Rishard Matthews and the modern NFL player

[Mr. WEO]

https://deadspin.com/rishard-matthews-retires-from-nfl-is-happy-to-leave-be-1837189893

 

Here's a guy, 7th rounder, bounced around for 7 years yet made almost 15 million dollars (that's $170K per game and $67K per catch!) ---and upon "retiring" he decides to dump on the sport that made him more money than he earned. 

 

Mind you, this was the guy who, last year after signing a 1 year extension with the Titans, demanded a release due to lack of playing time--after week 3!!  The Titans granted him that request.

 

Just look at that BS he put on Instagram.  "Brainwashing"!!

 

A lot of these guys are really bad adults.

 

[Big Turk]

Seems like a post that says he decided all that money isn't worth it anymore, that's what i took from it. 

 

 

[Logic]

I just read his Instagram post, and I had absolutely no problem with it. He makes lots of great points.

?‍♂️

[Mr. WEO]

35 minutes ago, Logic said:

I just read his Instagram post, and I had absolutely no problem with it. He makes lots of great points.

?‍♂️

 

 

Which ones?

 

He's referencing racial prejudice, envy of his teammates, brainwashing and (most laughably) income inequity.

Edited August 13, 2019 by Mr. WEO

[Logic]

7 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

Which ones?

 

He's referencing racial prejudice, envy of his teammates, brainwashing and (most laughably) income inequity.

The one about the NFL owners -- who are already wealthy -- paying only a tiny percentage of their profits to the guys who actually lay their lives on the line for peoples' entertainment.

The one about racial inequality in America.

The one about there being so much ego and "fakeness" that it's hard to remember who you are.

The one about the money he's making no longer being worth the amount of time he has to spend away from his family.

I'm not asking you to agree with me or with Matthews. I'm just telling you that I think he makes salient points, and I have no problems with anything he wrote.

[JustWinPlease]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

https://deadspin.com/rishard-matthews-retires-from-nfl-is-happy-to-leave-be-1837189893

 

Here's a guy, 7th rounder, bounced around for 7 years yet made almost 15 million dollars (that's $170K per game and $67K per catch!) ---and upon "retiring" he decides to dump on the sport that made him more money than he earned. 

 

Mind you, this was the guy who, last year after signing a 1 year extension with the Titans, demanded a release due to lack of playing time--after week 3!!  The Titans granted him that request.

 

Just look at that BS he put on Instagram.  "Brainwashing"!!

 

A lot of these guys are really bad adults.

 

We, as fans, have absolutely no clue what goes on within an organization behind closed doors...and we never will.

 

He earned that money by putting his body on the line for our enjoyment, just like every player does every Sunday.

 

So he demanded to be in a better position to contribute and earn his money...meanwhile coaches, GMs and owners cut guys all the time to save money.

This all begs the question, "who the hell are we to judge these guys?" (For anything they do or say, especially after retirement.)

"Bad adult." Seriously, worry about yourself. For you to worry about what another man says, or does, makes you an immature/insecure adult.


Good on him for making his money...and for having the balls to speak out about how f***ed up the NFL can be, it's nice to see someone do it.

Edited August 13, 2019 by JustWinPlease

[hondo in seattle]

I've read a few of his posts.  He seems like a thoughtful, well-intentioned young man.  

 

Though I don't necessarily agree with every opinion.  If I had been talented and dedicated enough to play in the NFL, I think I have had a more positive attitude about it than he does.   But as Sean Peyton says, "It's not for everyone."     I wish him only luck in his future endeavors.  

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

24 minutes ago, Logic said:

The one about the NFL owners -- who are already wealthy -- paying only a tiny percentage of their profits to the guys who actually lay their lives on the line for peoples' entertainment.

 

this is ludicrous. don't they pay close to 50% of revenues to players?

 

[Say When...]

meh  - sands the "putting your body on the line" (which isn't a secret BTW) he just described...  a job

 

the consequence model here is making hundreds to thousands to millions and what's required; he's in the latter and doing that off the talent god gave him, he made the choice and organized football has been quite predictable for many years; he made his bed, slept in it and made $15mm - my sympathy is lacking here...

 

he realizes the $$ wasnt worth it - ok a mature statement but he's still walking away with it still; i challenge him to give it all to charity and go find a job (desk, field) and earn a salary then come back and give me his words of wisdom.

[C.Biscuit97]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

https://deadspin.com/rishard-matthews-retires-from-nfl-is-happy-to-leave-be-1837189893

 

Here's a guy, 7th rounder, bounced around for 7 years yet made almost 15 million dollars (that's $170K per game and $67K per catch!) ---and upon "retiring" he decides to dump on the sport that made him more money than he earned. 

 

Mind you, this was the guy who, last year after signing a 1 year extension with the Titans, demanded a release due to lack of playing time--after week 3!!  The Titans granted him that request.

 

Just look at that BS he put on Instagram.  "Brainwashing"!!

 

A lot of these guys are really bad adults.

 

I don’t disagree at all. But we live in world where politicians act like bigger children than athletes.  Why do we have higher standards for guys who play a sport?

[GG]

28 minutes ago, Logic said:

The one about the NFL owners -- who are already wealthy -- paying only a tiny percentage of their profits to the guys who actually lay their lives on the line for peoples' entertainment.

The one about racial inequality in America.

The one about there being so much ego and "fakeness" that it's hard to remember who you are.

The one about the money he's making no longer being worth the amount of time he has to spend away from his family.

