We’re inevitably going to write too many stories about players missing offseason programs and practices, so it’s nice to write one about a player doing it for a good reason.
ESPNBoston’s Mike Reiss reports that Ty Warren will pass up a $250,000 workout bonus to get his college degree from Texas A&M.
“I try to put the kids in the best educational system possible and I
think there is something to be said for their father, who has been
blessed to play in the NFL and do something he’s loved to do, going back
and finishing what he started,” Warren said.
It’s the first time in his eight seasons Warren has missed significant offseason work. He also plans to miss OTAs, but will be there for mandatory minicamp camp.
Warren, set to graduate next Spring, wants to work on his resume in case his day job falls through next year.
“If we end up having a lockout in 2011, that’s where you can find me,
working with students,” Warren said.
Hmm. You’d think he’d work on that degree when the lockout happens and have that $250,000 in his pocket instead.
Good for him. Ty has been a great player for this organization
He should take an economics class while he’s there
Good for you buddy. Aint everyday someone passes up 250 large in order to finish a college degree.
What a stupid dumbass. Warren has plenty of time to go back to school and get his degree when his career is over, while he only has a limited amount of time at this maximum earning potential.
good for him. Its always good to see a player bettering himself for when his NFL days are over instead of “expecting” to make a lifetime of dough during those few years.
If they don’t make an exception for one day, what kind of example is that? If they really want to make it a positive, donate half the bonus to the school(or some school) in an area of need. Great PR, turn it all into a positive. And someone will get a good write off.
Can we get Pacman and those other clowns back in the classroom?
Good for him. He’s sending a great message to children and other athletes…money isn’t everything.
I would have been more impressed if he went to the workouts and donated the money to charity.
This a great story. I’m all for kids leaving college to play in the NFL or NBA, where else are you going to get a 10 million dollar starting salary. But they should make an effort to go back, get their degrees and learn what to do with those millions so you don’t end up like Spreewell.
Now this is a mans man.
Looking down the road.
I would give him the bonus anyway if he showed up in shape.
Good man.
Good for him. Nice to see an athlete making smart decisions that aren’t based solely on money. His kids will benefit from his actions more than they would from another quarter million.
With all the trashy headlines about sports nowadays, from Tiger to Ben Rapingwomenburger its good to have a nice fluff piece.
First-class guy from a first-class football team.
I appreciate all this, but seriously, can’t he find a nearby college to work on his degree and still go to OTAs and get his money? I seriously doubt the value of that degree is gonna make up for a quarter million thrown out the window.
What the hell kind of reporting is this? Would it kill you to at least mention the team that the guy plays for? I mean I know that he’s a Patriot but a lot of people would be wondering basic questions like “what team does he play for? what position does he play?”
@cleanface
$250,000 to him is like $250 to the rest of the world. I think he’ll live
It’s tough to understand passing up $250k to attend classes, but I guess when you’re already rich it’s not a huge chunk of cash. He clearly decided the education was worth more than the money, so good for him.
I am of two minds about this. On one hand, I would never criticize someone for pursuing a college degree. On the other hand, he makes it sound as if he retires without the degree, he can’t go back and get it then. My advice to him would have been to take the 250k, invest it, and use it to pay for his degree work once he is retired.
It’s not like there is some maximum age for college graduates. My mother got her degree when she was 47.
i cant believe there still idiots that bash even somthing so positive as this. and for you morons that are calling him stupid he’s not going to miss any playing time or mandantory work outs so please read the whole story that is if you can even read.but anyway good for you warren set an example, hopefully more will follow
Terrible Choice!
It seems like something that could of waited.
Cannot believe the numerous negative posts from the rejects on this site regarding this story. You people are stupid and classless, and I think that a number of you go from story to story on PFT posting the most absurd, outlandish, shock-value posts you can come up with just to have a voice. Get a life, losers.
Nice story, Ty Warren went up a lot in my book.
Bravo Warren… Bravo!
They say a college degree is worth $250k extra in earnings to a graduate – so I’d call it a wash.
Now about a Patriot skipping voluntaries: Randy Moss must be behind it.
lifelongphinfan says:
March 16, 2010 6:13 PM
i cant believe there still idiots that bash even somthing so positive as this. and for you morons that are calling him stupid he’s not going to miss any playing time or mandantory work outs so please read the whole story that is if you can even read.but anyway good for you warren set an example, hopefully more will follow
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Yes- God forbid anyone should ever have a dissenting opinion about a touchy-feely story like this. What is this, America or something? The point is, Warren will almost definitely be retired while still in his 30′s. This is more than young enough to go back to college.
The fact is, college degree or not, he- like most NFL players, will earn 90% of the money he will make in his entire life during his NFL career. Therefore, while 250K may seem like a drop in the bucket now, invested properly that 250K would double every seven years, which adds up to over 2 million in 20 years. Does it still seem that smart a move to pass that up?
Realitypolice….. Good for your mom! I completed an MBA and a MS since 2006 (I am 46) and mainly did it to show my children that school’s important (That and competition’s tough these days!). You should be very proud of your mom!
