Thanks.
My first ex-linebacker friend mentioned above, Jack, made what a good insurance salesman would make while he played football. Better than an entry level job at that same insurance agency with his degree would have got him, and he loved the game. He had a leg-up, but he still had to make a living when he left the game in the mid-1950's.
Joe, the linebacker who played for the Bills, played in the modern era for a few seasons but never with that "big" contract, and came back to his home area in Montana with enough to invest wisely and live out another dream.
Then you read of guys making more in a year than Joe did in a career and going broke shortly after they lave the game. One thing I appreciated about Jeff Fischer was the fact that he did his best to teach his rookie players how to manage their money. Some of these you men are not culturally equipped, shall we say, to imagine - much less manage wisely - their new-found wealth. Once taught, they had choices to make.
Then you read LADoc's post above. What he told himself, without a father's guidance (but presumably a strong mother's and a group of male family and friends), seems to be about what I would - and did - in other circumstances, tell my sons, and would, in answer to JY53's question, tell my son if he were a promising young running back:
Character and integrity count, know the options and make wise choices going in - and to the end, insofar a it is up to you, give it your best shot and honor your word.
I hear no echoes of the above in the divisive, pious drivel of Mike Florio. I hope the players do not listen to him!
Working constructively, building and using public opinion for leverage,to restructure how first contracts are written will take time - but might make long-term progress. Rule changes to redefine safe tackling would no doubt open up the game to longer runs, more scoring, and elevate the RB position's importance. Over time, you'd see these players pull down more coin.
That said, to the extent that the running backs play victim, scream "No fair!" because they're only making $8 - $10 million a year when others make over $25, or go back on their signed contractual word demanding more money, they'll be shooting themselves in the foot with a loud bang.
