What we too easily forget...

[Mr. Scot]

You don't have to be all gay about it.

Nobody asked you to be stupid either

In all seriousness, people are missing the point. You don't have to feel sorry for these guys. Sacrifices and all, most of us would still trade places with them in a heartbeat.

It's more about realizing that this isn't Madden or Fantasy Football. It's not as simple as just changing your roster or making a couple of mouse clicks.

When these guys make decisions, they have to take into account the same kinds of real world issues that the rest of us do. If fans can at least realize that much, then maybe our expectations will be a little more realistic.

[Guest]

If you don't like cooking, don't become a cook.

These guys knew what they signed up for. I'd move to China and back for what these guys are making.

Exactly. Any pro athlete knows that he could be asked to move at any time. So do coaches. I know its not any easier just because they make a lot of cash, but its a known fact going in.

I met Billy Latsko, FB for the Gators when they won their championships. He was on the Panthers PS, and then ended up in San Diego. Both he and his wife knew what the deal was, put up with his moves, and made plans for when his football career ended. That said, Billy is a straight up guy with a good head on his shoulders. Some guys in the NFL, might not be so level headed.

[Mr. Scot]

Exactly. Any pro athlete knows that he could be asked to move at any time. So do coaches. I know its not any easier just because they make a lot of cash, but its a known fact going in.

I met Billy Latsko, FB for the Gators when they won their championships. He was on the Panthers PS, and then ended up in San Diego. Both he and his wife knew what the deal was, put up with his moves, and made plans for when his football career ended. That said, Billy is a straight up guy with a good head on his shoulders. Some guys in the NFL, might not be so level headed.

The ones that aren't are the ones that end up broke and busted about four years after their careers end.

Not all of these guys live their lives like a music video. Some do, but still manage to do okay. Others wind up on ESPN in a "look what happened to this guy" story.

[JawnyBlaze]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. Most NFL players will have made at least a million dollars by the time they finish playing football. Someone else brought up a good analogy in the military. I'm in the military, the Navy no less. I have to leave at the drop of a hat to be gone weeks or months at a time, and trust me the Navy ain't paying me no million dollars to do it either. My next 3 years is across the world from the US with almost no football on tv, have to buy NFL Game Access and watch Sunday's games Monday morning or when I get home from work Monday afternoon. I understand these guys have lives outside of football and I would never suggest that we as the payers of their salary "own them" or anything like that, but when they're paid as much as they are (and not only stars make millions...2nd and 3rd round draft picks' first contracts give them millions) there is little room for sympathy for something as small as having to move. I had to move a lot as a kid, it's not exactly a traumatic experience....it's actually good for kids.

[Nicbsbll2]

So those guys should just put their lives on hold and sacrifice anything and everything to make sure you're entertained, right?

This isn't pop warner, this in the NFL. If you don't like that you're job is to entertain the fans, then maybe you should get another job.

[Mr. Scot]

This isn't pop warner, this in the NFL. If you don't like that you're job is to entertain the fans, then maybe you should get another job.

No, it's not Pop Warner, and as a result a lot of these guys wind up looking like old men before they're out of their thirties. There have even been studies that say many lead shorter lives on average. And of course there's the health care and pension issue and the fact that their career can end in a heartbeat.

Again, it's not really about sympathy for the players as much as it is real world perspective, but I admit I'm annoyed by fans who act like the players owe them something because they buy tickets. You buy a ticket, what you're owed is admission to a game. Nothing more.