who won't. For now Andrew Luck is still the minority, and you can't judge all players by that standard.

Most of these big contracts are not panning out well for teams. They regret it.

 

[CATCH17]

Football is like fighting.. It's hard to do once you're rich.


The thing about football is a lot of these big guys like Olineman and Defenders in the front 7 do not have a fun job. None of them like to practice and all they look forward to is game day.

Football is just not a fun sport to be apart of until you're on the field for a game.

 

[blueblood70]

5-7 years wasn't the average for above average starters. Go back to those early 90s teams and look how long the starters played. It was much longer than that.

Barry Sanders retired early, but he still played 10 years.

thats my point thats not retiring EARY BS retired in the fans eyes to early just because he was healthy and had the record in sight.. the AVERGE life of a NFL career is 5-7 years anything more then that is a bonus.. those that last 9 10,12yrs are the special ones who have special gene , a drive unlike the others..

BTW the teams have right to recoup Guaranteed bonus money if player retires, the colts said they will not do that..if they wanted they could get ton of that money back and now have cap room for other players to help offset the loss of said star..

 

[aikemirv]

My body hurts at 52 years old and I never played football in High School or College. I can't imagine what some of these guys feel like at 50 after playing 10-15 years in the NFL. Taking the money and cruising I have no respect for. Taking the money and playing well and working hard and then retiring at the end of that contract- nothing wrong with that at all. Even if you are 30 years old!

 

[slick325]

'Twas a time when NFL players were about playing until they couldn't play anymore. Rack enough enough money, stats, and years in the league to plant their flag firmly in the league's history.

Not anymore. Today, the typical NFL career consists of two parts.

First, get drafted as highly as possible and play their tails off to create as much value and leverage as they can. Then, get that first massive payday, and BOOM, they're set for life already. Just play out that string in virtual cruise control until the bonus is covered, and it's off into the sunset.

Doug Baldwin. Joe Thomas. Calvin Johnson. Chris Borland. Even Andrew Luck recently. Rumors are that JJ Watt is about to hang it up. Jaylon Smith seems to already be looking forward to his post-career business interests. It's going viral.

That's the new and increasing goal of a very high percentage of players. Play for 6-7 years, and get out rich and healthy. It's not about success or records or accomplishment anymore. It's about the biggest pile of money as soon as possible, and finding an exit door.

So, should teams start to think twice about these big contracts? The Rams regret the Gurley deal. The Cardinals are getting little return out of the David Johnson deal. The league is full of heavy contracts that didn't pan out well for teams that wish they had a do-over.

So why pay anybody unless it's a quarterback? If some players are locking it down after they get that big signing bonus, then why owners commit to big contracts going forward?

If this trend continues, it could hurt players in the future. Teams may become much more gun-shy about these types of deals, and choose to just draft and release players at the end of their rookie deals as a policy. That means less money for players after that initial deal if teams are balking at big veteran contracts in the future.

How would Amari Cooper handle a massive pile of money? How will Zeke handle it? Jaylon and Leighton Vander Esch? Will Lawrence play with the same abandon now that he's rolling in dough?

Have these massive contracts killed the drive and desire for players in such a physically taxing game?

The days of the NFL lifers may be coming to an end. Records set by Emmitt, Rice, Strahan.....those are probably safe forever as players choose to play half as long as the greats did.

The new NFL career is upon us.

Luckily the CBA requires teams to spend a certain percentage/amount on the roster each season. That way...owners won't attempt to be even more stingy with the coin.

 

[OmerV]

Most of these big contracts are not panning out well for teams. They regret it.

That's true in some cases but there are protections built in for the team in that the entire contract is not guaranteed and the team has the option to walk away at some point without paying the full contract.

 

[erod]

That's true in some cases but there are protections built in for the team in that the entire contract is not guaranteed and the team has the option to walk away at some point without paying the full contract.

Not much.

The contract is the contract. Ignore the fancy numbers. The huge signing bonus is guaranteed, as is a certain amount of the deal.

Zeke might sign a $65 million dollar contract on paper, but it's only guaranteed at $41 million. Therefore, it's a $41 million deal.

 

[SDCowboy]

Jerry Rice can explain that one. Pride and Contributing to a cause greater than ones self.

It's a different era. People largely don't care about that anymore. The game is nothing more than a job now, and once you don't have to do it anymore, many won't.

 

[OmerV]

Not much.

The contract is the contract. Ignore the fancy numbers. The huge signing bonus is guaranteed, as is a certain amount of the deal.

Zeke might sign a $65 million dollar contract on paper, but it's only guaranteed at $41 million. Therefore, it's a $41 million deal.

Sure the signing bonus is guaranteed, but teams pay that knowing the player may not play out the full contract, so obviously they factor that into their decisions. Teams aren't doing this mindlessly.

 

[erod]

thats my point thats not retiring EARY BS retired in the fans eyes to early just because he was healthy and had the record in sight.. the AVERGE life of a NFL career is 5-7 years anything more then that is a bonus.. those that last 9 10,12yrs are the special ones who have special gene , a drive unlike the others..

BTW the teams have right to recoup Guaranteed bonus money if player retires, the colts said they will not do that..if they wanted they could get ton of that money back and now have cap room for other players to help offset the loss of said star..

The point is....it's backwards now.

Kenny Gant and Dixon Edwards used to play 5-7 years and then didn't get another job offer. The star players played much longer unless they had a catastrophic injury because teams wanted them.

Now, the star players will be the ones to get that big deal and retire early. The lesser guys will be the ones to hang on as long as possible to piece together their money.

 

[cern]

most of the players initially named had sustained many injuries over their careers. by the time they're 40, certain body joints are 60. Charlie waters used to talk about how he would just fall down sometimes due to knee problems. this isn't just about money, it's about the physical pounding these guys take year after year.