FinSinceBirth
If you aren't a gator, you're gator bait
Many fans and arm chair quaterbacks berate rookies for their holdouts and missed time in training camp. They say things such as "I'd take whatever amount of money to play for my dolphins, because it's a dream." or "They make millions of dollars to play a sport, why should they hold out." However, many of these fans fail to get into the mind and perspective of the athlete. This is more than just a dream for these players, this is their job and their life. Sure you can say you'd take any amout of money to play, but you haven't put in the amount of work these men have. They have sacrificed everything to get where they are, including a normal life. Since High School and even younger they have worked towards this. They have spent countless hours in weight rooms putting muscle on their bodies. While most of us went home to watch tv or play video games or went to the mall with friends, they were running their ***** off and practicing. They woke up early mornings to run stadiums, and there was never an offseason for them. In the summer they ran, lifted, and worked with their respective teams. Football was year round for them, and they never truly knew summer vacation.
Aside from the effort they have put in to get where they are, you also have to think of the abuse their bodies have taken. From high school to the end of college they play close to 8 years of football. That's 8 years of abuse on their bodies, and they have yet to reach the most physical level. One can understand why they take their time to negotiate that first contract, because who knows if they will ever get a chance to negotiate another one. And if their career ends short for whatever reason, then what are they supposed to do? Go become a doctor? A good portion of them haven't finished their college education and aren't qualified to work in a good high paying job, because football is their job.
It is in these ways and because of these reasons that contract negotiations are so important to rookies. While it may be a game to us it is their life and their business, and it recquires much physical demand. While we may not like it, we must accept it because it is them and not us who are on that field on sundays. And before the next time you criticize a rookie, try to fully imagine how hard they have worked to be there. Just so you can watch them on tv.
Aside from the effort they have put in to get where they are, you also have to think of the abuse their bodies have taken. From high school to the end of college they play close to 8 years of football. That's 8 years of abuse on their bodies, and they have yet to reach the most physical level. One can understand why they take their time to negotiate that first contract, because who knows if they will ever get a chance to negotiate another one. And if their career ends short for whatever reason, then what are they supposed to do? Go become a doctor? A good portion of them haven't finished their college education and aren't qualified to work in a good high paying job, because football is their job.
It is in these ways and because of these reasons that contract negotiations are so important to rookies. While it may be a game to us it is their life and their business, and it recquires much physical demand. While we may not like it, we must accept it because it is them and not us who are on that field on sundays. And before the next time you criticize a rookie, try to fully imagine how hard they have worked to be there. Just so you can watch them on tv.
