SbB: 4% of NFL Players Have Careers Over 3 Years

Why it’s so important to get PAID with your first contract and how unfair rookie contracts are:

Over the past 20 years, 15,018 players played in the NFL, but only 631 (4%) played three or more years. The average career length is 3.7 seasons, but players do not receive benefits unless they put in four years, both stats according to the NFL.

Filed under: franchise tag, retired players, rookie salary cap, SportsbyBrooks

Poor P.R.: $55K Meals & Why Players Always Lose the PR War

This “news” from last week feeds directly into the common belief that players are just whiny rich guys who are undeserving of fans’ support during the upcoming lockout:

Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday that he was not bothered by the $55,000 bill rookie WR Dez Bryant footed for a meal with his teammates this week.

. . .

[Bryant's] agent told ESPN that his teammates got him back for his training camp reticence with the meal. The publicity for the $55,000 bill drew criticism from many circles, including ex-NFL coach Herm Edwards, who scolded the Cowboys for revealing the high cost of the meal.

Just stupid stuff.  The NFLPA needs to have all these guys on a email list and constantly remind them to stop looking like assholes in the middle of a recession (and the middle of CBA negotiations).

Filed under: public relations, Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant, Herm Edwards, meals, Wade Phillips