NFL: ***Official Playoffs Thread***
- Thread starter jbindm
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- Mar 27, 2006
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Starting to see a trend of guys retiring while still in their prime. Colts LT Anthony Castonzo, who just had probably the best season of his career and is about to cash in as a free agent, is thinking about retiring. He's 31.
- Mar 27, 2006
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Yeah, it's something that has to scare the league, but I hardly blame the players. Anyone who gets multiple injuries has to at least consider it. There are too many stories of past players just wrecking their bodies. If you can come into the league, secure that 2nd, lucrative contract, then get out when you're still relatively young, that's probably not a bad plan.
Yeah. For the players I think it's just a question of earnings and how much is enough. If you're a good player and you have a good agent who can secure you a decent amount of guaranteed money on that second contract then it make sense to walk away. I think more players are starting to wrap their heads around the idea that they have a lot of life ahead of them after football and it's better to walk away early with their health relatively still intact. I doubt it scares the league all that much. You could make the case that it's a win for them because instead of expensive vets you're stocking your lineup with cheaper, younger players. Maybe the quality of the game suffers a little, but you can just offset that by adjusting the rules to encourage more offense and scoring. Problem solved.
For so many players, the void in their lives after playing professional sports just can't be filled. I've read about ex-players who expressed regret about retiring (early or otherwise), saying they never dreamed how much they would miss it.
But the NFL guys - especially those who have read about CTE and/or watched the movie - must be getting a little scared.
But the NFL guys - especially those who have read about CTE and/or watched the movie - must be getting a little scared.
- Mar 27, 2006
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I guarantee you that losing guys like Kuechly, Luck, Calvin Johnson, and Gronk is a big deal to the league office. These are bankable stars that left early. Yes, they had big salaries, but they made a lot of money for the teams as well. It's not that they can't be replaced, but brands take time and money to develop. And there's an expected ROI on that.
One or two guys isn't a big deal, but it has to be alarming that it's starting to become more frequent.
I don't know. The NFL has always put the emphasis on marketing the team logo and not the player with the exception of a couple guys who serve as the unofficial face of the league (usually a QB). They couldn't survive if they didn't given how often players come and go. I just don't think guys leaving the game early is that big a deal to them as long as the talent pipeline isn't drying up on the other side. Maybe individual teams feel the pinch a little more. They do rely on their individual stars to sell their season tickets. If a face of the franchise kind of player unexpectedly calls it quits selling those boxes and PSLs gets a lot more challenging.
How do the Chiefs not treat that like a fake punt? You're up 3 possessions - returning the ball is irrelevant at this point.
This NFC championship game seems a little one sided. Hopefully it gets a little more interesting.
