How do you rationalize the early deaths of NFL players with its entertainment value?
The average life expectancy of an NFL lineman after five years of playing is just 55.
Rashard Mendenhall is quoted as saying:
"So when they ask me why I want to leave the NFL at the age of 26, I tell them that I've greatly enjoyed my time, but I no longer wish to put my body at risk for the sake of entertainment. I think about the rest of my life and I want to live it with much quality. And physically, I am grateful that I can walk away feeling as good as I did when I stepped into it."
cnewshadow2014-03-10T11:32:16Z
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I rationalize it as they know the risks they are taking with their bodies and can quit at any time they wish to.
The longer they play, the more likely they are to die young. But the more money they will earn to support their families. The smart ones are setting it up so their wife and kids will still be well taken care of after they're gone.
There is also the fact that a lot of those guys keep playing longer than they probably should just because they love the game so much. For a lot of those guys, it isn't the entertainment value of the game as much as it is their own personal enjoyment of playing it.
It is a little disturbing to say the least. I love football but I'm curious what the average life expectancy of a 300 pound male is in general. I am not denying that the sport of football takes a toll on an individuals body or shortens life expectancy. I would just like a more thorough and specific comparison.
I calculated my own weight and height and expectancy. As a 6'4" male at 220 moderate exercise. No alcohol and family medical history my average is 67 years old. that takes into account possible accidents, depression and suicide in my group.
If I change a few factors such as "obesity" it drops significantly. That said it is still much higher than 55. That is somewhat scary.
I can only imagine the diet and cholesterol it takes to maintain a weight of 300. Then the constant injury to head body and extremities. That is Very hard to over come.
Entertainment based on a sport that lowers life expectancy is a little shallow and is hard to justify based on compensation, but it is hard to ignore the fact that players, especially the ones with long careers (the average career is 3 years in the NFL) get compensated very high.
As a fan I wish there were more things that would keep player safety paramount without damaging the integrity of the game and its entertainment value to it's fans.
I wonder how much the steroids play a role in the early deaths. For starters, if the players really cared about their health they wouldn't be taking steroids. (For some reason the rampant steroid use in the NFL gets no attention whereas in baseball it gets a senate hearing.)
More importantly, no one has a gun to their head saying they must play. They have a right to make their own informed choice knowing the risks and the great rewards (millions of dollars a year). If a player didn't think it was worth it to him, he wouldn't do it.
And then also, the league as a whole is gradually improving safety so theoretically the danger should decrease over time.
I heard a segment on the radio last night that had a 15 min. discussion on this. He said that the risks outweigh the benefits and that Menednhall has made 15 million dollars in eight years. he was smart, he worked so he doesn't have to work anymore, and now he can enjoy his life without the troublesome things such as migranes and shoulder trouble.