elScroggins t1_j7takqb wrote on February 9, 2023 at 6:23 AM

Reply to comment by AngieGreg in How the NFL avoids paying disabled players — with the union’s help by washingtonpost

I’ve known a few guys who played in the league for a time. Their experience made me realize just how many players enter and exit the NFL within 3-5 years… And just how few make a career out of playing, ultimately departing the league after a short time with limited career options.

Given the real cost of medical care, the ~$2m they take home in five years (or less, after taxes, agent fee, etc.), is really underwhelming if any significant portion goes to their own healthcare. Plus, as others have mentioned, these young athletes are typically not known for their disciplined saving and frugal lifestyle.

Lastly, because every player exits the league with some degree of CTE, medical attention to it’s effects shouldn’t be based on a claim to be approved or denied. It should be a guaranteed right long after retirement.

We’ve all seen the physics behind a single NFL hit. There is no morally justifiable way to pretend these athletes are not going to experience trauma while on the job. Permanent access to care should be part of their contract, and should protect them even after they stop working in such a dangerous field.

AngieGreg t1_j7uv9q4 wrote on February 9, 2023 at 4:05 PM

With respects to your comments, you have to understand that there is a measure of Voluntary Participation when it comes to being a Professional Athlete of any distinction. Being a Professional Athlete is not the same as being a Fire Fighter or a Police Officer. While both have inherent possibilities for injury, by signing up to be a Fire Fighter or Police Officer you are accepting the very high possibility that you may become injured, but that is a JOB. However, there are many Professional Athletes that don't get injured at all. With the advent of the public knowledge of the possibility of CTE for NFL Athletes, it has been exacerbated by the ongoing perception that EVERY NFL Player has CTE when they retire. That perception is incorrect and is grossly misrepresented by public perception.

What the public should think of a Professional Athlete should be the same as an Independent Contractor, who is on a limited contract with a particular company. In so doing, the responsibility to manage and cover your Capital, Assets, Retirement, Taxes, & Healthcare are solely the responsibility of the individual's in question. As much as it would be cool for the Owners of the NFL to provide Life-Long Healthcare for the retired players, BUT one cannot overlook the weight of the Responsibility of caring for your own Money, Assets, Taxes, & Healthcare yourself prior to getting to the necessity for the NFL to pay for your healthcare in the first place.

elScroggins t1_j7wcnew wrote on February 9, 2023 at 9:35 PM

It is a fair argument to say that professional athletes should not be entitled to long term care by the league or their teams. I disagree, personally, but it is a legitimate argument to make.

From my personal experience however, I believe you underestimate the level of injuries sustained by professional athletes in the NFL. I played in college, and by that time, most football players have been in the game for over 10 years. The amount of time spent in physical therapy, especially toward the end of the season, is often equal to time spent on the field in practice. These guys leave the trainer with sometimes 10 ice bags attached, and they cant even buy a beer yet. I believe it is completely accurate to say that with the very rare exception every player leaves the sport with some level of CTE. Again, this is only my personal observation, but I count myself among those who have been concussed countless times while playing football.

Lastly, I don’t fully agree that first responders is an apples-to-apples comparison. The NFL and its franchises are massively profitable. For the players, this was often their only shot at leaving a tough upbringing, whereas team owners were frequently wealthy to a degree. They are certainly making a huge profit compared to even their biggest players, and all without potential body harm.

Individual contractors are not courted out of high school with dreams of grandor, nor are they made into celebrities. Athletes are not pushed to study finance, they are pushed to get stronger and faster. Their well being beyond their skill on the field is not of concern to the franchises who benefit from their effort - and this is where i find a moral disconnect.

The right thing to do would be to protect their health during and after their time in the NFL.

AngieGreg t1_j7wexso wrote on February 9, 2023 at 9:49 PM

Once again you have some very solid points.

However, luckily we both played Football for a significant period of time. That is why our perspectives are somewhat similar, even though we don't agree with each other 100%. I do not subscribe that CTE is a blanket issue around the entire NFL. High impact situations are apart of the sport, and they are now tackling in a manner that is SO WRONG that when they do impact with their heads naturally, their neck strength is so poor that a concussion is the end result, but that's an entirely different discussion.

I see we will likely not agree on that issue, but at least we are somewhat closer on the perspective that Professional Athletes are Independent Contractors, and should approach their careers accordingly.

Thank you for taking the time to discuss this matter in detail, and sharing your opinion intelligently. It was great meeting you, and I wish you all the best in All that you do, and shall the Sun shine on you and your Family for an eternity.

God Bless.

elScroggins t1_j7wgl3t wrote on February 9, 2023 at 10:00 PM

Good game, my friend! May your beers be ice cold this Sunday. Cheers.