Reed Doughty Facebook page - The owners have decided not to continue players health insurance past march 4.

[GoSkinsGo]

The problem is, the profession that they are in causes major long term health problems and a dramatically shorten lifespan, problems which linger on long after the six-figure salary has stopped.

If you had a job that paid you $450K over 3 years, but gave you a high risk of early onset Alzheimer's, wouldn't you want a better long term health care coverage? Why is that being greedy?

I don't think it's being greedy but I would think that to cover a lifetime of health benefits you would have to pay a fair amount of money out of your paycheck during your time employed. Would it be worth it to pay half of your paycheck to cover the remainder of your life?

[addicted]

The NFL league min. is 325k for 2010, I think I read somewhere that over 50% of the NFL players live paycheck to paycheck. Maybe they should do a tad better job managing their finances so that they wouldn't be SOL if they were out of work for one year. As Doug Williams once said "Live like your making 50k and save the rest".

That just makes too much sense to me to actually care or believe any of the bullspit from those players saying "they can't make it", if you can't figure out money management and your making 325k a year then your an idiot with more problems then I can actually imagine and I really feel sorry for you but not "I feel bad for you so here let me help you" sort of way. Anyone making that much money who can't figure out that they should save some of it doesn't deserve any sympathy

[The Tris]

1) Make sure when quoting NFL players salaries, you slash it in half.

2) Remember than unlike other major sports, there are no guarenteed contracts - and what that means for a sport where your career can end instantly.

3) And try not to ignore all the health problems that come from playing in the NFL - both immediate and long term.

[GoSkinsGo]

1) Make sure when quoting NFL players salaries, you slash it in half.

162k league min. save some.

2) Remember than unlike other major sports, there are no guaranteed contracts - and what that means for a sport where your career can end instantly.

Completely agree with this but guaranteed contracts can cripple a sports team, look at the NBA where expiring contracts are like gold to clear cap space. Again save money and for gods sake spend some time planning for life after your sport.

3) And try not to ignore all the health problems that come from playing in the NFL - both immediate and long term.

Again how much is fair to take out of their paycheck to cover a lifetime of medical care? 50% of the after tax? More? It isn't free and it's not their only career choice but it's probably the highest earning potential one.

[Popeman38]

1) Make sure when quoting NFL players salaries, you slash it in half.

2) Remember than unlike other major sports, there are no guarenteed contracts - and what that means for a sport where your career can end instantly.

3) And try not to ignore all the health problems that come from playing in the NFL - both immediate and long term.

So the league minimum is $162,500? Gee, wouldn't it be nice to make that! I make less than that and have a mortgage, a wife, and a kid. Living in Ashburn. The players can kiss my ass on this one. If I can do it, so can they.

[brdawk20]

The problem is, the profession that they are in causes major long term health problems and a dramatically shorten lifespan, problems which linger on long after the six-figure salary has stopped.

If you had a job that paid you $450K over 3 years, but gave you a high risk of early onset Alzheimer's, wouldn't you want a better long term health care coverage? Why is that being greedy?

No one forced them to take that job. You weigh the costs and benefits of every job. If they are so worried about things like health after football, maybe they shouldn't have taken that job.

Policemen have to deal with potential danger or death every day. Firemen have to deal with potential danger or death every day. Fishermen (the most dangerous job in America, BTW) deal with the same every day. All for much less money. They chose their jobs. People choose to play in the NFL. That's just the way it is. Sorry.

[Dirt]

2) Remember than unlike other major sports, there are no guarenteed contracts - and what that means for a sport where your career can end instantly.

Yea this really bugs me. Of all the sports, BASEBALL guarantees you practically everything. As if you're at serious risk to break your legs.

[addicted]

1) Make sure when quoting NFL players salaries, you slash it in half.

Why?

2) Remember than unlike other major sports, there are no guarenteed contracts - and what that means for a sport where your career can end instantly.

So what? The minimum for a single year is more then 5 years of working for the average employee. Not to mention almost all of these players were afforded the opportunity to get a college education and if they didn't take advantage of that shouldn't they blame themselves? And what about financial responsibility? In 2011 with all of the information out there your saying what? That these men still can't figure this out? I guess you want to give them your sympathy because you think they are just big dumb apes with nothing going for them huh?

3) And try not to ignore all the health problems that come from playing in the NFL - both immediate and long term.

