Thanks For Playing
The NFL is a gi-normous (tell Webster’s I made it up) business. I always knew that once you made big money in the league, the team owners, through their cap managers, were trying to figure out how to justify paying a guy 7 million dollars a year (by winning) or how to get that money back from him (by making him a cap casualty, eventually cutting him and not paying him). So it was no surprise to me what I was facing when I had my deposition for my worker’s compensation case against my former teams just a couple of days ago.
Imagine sitting in a room with nothing but lawyers. For two hours I talked about a wide range of personal matters such as “Do you like to dance?”, “Do you have stairs in your house?”, “Do you drink alcohol?”. These questions sound more pertinent if I were meeting a lady from Match.com, not questions from some billion dollar owner, connected to a multi-billion dollar league and industry. The deposition was to take my side of the story in regards to all the injuries I have incurred– how many practices and games I missed, and the physical, mental, emotional, neurological, etc. issues I have faced. (not to mention ones I am currently facing, or will face in the future) What comes from this meeting is a lump sum payment (nothing in comparison to what you made while playing the game) or insurance benefits, which can include lifetime medical coverage, which is huge! You don’t have to imagine much to know we are not on insurance carrier’s wish list once we retire from the game. (Would you insure a salvaged, beat up hooptie?)
For ten years of service and four surgeries, which include my back ( I may need that in life, you think?) my abdominal wall (aha…that’s why I don’t have a six pack), my shoulder (I never could do the dance “raise the roof”), and foot (see….there’s a reason for that pimp walk), you would think the process would be smoother and much more compassionate.
Oh no, never that! So after four combined grueling hours (even the court reporter was agitated and was pressing those buttons pretty hard), I felt I had told everyone in the room of every band aid I had ever used, how many sips of Nyquil I had the night before a game because those ambien pills just stopped working, and how many anti-biotic/pain-killing shots I took in the butt cheeks just to make 80,000 scream on Sundays while depositing thousands on Tuesday’s into Bank of America.
Was it worth it? I don’t know that answer right now. Of course, I would say yes in this moment, while I compare my football career to my second career choices coming out of college. But I was gruesomely reminded in that law office that true payback is still awaiting me, financially and physically!
In the slightest form, I was treated eerily similar to how I imagine war vets are treated in this country. Thanks for your service…here’s your flag (and in my case trophies), and now beat it buddy! On to the next bull in the herd! Mike Ditka is right, we need to take better care of the retired legends of the game. But, who am I to complain? I ran, jumped, soared at the highest level of athletics for ten years…so, who cares if I can walk in ten!
-Dat Dude
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TIME 2 WRITE THE MOVIE AFTER THE GAME. FOLLYWOOD/ FOOTBALL IS HOLLYWOOD.
It’s funny how the league still has not figured out that retired players are not dead players. If you were a race horse with those injuries you would have been shot, instead of being put to pasture to live a good life of eating hay.
Great post. Retired athletes and war vets…that’s a very interesting analogy. It’s crazy because insurance companies get an attitude when it’s time for them to fork up the money…Um, isn’t that what you’re here for? It has never made sense to me.
‘Cell . . . if you saw the special of “The Greatest Game Ever Played” a few days past you
heard the joy and pride of the former players as they were able paint vivid pictures and give insight into the game to the viewers and to the modern day players partnered on the set with them. . . inevitably the question of compensation and payment was discussed. . . a (gi-normous)financial difference for the past legends compared to modern day warriors’ pay checks. . . current role players and bench jockeys are banking a hefty some of health costs and insurance payouts that the legends of the game could have received for their services (and future ailments) and so will those to follow current heroes, as the owners continue to throw guaranteed market millions at unproven NFL talent and potential… ‘ol coach Erv
Insurance companies want you perfectly healthy or perfectly dead. Anything else is bad for their bottom line. They have very smart people who work hard to find ways to screw you and me.
Does anyone wonder why Barry Sanders walked away while he could still walk? Every player gets used up and tossed aside in Football, from Joe Cool all the way down to Mike Utley. The only difference is in the fanfare along the way. As always, the true trick is in getting the right info to the right people, and have them act in time. Players (today) need to think of their future income and health, trainers need to consider long term effects over short term solutions, and owners, the NFL and the NFLPA need to pull their heads out on this one. Turning your back on people that sacrifice their bodies for your enjoyment and profit is morally reprehensible. Period.
tired of hearing athletes complain. you guys need to watch out for your own asses like the rest of us. what do you think happens to everyone else when their careers are over.you have to plan for your retirement.maybe if you guys wouldnt roid up your bodys wouldnt be so screwed up. you reap what you sew my friends.
I really do understand the immense physical pounding a professional NFL player takes. Going into every game knowing you have to push yourself harder than the next to keep your job. Hurt, take a pill, a shot, just suck it up and play.
But as we all know, you are a person and make your own decisions. Do as have any sympathy for you or any other NFL player; not an ounce. You make anywhere from 2-30 times what the average American makes in a lifetime.
We all have to deal with age, injuries, and life. You make your own decisions and have no problem flaunting the fact that you played in the NFL.
