It's become increasingly difficult for me to watch football as well. I really enjoy the sport, but the research is pretty unforgiving.
I can still justify watching the NFL because the players are getting paid very well, and at least at this point are aware of the risks.
But it is impossible for me to justify watching college anymore. I was always leary of the billion dollar contracts conferences were signing, while severely punishing the players for accepting a jersey from a relative (and at the same time refusing to ban coaches who systematically engaged in illegal activities). But throw in the brain trauma stuff and it's impossible to excuse an academic institution doing this anymore (especially since they also get tax benefits as well).
The NFL doesn't exist without the legions of unpaid, bodies-broken, brain-scrambled college (and high school) athletes who get nothing for their troubles.
You can argue that, but it's not particularly true or relevant. The NCAA is the recruiting pipeline because the NFL wants it to be. No other reason. If it's not the recruiting pipeline, it's relegated to obscurity and general irrelevance--see NCAA hockey for an example. The NCAA is still a monstrously shitty organization, but don't try to excuse the NHL because of it--not least because minor leagues still don't solve the problem that high schools and colleges, too, profit from breaking the bodies and the brains of their athletes as they hope to make it to the NFL. The NFL is the goal, and everyone else profits from young athletes destroying themselves to try to get there.
Football is intrinsically dangerous as a sport, intrinsically exploitative as a business at each and every level, and intrinsically immoral to watch or support in a way that no other American sport, not even hockey, can manage.
I wouldn't say "many" Valley developers make more than $465,000 (rookie minimum) and I definitely wouldn't say that "many" Valley developers make more than $775,000 (a four-year veteran minimum). However, the earning potential certainly is stretched out.
Practice squad, players, however, make about $120,000 per season, which is certainly in the ballpark.
Also let's take into account that players only get these salaries for a few years, on average. NFL average career lengths are brutally short: 3.3 years according to the NFL Players' Association.
Players are getting paid pretty well, but for some reason they don't know how to manage their money.
"According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 78% of National Football League (NFL) players are either bankrupt or are under financial stress within two years of retirement" [1]
they are getting paid "well" but that's all relative right? nba, mlb players get paid way more for their players in a game that is less punishing than football. plus the lifespan of an average player in the nfl is 3 years[0]
[0]i watched a segment on real sports with bryant gumbel
I can still justify watching the NFL because the players are getting paid very well, and at least at this point are aware of the risks.
But it is impossible for me to justify watching college anymore. I was always leary of the billion dollar contracts conferences were signing, while severely punishing the players for accepting a jersey from a relative (and at the same time refusing to ban coaches who systematically engaged in illegal activities). But throw in the brain trauma stuff and it's impossible to excuse an academic institution doing this anymore (especially since they also get tax benefits as well).