Byron Jones May or May Not Be Retiring

[RonnieT24]

I just looked up Jones' injury history and there is nothing on it that would lead me to believe it will afflict him for life. The ankle thing he has been dealing with these last couple of years appears to be the one that eventually led him to say "No mas." And while that ankle might predict the weather for him for the rest of his life I don't think it will be something that forces him to walk with a cane or be in a wheelchair... I think he got it cleaned up and it should be fine going forward. But I don't blame him for not wanting to risk exacerbating that injury to the point that it DID turn into walking with a limp for the rest of his life. Best wishes to the young man. If you ever heard him speak you would expect him to be a senator at some point in the future. Very polished and well spoken young man. Who clearly seems to be pretty wise as well.

 

[Jipper]

I think the "No amount of chronic pain" for financial gain part rubs people the wrong way.

Everyone knows the risks of playing football. He made millions for his "sacrifice".

Average Joe gets same chronic injuries from working an assembly line or trade and doesn't have a fraction to show for it.

Spot on, it's the perceived disparity in financial trade that people see in their own situation vs his.

I hate to say it but everyone has a dollar number they would give up some component of mobility aka not being able to run or having a bad knee...what that number is however is debatable.


But there is always a number

 

[Jipper]

I just looked up Jones' injury history and there is nothing on it that would lead me to believe it will afflict him for life. The ankle thing he has been dealing with these last couple of years appears to be the one that eventually led him to say "No mas." And while that ankle might predict the weather for him for the rest of his life I don't think it will be something that forces him to walk with a cane or be in a wheelchair... I think he got it cleaned up and it should be fine going forward. But I don't blame him for not wanting to risk exacerbating that injury to the point that it DID turn into walking with a limp for the rest of his life. Best wishes to the young man. If you ever heard him speak you would expect him to be a senator at some point in the future. Very polished and well spoken young man. Who clearly seems to be pretty wise as well.

Agree best wishes to him and always liked him as well

 

[America's Cowboy]

It's no different than putting your body and life on the line of duty, only to suffer a lifelong debilitating injury(ies) and being given toxic meds to only hide the pain instead of fixing you correctly. The El Cheapo "treatment". They don't care about your longterm health. Just patch you up and get you back out on the field to do their dirty work. At the end of the day, you're just a number.

 

[ShortRound]

I hope he got his money, that sucks.

 

[ThatJerryKid]

Why the sideswipe response? I didn't see any semblance of his asking for anything. He simply said good bye and gave the reasons why. Thankfully being a world class athlete earned him enough money that he's not going have to go work some crappy job the rest of his life. Since he always struck me as a very intelligent young man I am fairly confident that most of the money he earned in his career is still in his bank account. Dude will be fine. May he live long and prosper.

I like Byron but don’t feel sorry for him. I make a good living and get paid very well, but part of the sacrifice that I make is long hours and stress. If I have a nervous breakdown in my fifties or sixties, don’t feel sorry for me. I chose my path for the financial gain. I could drive forklift for $30,000 per year with no stress if I wanted that lifestyle.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Watch North Dallas 40 and you get a good idea of what goes on behind the lights.......
No parent should allow their kids to play this game on any level.

 

[J12B]

I like Byron but don’t feel sorry for him. I make a good living and get paid very well, but part of the sacrifice that I make is long hours and stress. If I have a nervous breakdown in my fifties or sixties, don’t feel sorry for me. I chose my path for the financial gain. I could drive forklift for $30,000 per year with no stress if I wanted that lifestyle.

Yup. Always a trade off. Always a cost.

That's life.

 

[ESisback]

Players sure are waking up to the toll their bodies take in football and more and more are retiring earlier.

Yeah, especially the ones making guaranteed money. Hell, a four year contract can make a guy rich for life.

 

[dogunwo]

Then get a job and work 40+ hours per week for 40 years making $25 an hour like millions and millions of Americans. I don’t know what to tell ya Byron. You chose your path.

He's clearly owning his choice. Stop pocket watching athletes. You sound like a jealous hater.

 

[exciter]

Spiral snap of my right tibia and fibula left leg (fairly close to Dak break, except 6” above ankle), torn meniscus left leg, broken ankle right ankle. All working as an employee for the State of Louisiana. Not exactly feeling sorry for him… he want to trade pensions lol!

 

[ThatJerryKid]

He's clearly owning his choice. Stop pocket watching athletes. You sound like a jealous hater.

Wrong but you can think whatever you want.

 

[3rdEyewarrior]

Man sounds like his body quit on him.

He was a phenomenal athlete and in top shape too.

Enjoy retirement Byron, hope you get your body back right.

He seems like he’ll do something greater than football..

 

[dogunwo]

I think the "No amount of chronic pain" for financial gain part rubs people the wrong way.

Everyone knows the risks of playing football. He made millions for his "sacrifice".

Average Joe gets same chronic injuries from working an assembly line or trade and doesn't have a fraction to show for it.

I think smart people pick up that he is describing a lesson he learned, not complaining and saying he was completely blind sided

 

[Rayman70]

I think the "No amount of chronic pain" for financial gain part rubs people the wrong way.

Everyone knows the risks of playing football. He made millions for his "sacrifice".

Average Joe gets same chronic injuries from working an assembly line or trade and doesn't have a fraction to show for it.

your last sentence is me. Nailed it. We live day to day, check to check...a meager means. Byron means well but ,may need a bit more perspective. I still admire him for saying it. The game aint for everyone. He had a choice and he made it.

 

[Rayman70]

I think smart people pick up that he is describing a lesson he learned, not complaining and saying he was completely blind sided

this^. I agree. I think he meant nuthin by it. Was just speaking for himself and I admire that.

 

[jwitten82]

I think smart people pick up that he is describing a lesson he learned, not complaining and saying he was completely blind sided

Well he kinda did say he was blind sided, he said playing in the NFL came at a regrettable cost he could not foresee ..really? You couldn't see 200 plus pound men slamming into each other at full speed could lead to long term ailments? It's ridiculous, he made that choice, he doesn't need to act like it's a surprise

 

[Rayman70]

Watch North Dallas 40 and you get a good idea of what goes on behind the lights.......
No parent should allow their kids to play this game on any level.

thats a great int. The movie is legit. Back during that time especially. Just the way it was back then. I imagine its similar still.Just look at guys like Earl Campbell..the guy can barely walk. I think after Zeke retires he will be the same. He has taken a beating. Tony Dorsett had a major leg injury in like 1987-88 in Denver and he was never the same and retired. Thats why signing Pollard scares me. With backs, u cant play if u lose your legs and burst.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Didn’t see this coming, good luck to him and his future.

He also has some good advice for future players.

 

[Nova]

I think the "No amount of chronic pain" for financial gain part rubs people the wrong way.

Everyone knows the risks of playing football. He made millions for his "sacrifice".

Average Joe gets same chronic injuries from working an assembly line or trade and doesn't have a fraction to show for it.

Yeah it's going to upset some people, but I get it.

Everyone is different and dealt different circumstance and values different things.

Byron values his health over money, which honestly is not that crazy. I fall into that category nowadays.

That said, somewhere in a Parallel universe Byron Jones, Economics Professor might be regretting not declaring for the NFL Draft.