Lots of physical jobs have these risks too, you think someone doing construction, working on an oil rig, working on a fishing boat, serving in the military or a member of the fire department or police force and other jobs don't also have these same concerns? Yet these jobs don't make a fraction of what an NFL player makes and your hearts bleeding for the guys who are making millions? And who held a gun to these men's heads forcing them to play this "dangerous" game? I don't get all of this because to me what's missing here is personal accountability.

[ConnSKINS26]

So the league minimum is $162,500? Gee, wouldn't it be nice to make that! I make less than that and have a mortgage, a wife, and a kid. Living in Ashburn. The players can kiss my ass on this one. If I can do it, so can they.

They have all of that, and play a sport that endangers their quality of life, as well as their potential lifespan, on top of it.

[addicted]

They have all of that, and play a sport that endangers their quality of life, as well as their potential lifespan, on top of it.

So your saying that the perks of the job they have doesn't make it worth it for them to do this or what? What do you say to the policeman walking a beat who brings in 25k a year who could get killed in the line of duty? Why would anyone think of having sympathy for these million dollar babies when we pass by teachers, policemen, firemen, electricans, bakers, etc every day and think nothing of them?

[GoSkinsGo]

They have all of that, and play a sport that endangers their quality of life, as well as their potential lifespan, on top of it.

I know it's a shame they got forced into that career path. It's a horrible set of circumstances that doesn't allow them to explore alternative employment solutions.

[ConnSKINS26]

So your saying that the perks of the job they have doesn't make it worth it for them to do this or what? What do you say to the policeman walking a beat who brings in 25k a year who could get killed in the line of duty? Why would anyone think of having sympathy for these million dollar babies when we pass by teachers, policemen, firemen, electricans, bakers, etc every day and think nothing of them?

Of course I'm not saying that. I'm merely saying that its understandable why they deserve long-term health care coverage. Making $162,000/ year for 3 or 4 years (this is a description of the average NFL player) is a nice haul, for sure. But you can't expect $600,000 or so to cover them for the rest of their lives, with increased medical expenses...especially since you're talking about guys who are in their early-mid 20's. You're talking about guys still in the first third of their lives.

[The Tris]

Why?

35% for taxes, 10% for agents

So what? The minimum for a single year is more then 5 years of working for the average employee. Not to mention almost all of these players were afforded the opportunity to get a college education and if they didn't take advantage of that shouldn't they blame themselves? And what about financial responsibility? In 2011 with all of the information out there your saying what? That these men still can't figure this out? I guess you want to give them your sympathy because you think they are just big dumb apes with nothing going for them huh?

Not sure how the average of 162K is five times the national average of 46K.

This is solely about the lingering health care issues and non-star players.

Players who buy mansions and bling and cars I have no sympathy for. Nor do I have sympathy for the 10% of players who make up the majority of salaries.

Lots of physical jobs have these risks too, you think someone doing construction, working on an oil rig, working on a fishing boat, serving in the military or a member of the fire department or police force and other jobs don't also have these same concerns? Yet these jobs don't make a fraction of what an NFL player makes and your hearts bleeding for the guys who are making millions? And who held a gun to these men's heads forcing them to play this "dangerous" game? I don't get all of this because to me what's missing here is personal accountability.

And a lot of those professions offer very attractive pension plans, with very good long term health coverage.

[ConnSKINS26]

I know it's a shame they got forced into that career path. It's a horrible set of circumstances that doesn't allow them to explore alternative employment solutions.

You're making this into an argument that I'm not even hinting at. Calm down. I'm merely supporting the idea that it makes sense that they need health care coverage, no matter how much they make in the few years that they play.

[GoSkinsGo]

Of course I'm not saying that. I'm merely saying that its understandable why they deserve long-term health care coverage. Making $162,000/ year for 3 or 4 years (this is a description of the average NFL player) is a nice haul, for sure. But you can't expect $600,000 or so to cover them for the rest of their lives, with increased medical expenses...especially since you're talking about guys who are in their early-mid 20's. You're talking about people still in the first third of their life.

How much of their paycheck should go into the health care fund? 25%, 50% 75%. Because covering a guy from 21 to the end of his life is a huge burden on an employer. Especially if you apply that to all workers who made it one year in the league, the costs would be astronomical.

You're making this into an argument that I'm not even hinting at. Calm down. I'm merely supporting the idea that it makes sense that they need health care coverage, no matter how much they make in the few years that they play.

I know I'm not following the course of the agrument but I think it's ridiculous to not even consider that in this context. Especially if people are going to point out their earnings being only half of stated.