Retired NFL players have health issues
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by user Simms1156
Retired NFL players are furious over the "lack" of money they are being given for pension and health benefits after their retirement. One of the lead players advocates is Mike Ditka who has been the most outwardly unhappy with the NFL.
I am one person who disagrees with Ditka and the former players of the NFL. Yes it is evident that the players are in horrible shape after their playing careers due to crippling injuries and yea the NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry that could afford to give more money to former players but to me that is thier decision. Its not like the NFL doesnt give retired players a hefty sum of money they have a large fund set aside for former players and are not afraid to give them plenty of money.
I have two main problems with the former players complaints 1. You played in the NFL, you knew going in that it is a dangerous profession and you could get seriously hurt playing. If you dont want to have deabilitating injuries after your playing days than dont play. Injuries happen get over it.
2. You played in the NFL which means you made money. Yeah they played in a different era when multimillion dollar contracts were not yet in fashion but they still made plenty of money and it is up to them to manage your money. If you were a player you should have thought more about the money that you spend and make sure you have a secure backup plan after football i.e. Troy Vincent. Brian Demarco is a lead advocate for the players along with Ditka. When watching Demarco walk it is clear that he has been crippled by injuries that he sustained while in the NFL I have as big of a problem with him as anybody, he was a second round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 which means he got a very good payday for just his rookie contract.
The following quote is from ESPN
A prominent ex-Jaguars player told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that he and another former teammate "cringed" when they saw DeMarco appear at Monday's press conference. The ex-Jaguar did not want to be identified but said DeMarco has been given significant financial help by his former teammates, including three jobs "that he's blown."
"Now he's walking with a cane in front of cameras," the ex-Jaguar said. "Last time we saw him -- and it was in the past two weeks -- he didn't need a cane. He has some physical problems, yes, but there are other things going on there."
My last statement is that I feel worse for a person who has never been given a fair shake in life than for a former NFL player who has cost themselves their own money and caused themselves problems by not having a fallback career to pay the bill after their playing career is over.
