I LOVE Mark Murphy!

[SavedByGrace]

He got it 100% correct

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/29/murphys-comments-on-retired-players-angered-nflpa/

[vince]

If the players are able to "retire" after their football career, more power to them. I don't think it's the owners' position in society to hold them back financially because working for 5-10 years or so before retiring offends our sensibilities.

I do think the players have been way too emotionally sensitive about the owners' actions and statements throughout the summer, so I don't agree with their immature response to the situation. They can simply ignore it and/or agree to disagree.

[Cheesehead Craig]

He does have some good points.

[MadScientist]

The attitude that the NFL does too much for players is bound to get a negative response, especially in regards to health care, given how many players have long term health issues, which are not always acute within the first five years after retiring from the league. I hope this doesn't fester and cause problems with the Packers players. If Murphy doubles down on that position, there could be trouble.

[SkinBasket]

The attitude that the NFL does too much for players is bound to get a negative response, especially in regards to health care, given how many players have long term health issues, which are not always acute within the first five years after retiring from the league. I hope this doesn't fester and cause problems with the Packers players. If Murphy doubles down on that position, there could be trouble.

yeah, it's too bad they aren't compensated for the dangers of their chosen profession.

[Lurker64]

Well, he does have a point in that it's probably best for NFL players to figure out something to do with themselves after football (not just financially but also for their mental and emotional well-being), and the NFL's policies may well impede the smooth transition from "football" to "everyday life." Obviously, everybody thinks that the NFL ought to take care of their less able alumni, many of which are so limited specifically because of football, but "coddling 40 year old guys who have large bankrolls" probably isn't the best way for the NFL to take care of its retired players.

[pbmax]

I wondered why he disappeared. Now we know.

He's a dope for expressing this opinion during the negotiations and his point is muddled thinking at best.

The A number 1 point of the retired players (including some of the retired players from Lombardi's team) is that disability and pension are woefully inadequate. That isn't the current players making that argument, that is the very players that Mark Murphy holds up as an example of the good that can come from holding a second job from playing. In fact, due to sacrifices made by the very players who wish to have better health benefits and pensions, Murphy himself was vastly better compensated than they were. Murphy was able to go back to school (not get an offseason job in auto sales) and I would bet take internships to develop a second career. Somehow, not having to take an offseason job for the pay could be argued as HELPING Murphy become the success he is today.

Willie Davis doesn't need the help. Willie Wood does. Both might have had offseason jobs. According to Murphy, Wood should be just fine.

He's a dope.

[Patler]

Months ago I said that players were being ridiculously over-sensitive to remarks by Richardson and Jones, and I would say the same thing about Murphy's comments. It's very simple. Just because a guy plays in the league for 3-4 years, or even 10 or 12 years, the league isn't responsible for his complete care and feeding the rest of his life. Medical/health is a separate issue for evaluation; but Murphy is correct that by doing too much for them you can stifle their ambitions for a post playing career. The NFL has made strides in encouraging their second careers and has off-season programs for training. Perhaps they should do more of that.

This does explain one thing. I asked a while back why Murphy had seemingly been removed from the bargaining process when it looked initially like he might have a prominent role. This article explains it.

I suspect some of the players expected Murphy to be somewhat of an ally because he was a former player. Instead it appears he turned out to be a pragmatist who told the hard truth about players, something they didn't want to hear. As a result, they resented him and his success after his career ended.

[Old School]

I wish more people would speak the truth like Murphy. I'm totally disgusted with a world that tiptoes around whiners and the entitled. Failure to face reality and expected PC has gotten this country to the crisis point it's in now.

Most players squandered a FREE college education and therby limited their after football opportunities. They knew full well that most football players play less than 5 years, but many blow their money on bling, tats, cars, and mansions like there was no tomorrow.

After working a dead end job for 12 years after high school, I spent 30 years in manufacturing in a physically demanding job and enviornment. I constantly upgraded my knowledge with job specific training, and I was able to leave the union and finish my career in management. I have had as many orthopedic surgeries as many players: 6 knee w/ 2 replacements, shoulder, 2 back - the 2nd didn't work, 2 hand. I rehabbed them without the cortage of professionals and technology the players get.

I'm not complaining. My job enabled my family to live a comfortable life. I am very physically limited now, but am fiercely independent. I pay my own supplemental insurance and Medicare. It's hard for me to feel sorry for some louts who were pampered for so long they thought it should never end.

My hats off to Mark Murphy for not knuckling under to some loud mouthed union bullies sitting on the other side of the table. What about all the Stupid shit that was said by players with single digit IQ's?

[Smidgeon]

I wish more people would speak the truth like Murphy. I'm totally disgusted with a world that tiptoes around whiners and the entitled. Failure to face reality and expected PC has gotten this country to the crisis point it's in now.

Most players squandered a FREE college education and therby limited their after football opportunities. They knew full well that most football players play less than 5 years, but many blow their money on bling, tats, cars, and mansions like there was no tomorrow.

After working a dead end job for 12 years after high school, I spent 30 years in manufacturing in a physically demanding job and enviornment. I constantly upgraded my knowledge with job specific training, and I was able to leave the union and finish my career in management. I have had as many orthopedic surgeries as many players: 6 knee w/ 2 replacements, shoulder, 2 back - the 2nd didn't work, 2 hand. I rehabbed them without the cortage of professionals and technology the players get.

I'm not complaining. My job enabled my family to live a comfortable life. I am very physically limited now, but am fiercely independent. I pay my own supplemental insurance and Medicare. It's hard for me to feel sorry for some louts who were pampered for so long they thought it should never end.

