Former Carolina Panthers and New York Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins shared his experience of how much pain the NFL put him through during his 10 years career with Greg Bishop of the New York Times.
“N.F.L. fans, people outside, they have no clue what goes on,” Jenkins said. “This isn’t like playing Madden. This isn’t like being the popular kid in high school. When you do those things in the real world, and it don’t work out, you still have your health. The thing about football is you’re directly playing with your life, the quality of it and the longevity of it. The stakes are up there.
“You ever been in a car crash? Done bumper cars? You know when that hit catches you off guard and jolts you, and you’re like, what the hell? Football is like that. But 10 times worse. It’s hell.”
Jenkins indicated that he had ten concussions and”nobody cared.”
As a fan of the game of football, I completely respect and admire the toughness and sacrifice of NFL players. But, don’t tell me it’s hell to play a game and get paid at least $375,000 per year. In case you didn’t know that’s the league minimum for an NFL rookie in 2011.
I just don’t have any sympathy for the beating NFL players take. In the end, it’s a decision they make.
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So it’s all about the money with you? Would you feel different if he was getting 50K a year? To tell you the truth, i rather have my health over millions of dollars.
I couldn’t agree more! Football is a violent sport designed to hurt people. Plain and simple. I loved to play the game and love to watch it. But, Jenkins is right, it has a lasting effect on your health. I know more than one former player who made the big money only to spend it all on surgeries and other expenses trying to repair the damage from playing the game.
I would rather have my health. There are plenty of ways to make enough money for a decent living.
Now that he is aware of Football’s dangerous outcomes, what is the plan to alleviate the problem? If simplicity can be applied in this case then the obvious answer is to “stop playing football”.
Football is not just a choice for many but a dream. As a football player you should be well aware of the precautions of what may happen when you play football. That’s just the nature of the sport. Either accept it or go play golf.
You guys dont understand what football means to some people I played for 5 years and they were the best years of my life if I had the chance to play just one more game i would be willing to do alot of crazy stuff for that 1 chance its nothing like the felling of the hits the sound of the cracking pads its just no substitute for it.
…quality of life… bumper cars…… quality of life… bumper cars…. it’s your choice, live with it…..
Wow- real objective reporting by this Paul guy. Who asked for your opinion? You sound like a typical press guy who is jealous of athletes. I never played the game, but I admire the sacrifices and the risks to their health that these guys take every Sunday. Its a proven fact that the life expectancy of an NFL player is significantly lower than the average person. Yes it was their choice and a lot of them make a lot of money and have fame and are treated like royalty, but there are 5 times as many sad stories of ex-NFl’ers as there are happy ones. Just let the guy vent a little and report the story without your biased opinion. Internet news reporters are so lame. “Journalism” is at an all time low.
Totally agree. Nobody made this guy play football. Guess what – it hurts to walk over hot coals. So if someone offers me a ridiculous $375,000 a year to do it 5 times a day, and I do it – should I then have the right to complain about it and cry foul and tell people they don’t understand what I have to go through to get across those coals? NO. I do it, make my money, and keep my mouth shut. If it gets too hard for me, then I stop doing it. If my feet start falling of, then I stop doing it. Thank my lucky stars for the huge money I made, and go home. My choice, my burden to bear. Zip the pie hole.
I’ll never quite get the “fans” who consistently begrudge players because of how much $$$ they make. Here’s the thing, they generate that $$$ and hundreds of million more. They are elite, they are the biggest, fastest, strongest most elite athletes in the game. The next tier of palyers would not be as good or entertaining; like watching even the best college football; the vast majority of whom could never play in the NFL, and the product would suffer if they did. Anyone member the replacement players? Most players get out of the game without life altering injuries and those that don’t should be compensated.
BTW! those who make that minimum, their careers probably last a year or two (I forget the actual average NFL career but I believe it is under 4 years). They make the $$$ they make because they earn it and someone else is making even more than them off of their output.
Look it seems only those who have actually played the game understand! It hurts you, but you play anyway! It is not about the money even at that level! Remember those of you that have no sympathy, they play for YOU!! YOUR entertainment!!! You would have not have had an ounce of sympathy for the gladiators that died in the games!!! Money can’t make up for the pain and debilitation. For you money is everything, in the real world money is only A thing not THE thing!
Russ,
It may at most levels not be about the $$$ and even at the NFL level not solely about the $$$ but it certainly is on many levels about more that just the competetive nature of the players. They may be willing to sacrafice life and limb for less $$$ but certainly wouldn’t get out there and play NFL level football for average wages (meaning what most of us earn). As I pointed out earlier they generate the $$$ and they should be and for the most part are compensated appropriately.
“As a fan of the game of football, I completely respect and admire the toughness and sacrifice of NFL players. But, don’t tell me it’s hell to play a game and get paid at least $375,000 per year. In case you didn’t know that’s the league minimum for an NFL rookie in 2011.”
I severely doubt you’ve played anything with the competitiveness or ferocity of professional football, so your ability to speak here may be limited. Yes, NFL players make great money. But there is an absolute trade-off between that money earned and their current and long-term health. You have no idea what it’s like to suffer from 10 concussions and 3 torn ACL’s (neither do I), so lets not go around acting like you could play in the NFL too just because they get paid a lot….