Paying the Piper

This column by Mark Yost in today's Wall Street Journal reflects a lot of what I have been thinking regarding the recent rash of publicity about ex-NFLers who have significant health issues. It is difficult not to conclude that many of the complaints, especially from players now in their 50s and older, is mostly bitterness about giving up so much physically for so little financially and, as the column notes, jealousy of later players who can earn so much more. But no one forced them to do it.

The most dangerous part of my job is avoiding a burned tongue from my morning coffee, yet I have had disability insurance for years. How many pro football players have used some of their money to purchase such a policy while they were still young and healthy? And I don't understand any of the arguments we are now hearing about how low NFL pensions are. My question is: why do former players get any pension at all? According to the web site of the NFL Players Association, the average NFL career lasts about three-and-a-half seasons. So let's say your career is exceptional and you play 10 seasons. How many jobs pay significant pensions for 10 years of service? For seven?

No one takes pleasure in seeing people suffer physically. But the sense of entitlement coming from some of these former players is unwarranted.

And, by the way, Tiki Barber is a very smart man.