My hats off to Mark Murphy for not knuckling under to some loud mouthed union bullies sitting on the other side of the table. What about all the Stupid shit that was said by players with single digit IQ's?

[smuggler]

Murphy makes a valid point with this, even though he probably should scale it back a bit, into the more moderate zone. Your productive years of life a not over once you are done playing football. If you don't contribute during your capable years, how can you expect specail treatment during your incapable years? Most of the "career" players do not contribute after their careers in entertainment. The little guys, the 1-4yr players, do. However, there are guys from both groups who suffer pain and disability from their playing days, and the NCAA and NFL should be responsible for those long lasting effects. No one brings the NCAA into that dicussion, but that is a multi billion dollar a year industry, just like the NFL, and they don't pay a DIME towards player compensation and disability or healthcare!!

Bring down the NCAA!

[MadScientist]

Good point on the responsibility of the NCAA. They with the NFL should have a fund for taking care of players' football related health problems (generally joint and back problems and concussion related problems) indefinitely. Family coverage and other non-football related health coverage post playing time could be reduced, but a you broke it, you bought it policy would be fair. If Murphy had expressed that idea, I don't think there would have been the same sort of blow back.

[Patler]

Good point on the responsibility of the NCAA. They with the NFL should have a fund for taking care of players' football related health problems (generally joint and back problems and concussion related problems) indefinitely. Family coverage and other non-football related health coverage post playing time could be reduced, but a you broke it, you bought it policy would be fair. If Murphy had expressed that idea, I don't think there would have been the same sort of blow back.

What about the high schools? Many have argued that Harrell's back problems started in high school.

[pbmax]

I wish more people would speak the truth like Murphy. I'm totally disgusted with a world that tiptoes around whiners and the entitled. Failure to face reality and expected PC has gotten this country to the crisis point it's in now.

Most players squandered a FREE college education and therby limited their after football opportunities. They knew full well that most football players play less than 5 years, but many blow their money on bling, tats, cars, and mansions like there was no tomorrow.

After working a dead end job for 12 years after high school, I spent 30 years in manufacturing in a physically demanding job and enviornment. I constantly upgraded my knowledge with job specific training, and I was able to leave the union and finish my career in management. I have had as many orthopedic surgeries as many players: 6 knee w/ 2 replacements, shoulder, 2 back - the 2nd didn't work, 2 hand. I rehabbed them without the cortage of professionals and technology the players get.

I'm not complaining. My job enabled my family to live a comfortable life. I am very physically limited now, but am fiercely independent. I pay my own supplemental insurance and Medicare. It's hard for me to feel sorry for some louts who were pampered for so long they thought it should never end.

My hats off to Mark Murphy for not knuckling under to some loud mouthed union bullies sitting on the other side of the table. What about all the Stupid shit that was said by players with single digit IQ's?

Mark Murphy created a tempest about nothing. He stood for his own fevered imagination and a preconceived idea.

You could have a point if one of the first offers the owner's made didn't include substantial improvements to both the overall retirement package AND complete health care eligibility for the life of the current players in March. Right out of the gate, the owners offered the benefits Murphy claims are somehow counterproductive.

The lockout was not about benefits and the players asking for more of them. It was about owners looking to take salary back. The only benefits that stood as a major issue were already retired players, the ones Murphy attempts to laud.

He is confused and counter productive.

That doesn't even get into the desire of each and every coaching staff to have players devote their offseason to the team. Exactly when is a player meant to cultivate this second career? In January? June? Teams play into January now, forget the playoffs into February. Offseason programs begin in March and there are April and May minicamps (or there used to be). I can't wait for one of you poor mouthing the players to announce that the players are derelict in their devotion to their first career now that the offseason is open enough to have a second career.

And finally, I would like to see exactly the data that Murphy is presumably looking at that shows him today's players are failing at a higher rate in their after football life than they were in days gone by. Because he would look foolish if today's players were more successful, which I would bet on.

This is about a line of thinking built entirely upon the notion that the players of today are ner-do-wells compered to the heroes of the past. Its entirely bullcrap.

[MJZiggy]

Months ago I said that players were being ridiculously over-sensitive to remarks by Richardson and Jones, and I would say the same thing about Murphy's comments. It's very simple. Just because a guy plays in the league for 3-4 years, or even 10 or 12 years, the league isn't responsible for his complete care and feeding the rest of his life. Medical/health is a separate issue for evaluation; but Murphy is correct that by doing too much for them you can stifle their ambitions for a post playing career. The NFL has made strides in encouraging their second careers and has off-season programs for training. Perhaps they should do more of that.

This does explain one thing. I asked a while back why Murphy had seemingly been removed from the bargaining process when it looked initially like he might have a prominent role. This article explains it.

I suspect some of the players expected Murphy to be somewhat of an ally because he was a former player. Instead it appears he turned out to be a pragmatist who told the hard truth about players, something they didn't want to hear. As a result, they resented him and his success after his career ended.

Isn't that a small part of the reason why they discourage players from coming out too early in their college careers, so they have a better shot finishing either in the offseason or when their careers are over?

I understand Murphy's point about transition, but also realize that even if they're handsomely compensated during their playing years, the medical risks last far beyond them, even if they do have the whole normal job thing going on. I wonder if professional football injuries are considered pre-existing conditions for most insurers or if premiums are more expensive for those who choose to start their own businesses as post-football careers.