One thing you should highly consider. Retract your statement about comparing your situation to being a war vet. In fact, pass the word to all and any sports figures. Playing a game is not war and will never even come close to comparing to it.
I am a soldier, it is going to be a war, etc. I have never met or heard of any athlete who gets carted off the field missing a limb or in a body bag. Grow up and show some respect for those who have been in that situation.
You know what I do not feel sorry for you or any other NFL player that complains about injuries and life after the NFL. Players in the NFL make millions of $$$$$$$ to play a game.. Take they money and invest it. Do not go out and waste it all.
Marcellus Wiley You played One year with the cowboys and cashed in a $4.5 million signing bonus and other incentives. THAT is one year of service. Most people will not make that in a lifetime of working. This is 1 out 10 years you played. Lets just assume you made, at a minimum, another $5.5, which is a total of $10 Million, also lets assume you made $10 Million after taxes. (Again this is assuming, I am sure you made WAY more than that)
You cannot tell me that $10 Millions is not more than enough to pay for whatever medical issues you have.. Let’s just say you never played in the NFL.. Say you finished college, with a degree, and made $100k a year in ten years you made $1 Million before taxes so about $600k after taxes.. But you have your health…
You tell us which you would rather have. I bet you would take the money.. They ONLY thing I can agree on is there should be some sort of insurance for retired athletes but at the same time you as an athlete should be responsible for the insurance cost whether it be $200 or $2000 a month..
You knew they drain the NFL would have on your body. You knew each game would hurt a little more…
Recently you were quoted, about playing for the Cowboys, that you did not have anything left in the tank and you still took a 4 year deal for $16!!!! WOW I wish I could go up to my boss and say “Hey I just do not have anything left in me for the next 4 years but I will take the money!” You basically are calling Jerry Jones a sucker..
I am also all for you making your money while you can but do not come back and try suing team owners and the NFL because you do not know how to invest or save your money.
QUIT buying $5 Million homes, and $250k cars. You do not need an entourage or the $5K suites. You went to college so I am sure you learned something. Again we are assuming you made $10 Million over your career. Logic tells you that maybe you can afford a $500k home and still be able to afford the yearly taxes on this home for the rest of your life. Logic tells you that maybe you can afford One Car that cost at most $250K not 8 of them!
Open a business. You should know your career is not going to last 30 years so make sure the MONEY Does!
As a football fan I have mixed feelings about the way players are treated by the NFL, the owners, and the fans. I am grateful that there is a sport out there that I enjoy. And, I am thrilled that these players put their bodies on the line to entertain fans. However, I have been most disturbed this year by some of the overkill on the field by some teams such as the Steelers; current AFC Champions. I have seen more illegal hits, helmet to helmet w/ no penalties by this team. Ryan Clark is one player that I’m hoping ends his career in a wheelchair for his extreme hits trying to impress and make a name for his self in the NFL. He is doing more damage to hisself than to others he hits. That’s why he has headaches after every game dumb dumb. For these type of players I donot have sympathy. If a player cannot get up on his own after a hit by another player, D-lineman than that lineman should be fined game checks. All you have to do is look at the top of his helmet for all the marks. That is proof he his leading with his head. So, in short I agree w/ Marcellus that the game owes them something in return for the simple fact that they incourage this behavior which leads to lifelong injuries and health problems. They can fine a player for delaying a game by celebrating a touch down, but will not fine players for nearly stopping a player from walking. Shame NFL.
It’s easy to take the other side and chastise retired NFL players for their complaints about injuries and the treatment they receive from their former employers, but I empathize with your situation Marcellus. However, I must note that you seem to have a good thing going with this website (as a co-founder) and I’m sure you’ve got plenty saved up that this insurance thing shouldn’t be too hard of a hit.
The main reason I sympathize is because most NFL players are not so fortunate and don’t have the education that you had from Columbia to understand how to deal with their money. Like one of the above poster’s mentioned, they waste it on cars, houses, and other ridiculously expensive things. When they retire they’re lucky to have a mill or two in the bank and with no education and extremely expensive tastes this won’t nearly cover their medical costs for the rest of their lives. The NFL does need to address this and take care of their retirees, after all the players are their product!
What is it with men (and sometimes women) and leather balls???
We love you athletes and have always wondered how you continue to play with injuries. We cheer you because you have the driving force and agility like no other, and you also love us as supporters and fans. However, what would we would like to see is a little more caution in your actions off the playing field and court. The illegal actions that some athletes commit, sometimes with no regard to their consequences is horrid. Please remember the legal term Stare Decisis and it’s use with current and future case rulings and also remember to take the best care of yourselves, no matter what you are being paid and who is paying you.
As the cousin of a currently retired professional football player, your former teammate Larry C. Allen, and in meeting you Marcellus, I must state that we love you all and that we are calling on you guys to continue to inspire us even with your injuries in all that we do, especially in this economy, so pass the multi-million dollar opportunities to be paid since you are not passing that leather ball on the playing field anymore!!!!!!!
God Bless You, and God Bless Larry C. Allen!!!!!!!
*** From Someone Who Has Worked As A Multi-Million Dollar Mergers & Acquisitions Consultant Who Is Now Working On Some Billion Dollar Projects ***