Very insightful if not totally obvious, but you get a thumbs down for basically saying A) no one should ever play football and B) everyone who does will sue the NFL once they hit 60.

In addition, I think there’s no real substantial proof of memory loss.

Oh Mr. Raiola, your career earnings through 2011 are $23,983,000. Not bad. I would probably say the same thing. If only those old timers got paid like you have and are set for life.

Oh, and add the last two years of your contract to the total and now it is $31,433,000.
__________________

Pay scales are relative. I worked in a UAW auto factory one summer in college and earned $3.33 per hour. And that included a shift premium. It was considered a top wage. At the time these players were playing, they all made big time money. If they weren’t, they would not have been playing.

And if any of them do, they should be prosecuted for perjury, because they are LYING.

In order to win money in a civil case, you have to prove damages. You have to show, in other words, that if you had the information you would have made a different decision and spared yourself further harm.

Good luck with that.

As a Lions fan, I love Dom’s attitude and tenacity on the Field, but let’s be honest, he’s a major reason why our run game suffers year in and year out, especially on short yardage situations he’s a liability. Im hoping we can get David Molk at Center in the 3rd-4th rds to replace him, huge value there.
__________________

Molk is Dom 2.0

They’re the same size.

I don’t doubt that “back in the day” there was more pressure on players to rub some dirt on it and get back out there, but I seriously doubt that players were “mis-lead” about the dangers of concussions. For one thing the NFL or anyone for that matter probably didn’t know exactly what the long term effects were, but they’ve taken steps towards making players more aware now that they are. What more do you really want from the NFL?

Raiola’s attitude is realistic, and that’s a good start. But unfortunately a lot of that swagger comes from being young and not yet understanding how much it sucks to get older!

I played some in high school and college. Never was very good, or big enough, so other than a couple of mangled fingers have no lasting ill effects.

But now I’m 45, and am still a competitive athlete (bike racing) sometimes competing against…& beating…. guys 20 years younger than me. I would have jumped at the chance to play in the NFL….but I can’t imagine what it would be like to have cognitive or physical impairments so severe that I couldn’t function. Obviously it happens to everyone if you live long enough. But not at my age….it’s a tough call….I would have done it in a second and can understand why NFL players do play, but after reading this I’m glad it wasn’t an option for me.

And you graduated college. . . ?

He has no clue what it feels like to have these ailments. His song will change.

If you’re lucky at 40 you’ll still be able remember the guys in the locker room.

lots of wise words…..

—————————-

temoluxman – I tried to give you a thumbs up, but the stupid PFT/wordpress software wont let me bump it up.
In any case, I agree with everything you say. Not to turn this into a philosophical debate on life, but if we had the perspective at 20, what we get beyond 40 – we’d all live much happier lives.

Oh, and add the last two years of your contract to the total and now it is $31,433,000.

They knew the dangers but just didn’t want to believe them or thought it wouldn’t happen to them. The NFL also gives seminars on how to manage your money. Do we see the bankrupt players suing the NFL? Take some responsibility. I am paying for my time as an athlete, but I knew what I was getting into and that I may be worse later, but that was the risk I took and these guys ALL did the same thing.

Lets see how he feels after a half dozen concussions and and surgically repaired knees.

Sounds to me like he realizes he’s being traded millions and millions of dollars for that risk.