Safety: Trains better than Jets

Keith Fitzhugh was asked by the Jets to play safety. He told them to eff off he would rather be a train conductor.

Safety turns down Jets to remain a train conductor | ProFootballTalk

(okay I ad libbed the eff off part)

Re: Safety chooses Trains over Jets....

Wow. I just read the main reasons why he respectfully declined. Sounds like a great kid with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.

Puts the whole Albert Haynesworth situation in a more proper perspective.

Re: Safety chooses Trains over Jets....

shmessy said:

Wow. I just read the main reasons why he respectfully declined. Sounds like a great kid with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.

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Yes.

shmessy said:

Puts the whole Albert Haynesworth situation in a more proper perspective.

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Hell yes.

Re: Safety chooses Trains over Jets....

shmessy said:

Wow. I just read the main reasons why he respectfully declined. Sounds like a great kid with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.

Puts the whole Albert Haynesworth situation in a more proper perspective.

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Yeah, yeah...all true. But I ain't gonna pass up a golden opportunity to kick the Jets when they are down.

Train Conductor Says No Thanks to Jets

I hope just one of my kids turns out like this guy. Not just because he told the jets to take a hike.

Keith Fitzhugh turns down New York Jets job to stay train conductor - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

Jets coach Rex Ryan said the team was looking to sign a safety after Jim Leonhard was lost for the season last week with a broken shin and James Ihedigbo suffered a leg injury in New York's 45-3 loss to New England on Monday night. New York has only two safeties - Eric Smith and Brodney Pool - listed on its roster.

''I know the Jets have a great opportunity of making the Super Bowl, and that's one dream that every child has is to play sports and make it to the Super Bowl or get to the World Series,'' Fitzhugh said. ''But, there's a time when you have to think, 'Hey, you've only got one Mom and Dad.' They won't be here forever, and while they're here, you've got to cherish that time.''

In all seriousness, that would be a tough call to make. On the one hand, he could make more in a few weeks than he would for years at his current job. On the other, one wrong move and he's out of a job, and the railroad likely won't offer him the position back. My distaste for the Jets aside, I admire him for making the less glamorous but more noble decision.

Re: Train Conductor Says No Thanks to Jets

wistahpatsfan said:

I hope just one of my kids turns out like this guy. Not just because he told the jets to take a hike.

Keith Fitzhugh turns down New York Jets job to stay train conductor - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

Jets coach Rex Ryan said the team was looking to sign a safety after Jim Leonhard was lost for the season last week with a broken shin and James Ihedigbo suffered a leg injury in New York's 45-3 loss to New England on Monday night. New York has only two safeties - Eric Smith and Brodney Pool - listed on its roster.

''I know the Jets have a great opportunity of making the Super Bowl, and that's one dream that every child has is to play sports and make it to the Super Bowl or get to the World Series,'' Fitzhugh said. ''But, there's a time when you have to think, 'Hey, you've only got one Mom and Dad.' They won't be here forever, and while they're here, you've got to cherish that time.''

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Kevin Fitzhugh deserves praise. Not because of the Jets angle. If he responded like this to the Patriots, I would feel 100% the same way. Frankly, it's heartbreaking.

Given his family situation, it would be nice if his manager at work promised him he'd not lose his job and allow him 6 weeks off to go for it with the Jets and see what happens.

Yeah, you would think the company would be willing to let him go take a shot. Who knows, maybe this opportunity with the Jets would have lead him to a career in the NFL... And he would probably at least make 100K in the next 4 games or so right?

I don't know... responsible or not... I just can't support him choosing to pass it up. What if he loses the job he has now? Anything can happen.

CampPen33 said:

Yeah, you would think the company would be willing to let him go take a shot. Who knows, maybe this opportunity with the Jets would have lead him to a career in the NFL... And he would probably at least make 100K in the next 4 games or so right?

I don't know... responsible or not... I just can't support him choosing to pass it up. What if he loses the job he has now? Anything can happen.

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The railroad job is a gazillion times more stable long-term than his shot at the NFL.

People here are losing focus of the fact that BOTH HIS PARENTS ARE DISABLED and he is supporting them.

Real World Question: If he gets cut by the Jets in 2-4 weeks (making $21,000 per game), what is he going to do about health insurance?

The NS railroad is not on the social security system - - they have a tremendous medical and retirement benefit program.

Honestly, there is a reason why Americans are so illitirate about finances and why so many lottery winners are bankrupt within 5 years. I have been a Certified Financial Planner for 19 years and it astounds me how shortsighted 21st century Americans are with money.

Word of advice: Make sure your kids learn Chinese.

This kid is wise beyond his age. Ironically, he just showed that he is a Bill Belichick-type in an era where most Americans are Rex Ryan-types when it comes to personal financial management.

The guy obviously knows what a train wreck looks like and after 45-3 decided to conduct himself accordingly. Rather than play for the Green Beans, he wanted to ensure being able to put green beans on the table for his family.

I could go on all day ...

Just caught the tail end of some ESPN guy saying they are trying to get contact with Mr. Fitzhugh and bring him on the network for an interview.

This story is bigger than football. Good for Kevin Fitzhugh - - this is a quiet hero and a breath of fresh air in the age of Albert Haynesworths, Jersey Shores and Antoine Walkers.

Re: Train Conductor Says No Thanks to Jets

shmessy said:

Kevin Fitzhugh deserves praise. Not because of the Jets angle. If he responded like this to the Patriots, I would feel 100% the same way. Frankly, it's heartbreaking.

Given his family situation, it would be nice if his manager at work promised him he'd not lose his job and allow him 6 weeks off to go for it with the Jets and see what happens.

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Seriously, The fact this kid would make that decision should be evidence enough to his boss that he is the kind of person they want with the company and would be happy to hold the position or find a suitable replacement position upon his return if he needed to return and I know I would feel pretty good about myself if I helped another attempt to reach their dreams.

If the Jets really wanted him...I am sure a guaranteed $75k or so could do it. But he could get cut in one week with a standard contract.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie said:

If the Jets really wanted him...I am sure a guaranteed $75k or so could do it. But he could get cut in one week with a standard contract.

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A guaranteed 75k won't do it. That's terrible short-term financial thinking.

Would you quit your job if you were caring for disabled parents and won a $75,000 lottery?

Unless, his job at the railroad is secure to come back to, accepting 75K would be a HORRIBLE financial decision.

shmessy said:

A guaranteed 75k won't do it. That's terrible short-term financial thinking.

Would you quit your job if you were caring for disabled parents and won a $75,000 lottery?

Unless, his job at the railroad is secure to come back to, accepting 75K would be a HORRIBLE financial decision.

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I am assuming he is making less than $37.5k/year as an entry level train conductor.

I am also assuming that in a one year time span he could find another job that pays equally as well. That would result in a net improvement of about a year's salary if he got cut after a single game with the Jets. Plus an upside if he stays for all four games plus at least one playoff game. With an even bigger upside of an NFL career, if he shows enough over the next four weeks to get a spot next year.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie said:

I am assuming he is making less than $37.5k/year as an entry level train conductor.

I am also assuming that in a one year time span he could find another job that pays equally as well. That would result in a net improvement of about a year's salary if he got cut after a single game with the Jets. Plus an upside if he stays for all four games plus at least one playoff game. With an even bigger upside of an NFL career, if he shows enough over the next four weeks to get a spot next year.

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But what if he gets injured? He could break a leg, suffer a concussion or worse and not be able to work for more than a year. How long will that 75K last?