Another SF loss: Chris Borland retires after just one season

Jangles said:

I Have a really hard time feeling sorry for players who get concussions and stuff.

I had a buddy that bounced around as a camp body for a few teams, and dressed for a dozen or so regular season games and these guys live the life. Amazing food, top notch medical care, incredible facilities and people to do stuff for you. He could not believe how lucky he was.

On top of that he was making like 10 times the average median salary in the country.

Tough to feel bad for guys in that position. Regardless of the ailments they might face down the road

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Can you show me where Borland is asking us to feel sorry for him? If anything it is the opposite, he is making the decision now so no one will ever have to n feel sorry for him.

I won't be surprised if Dan Connolly follow his lead, and I really hope Welker does.

Yeah....

This guy's probably an outlier:



http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...nd-san-francisco-49ers-retire-one-year-031715

SF desperately needs a LB. What would they give up for Mayo right now?

Well you have to hand it to him. No way I would ever turn away millions and millions of dollars. Hope he has a degree because he is going to have to work a 9-5 job now.

ensoul said:

Well you have to hand it to him. No way I would ever turn away millions and millions of dollars. Hope he has a degree because he is going to have to work a 9-5 job now.

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Yep, no way he could ever coach or start his own business with that 350, 000$

I don't see this becoming a trend. It's not human nature to give up what is pleasurable in the present because of possible negative consequences in the future. Smoking is the best example. Although far fewer people smoke now than fifty years ago, a hard core of about 25% of the adult population does, despite all the information and warnings regarding the risks. Virtually all take up the habit when they are teens or young adults, the same age when athletes start making a commitment to football.

ensoul said:

Well you have to hand it to him. No way I would ever turn away millions and millions of dollars. Hope he has a degree because he is going to have to work a 9-5 job now.

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That's the key to the whole issue.

Chris Borland received his BA in history from the University of Wisconsin, on schedule. He was named the University's student-athlete of the year, and led all UW athletes by recording an incredible 125 hours of community service work as a senior. He now plans to pursue a graduate degree in sports management.

Borland grew up in Ohio, where his father is owner and president of a financial advisory firm. His family is proud and supportive of his decision to prioritize his health over football.

In short, Chris Borland is a young man with options and a bright future -- who grew up knowing he had options and a bright future. He's not a kid who needed football as his "ticket out," and who would be working the late shift at McDonald's without it. And so the risk/reward calculation of continuing to play NFL football after a history of concussions looked a lot different for him than for many of his teammates.

omce more information and research about how dangerous the sport is comes out(particularly to the brain)you'll see the cream of the crop athletes choose other sports only leaving 4th and 5th level guys who weren't good enough to play before and the really poor kids who have no options still playing

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...-borland-made-decision-retire-safety-concerns has a story on his thought process and so on.

What was he doing shortly before he made his announcement? Some sort of youth football camp in Mexico. The guy does love the game.

I walked away from comparable amounts of money once -- $400K contractual guarantee in 1987 -- without such dramatic health issues on the table. In retrospect I wish I'd stuck it out and built up a bit more in savings, but it wasn't a terrible decision. For one thing, I did get a lot healthier the year after I quit.

ChrisR2223 said:

Wow this is not a good look to the League.
On the other hand you can trade Mayo for a kings ransom to the 49ers.
What defensive backs do they have?

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With Revis and Wilfork gone, I don't think the Pats would be trading Mayo for anyone on the SF D. They do have the 15th pick in the first round and the 14th in the second round, but I don't want to lose Mayo.