As I said, most draft picks (whether they're taken in the 4th round, or any round) don't see lucrative endorsement deals.
And we've already established median income and the average career length of NFL players -- what an average 4th rounder makes over a 4-year contract (if they see the entirety of that contract) isn't relevant, as that's factored into the median annual income mentioned. Ditto for the 4 year contract length example you posed, which is factored into the 3.3 year average career length discussed.
As far as if/how players choose to invest their money, some certainly make wise financial decisions, but many others don't (through no fault of their own).
And this isn't scratching the surface of the what exactly FU money is; I think we have different subjective thresholds for what qualifies as FU money. But I digress.
The average NFL player is much easier to pity due to head trauma/CTE risks rather than any financial issues, but that's not to say that they don't deserve a bigger slice of the pie; currently the owners are seeing far too large a ratio of the revenue generated by the NFL, in my opinion. But equally as important is that these guys' brains are protected so CTE doesn't take their lives at 30-50, leaving a family in ruins.
To loop back around to the original discussion, I fully agree that the average NFL player doesn't deserve much pity insofar as finances are concerned (compared to an average person living the world), but there are still some legitimate equity concerns in the relationship between players and owners.
I played 4 years in HS both ways. 4 years in college, and 1 year after college and 2 NFL TC's. I NEVER made a play where I DIDN'T lead with my head, although I led with my head in the proper position. In other words, whether I played offense or defense, my primary goal was to put my face into the chest of the opposing player. EVERY - SINGLE - TIME. That was just the way the game was played then. And at 72, while I seem to be constantly looking for my phone or keys, I have almost all of my faculties.
My point being is that while I acknowledge the existence of CTE, I very much question whether football (especially at the HS level) is the primary cause of it. Now does the risk increase the longer you play, especially at the NFL level where size and speed ratios increase the level of impact. Of course it does, especially for players will careers that span a decade or more.
But in your post you throw around the CTE issue as if it's an
inevitability, rather than a rare POSSIBILITY. It's misleading.
I get it. NFL Players are in a risky business where pain and injury are a constant factor. But it's not like they have the only risky profession. Coal miners, Iron worker, cops, etc all have high risk professions, and NONE of them can get you paid FU money within a 4 year time frame. But the NFL DOES give that player an OPPORTUNITY to make that much.
When the Pats FINALLY sign Winovich in the next few week you will see that it will be for in excess of $6MM. If he makes it the full 4 years that is certainly FU money with the opportunity to make much much more.
So NO, I'm not going to feel bad for the poor entitled NFL players, even though I was a Teamster at my first summer job in a tire warehouse at 15. And even though, I am 2nd to only to the
@Joker in my utter disdain for the league and they way they seem to ruining the game I loved.