@lifelongphinfan
In the idiot’s defense, they aren’t bashing him for missing work. They’re bashing him for giving up $250k when he can always finish his degree when he’s done with his playing career. I spent 8 years in college (“Yes, some people do spend 8 years in college… they’re called Dr.’s!”) and it would take me 3.5 yrs to make as much cash as he will make in 3.5 months! OF WORKING OUT!!! Heck, if you count all the money I will pay to the gym for the privilege to work out there, it might take me 4 years to make the same amount as he’s giving up to not work out!
Having said all that, and being a life-long Phin fan myself, I must admit this is a very classy move. Its classy for reasons that have nothing to do with money. Its classy because he’s doing it for his kids, and kids everywhere. What a great example for others to follow. I’m sure he’d rather be working out (and getting PAID for it… ok, its a little bit about $), but he’s decided to suck it up, give up something he loves to do (and gets PAID for!) and go do something he doesn’t love. When his kids bitch about school being crappy, its the ultimate trump card. However, I imagine he’s doing it so that he doesn’t have to use that trump card; so his kids see how important school is.
Kudos Ty! You’ve got a new fan for all the games you play against teams who’s mascots are not aquatic mammals.
Money isn’t everything. I wish I had smart role models like him growing up.
Congrats on getting your degree. Passing up 250k to do next spring, might not be the best choice, but to each their own.
But, WTF? NFL players can’t be graduated until after 3 years of college. He’s been out of school for 8 years. How many freaking classes do you need to graduate from Texas A&M? Or do their football players not have to attend any classes while they are playing?
Damn! Did all the morons around decide to reply to this story and bash Warren? Looks like it!
To those of you talking about economics….you are missing the point.
He is pro-education. And he works with kids and encourages them to stay in school. But he doesn’t want his own kids or other kids to be able to say. “hey, you never finished college and it turn out okay for you.”
He understands as an athlete he is a role model, and he is forgoing the money so he won’t be a hypocrite.
Warren got paid a couple years back – $250k isn’t much to give up if he has handled his money properly. If he was moved to finish his degree now, more power to him – he says right in the article he wants to practice what he preaches to his kids. Seems like a pretty genuine thing to me.
I’d go back to college again just to check out all the hot looking women!
God I miss those days.
“What a stupid dumbass.”
Says the guy named Rat
You can tell the 2 digit IQ types.
They look at Warren’s 250K from their own perspective.
Meaningless, like their opinions.
Big Ben is trying to get back into school to beat up women
Bravo ,
This is someone who took the hometown discount to stay with the Patriots some years back, so money is not the biggest concern. The example he sets for the kids more than offsets the money.
Obviously, it is worth the 250 large to the Warren family to send this message to their kids. Congrats to them for putting actions to their words. The best policy for giving your words some merit.
Richard says:
March 16, 2010 6:27 PM
Realitypolice….. Good for your mom! I completed an MBA and a MS since 2006 (I am 46) and mainly did it to show my children that school’s important (That and competition’s tough these days!). You should be very proud of your mom!
========================
Thank you for the kind words. I didn’t add, because it didn’t seem relevant to the post, that she was also undergoing chemo while she was finishing her degree and ultimately we lost her about a year later.
So if anyone objects to my position that he should have taken the 250k and finished his degree later by saying I don’t value education or hard work, maybe you should take into consideration that maybe, just maybe, you don’t actually know very much about who you are so willingly attacking and what their motivation may be.
Ty Warren….no need for bling…or big cars…or the trash talk…or the limelight….he has “just do your job” down pat….
There are alot of players in the league that could learn a few things from this guy….including how to play football!
@username says:
To those of you talking about economics….you are missing the point.
He is pro-education. And he works with kids and encourages them to stay in school. But he doesn’t want his own kids or other kids to be able to say. “hey, you never finished college and it turn out okay for you.”
He understands as an athlete he is a role model, and he is forgoing the money so he won’t be a hypocrite.
_________________
Hell yeah! Couldn’t agree with you more on this. I don’t know what’s up with all the negative comments about what this guy is trying to do.
Clearly, he has made enough money in the past 8 seasons to where this 250K isnt a big deal to him.
This is a good example to set for the kids….if enough of them would actually make use of it. The lure of big money to a 22 yr old kid will put eductaion on the back burner in a hurry. The overall percentage of professional athletes that actually graduate is pretty low. A good many of them are in school on scholarship to begin with. Completing the education and getting the degree is secondary when its not your ‘dime’ thats paying for it. What I would like to see, is that for every athlete on scholarship that goes pro & doesnt graduate on time, they have to pay the total cost of the tuition back to the school in the form of a scholarship for some ‘un-athletic’ kid who cant afford college. Put some restrictions or penalties for taking a ‘free ride’ and not taking advantage of the eductaion.
Kudos to Warren for completing what he started!
The timing is what you should question, not necessarily him passing up the bucks to get his degree. That in and if itself is to be commended, but the timing makes you say hmmm…
“If we end up having a lockout in 2011, that’s where you can find me, working with students,” Warren said.
Big Ben already spends his off season working with kids. Well, underage college girls anyway.