Check out what Mendy is up to

http://www.businessinsider.com/rashard-mendenhall-writer-hbo-show-ballers-2015-6

 

To be honest Glenn this doesn't surprise me that much. He was always trying to stir debate and seemed more of a critical thinker than you would normally assume a football player would be. I think anytime a player breaks out of what the perceived idea of what life after football is like can only bring positives. I say good for him and I hope he keeps on writing because it is a form of self expression and art. I know I wish I could get back into it more than just the give and take I get here among some good football minds, but writers block, kids and just life get in the way at times

 

I agree whole heartedly thorn. You put the critical thinking part more delicately than I would but yup its bang on.. Good summary.

 

Yep, more power to him, he was definitely always an outspoken individual, who had no problem speaking his mind, whether I agreed with his opinions or not, he did show the courage of his convictions.

On one side note, it`s interesting to see how many players are stepping away from the game, early in their life, after they have made what most of us consider to be enough money, to be set for life.

I wonder how quickly, and how much, this trend is going to grow?

On another side note...

Did ya see the graphics from the Madden 16 video game, they linked to at the end of that article?!?:gasp:

WOW!!! Just, WOW!!!

I grew up playing the Atari 2600, and pretty much stopped playing games, while the Playstation 2 was state of the art.
I think the last Madden game I own was like 9 or 10, after we beat the Cardinals in the SB...
While I have seen some of the more recent incarnations, I am absolutely blown away by the life-like video, in that clip... Unbelievable!!!

GO STEELERS

 

I hope he doesn't fumble this opportunity

 

AB has a small part in the pilot

 

The problem is, the graphics look great for the first hour or so... then you stop noticing, because you're playing the same game that essentially you played on the Atari.


Good on Mendy, though, and a good summary by thorn.

 

average career in NFL is 3.5 years. We were spoiled by Bettis

 

Hi5, where did you get that average?

Does that include players that were drafted, and barely played for the team that drafted them?

Or wound up on practice squads, and never became a starter, in their "career"?

I`m just asking, because that number seems absurdley low...

You could even add in players that got hurt/killed, before they played a down, and the number seems REALLLLLLLY low!

Of course, I`m used to seeing guys like Ben, Troy, Ward, Heath, Aaron Smith, Harrison, Ike Taylor, Donnie Shell, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Joey Porter, Jason Gildon, Greg Lloyd, Jack Lambert, Kevin Greene, Dermontti Dawson, Mike Webster, Bradshaw, Swann, Franco, Stallworth,etc... etc... etc, playing for roughly 8 years or more in the league, and that`s just a PARTIAL list, from OUR team...

I`m not even gonna start on superstars from other teams, like, Marino, Montana, Lawerence Taylor, Barry Sanders, etc, etc, too countless too list...

That ALL played well over 8 years...

My point is, that it seems like the younger kids coming into this league, are aware of what the game does to their bodies, and are willing to "take the money and run"...

Even if they are a player of the caliber, that can earn multiple big money contracts..

More, and more of them seem to be "opting out", early, and preserving their bodies/brains...

Not saying it`s necessarily a bad thing, buit it`s definetly a change from the way things have been, and does anyone think this is going to continue, and do y`all think the pace is going to pick up, on "give me my rookie contract, and I`m gone"?

And BTW, YES we were spoiled by Bettis!!!

VERY few runningbacks, could run over the defense, when they knew they were coming at them, like he could.

He also had help, and is taking his rightful place in Canton, OH, Aug 8, 2015!!!! LONG OVERDUE!!!

GO STEELERS!!!

 

Answer to the above:

http://thebiglead.com/2011/04/22/nfl-career-length-and-average-age-versus-average-life-expectancy/

 

Thanks for that Jeh...

I appreciate it, I really do,

However, It just goes to reinforce my belief that Mark Twain was right, when he said,

"There are lies, there are damn lies, and then there are STATISTICS"....

I know he probably never said that, and reading thru all that data, from the link you provided, made me realize, why I was never involved in a debate team, or a math team, in high school...

Made my head swim, and I`m not gonna try to debate the facts, as they were presented...

What I will say, Is , you can cherry pick numbers from pretty much any database, you want, and have them prove your point, if you pick the right ones...

I`m thinking, that there is anecdotal evidence,(see, San Fransisco, as a team, Jason Worillds, as a player) in the number of young, PROMISING football players, that have stepped away from the game, in their prime, that makes me wonder, if attitudes are changing, from people my age, to the kids, who are getting into the game now...

You COULD include Mendenhall, Or Baron Batch, although, I think they simply weren`t good enough to continue as a football player, especially Batch...

But they are getting millions of dollars, and choose to pursue other interests..

More power to them...

Is it a trend?

That`s all I`m wondering...

Players that truly love the game, will stick around... Others might "cash out"?

Yes, No, Maybe?

 

It was a long, slow, journey for me, but after seeing him on Lip Sync Battle, I'm officially a fan. He completely nailed Taylor Swift.