I'm not asking you to agree with me or with Matthews. I'm just telling you that I think he makes salient points, and I have no problems with anything he wrote.

 

The flipside is what would Matthews' employment options be if not for the NFL?

[Mr. WEO]

15 minutes ago, Logic said:

The one about the NFL owners -- who are already wealthy -- paying only a tiny percentage of their profits to the guys who actually lay their lives on the line for peoples' entertainment.

The one about racial inequality in America.

The one about there being so much ego and "fakeness" that it's hard to remember who you are.

The one about the money he's making no longer being worth the amount of time he has to spend away from his family.

I'm not asking you to agree with me or with Matthews. I'm just telling you that I think he makes salient points, and I have no problems with anything he wrote.

 

He's not commenting on this country's income inequality--he's commenting on the inequity between what the teams' make and what they have paid him.  And it's not a "small %"--it's half of the revenue (far better players get more of it, bro).  As for "actually" "laying their lives on the line"--they actually don't.  They choose to make millions of dollars playing a game that millions of others play for free at many levels.  There are many people who, in their real jobs, "actually" lay their lives on the line (I'm sure you can think of a few, no?), not for entertainment, but for the good of others---and they will earn a "small %" in a lifetime what Matthews averaged in a year.

 

As far as race and Ego--he is actually complaining about other black teammates who have "too much Ego to even understand that someone has the same skin as you"--so there's a dig at the guys he plays with, tinged with jealousy.

 

He seems to have just woken up to the fact that he got paid a ton of money to be an entertainer---and he's upset about this?  HE was "brainwashed"?  When he got a nice contract from the Titans and then he complained because he wasn't getting ENOUGH entertaining?  He demanded a release so he could have MORE brainwashing from yet another team?  Teams and teammates not looking kindly on his "what about me" attitude is evidence of "brainwashing" and "dividing of culture"?  What culture is he referring to?

 

The lament about being away from his family is the only legit beef in that bratty screed.

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

2 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

He's not commenting on this country's income inequality--he's commenting on the inequity between what the teams' make and what they have paid him.  And it's not a "small %"--it's half of the revenue (far better players get more of it, bro).  As for "actually" "laying their lives on the line"--they actually don't.  They choose to make millions of dollars playing a game that millions of others play for free at many levels.  There are many people who, in their real jobs, "actually" lay their lives on the line (I'm sure you can think of a few, no?), not for entertainment, but for the good of others---and they will earn a "small %" in a lifetime what Matthews averaged in a year.

 

As far as race and Ego--he is actually complaining about other black teammates who have "too much Ego to even understand that someone has the same skin as you"--so there's a dig at the guys he plays with, tinged with jealousy.

 

He seems to have just woken up to the fact that he got paid a ton of money to be an entertainer---and he's upset about this?  HE was "brainwashed"?  When he got a nice contract from the Titans and then he complained because he wasn't getting ENOUGH entertaining?  He demanded a release so he could have MORE brainwashing from yet another team?  Teams and teammates not looking kindly on his "what about me" attitude is evidence of "brainwashing" and "dividing of culture"?  What culture is he referring to?

 

The lament about being away from his family is the only legit beef in that bratty screed.

 

 

 

My beef is it's awfully easy to gripe AFTER you've made more money before 30 than most people would make in a lifetime.

 

 

[Logic]

4 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

this is ludicrous. don't they pay close to 50% of revenues to players?

 

48% of the revenue goes to the players, yes. 

But that still means that 52% of the profits are being split between 32 men, while the other 48% is being split between 1,696 players. 

4 minutes ago, GG said:

 

The flipside is what would Matthews' employment options be if not for the NFL?

I have no idea. How could we know that?

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

He's not commenting on this country's income inequality--he's commenting on the inequity between what the teams' make and what they have paid him.  And it's not a "small %"--it's half of the revenue (far better players get more of it, bro).  As for "actually" "laying their lives on the line"--they actually don't.  They choose to make millions of dollars playing a game that millions of others play for free at many levels.  There are many people who, in their real jobs, "actually" lay their lives on the line (I'm sure you can think of a few, no?), not for entertainment, but for the good of others---and they will earn a "small %" in a lifetime what Matthews averaged in a year.

 

As far as race and Ego--he is actually complaining about other black teammates who have "too much Ego to even understand that someone has the same skin as you"--so there's a dig at the guys he plays with, tinged with jealousy.

 

He seems to have just woken up to the fact that he got paid a ton of money to be an entertainer---and he's upset about this?  HE was "brainwashed"?  When he got a nice contract from the Titans and then he complained because he wasn't getting ENOUGH entertaining?  He demanded a release so he could have MORE brainwashing from yet another team?  Teams and teammates not looking kindly on his "what about me" attitude is evidence of "brainwashing" and "dividing of culture"?  What culture is he referring to?

 

The lament about being away from his family is the only legit beef in that bratty screed.

 

 

Fair enough. I respect your opinions. As I said, I'm not looking for you to agree with Matthews, or to approve of MY agreeing with Matthews.

You know what they say about opinions...

[GoBills808]

Others will agree with him after they retire, others won’t. Either way I have no issue with anything he wrote.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

48% of the revenue goes to the players, yes. 

But that still means that 52% of the profits are being split between 32 men, while the other 48% is being split between 1,696 players. 

 

 

Welcome to the world of business.

 

And that's a VERY fair split compared to most jobs, some of which are more hazardous than football.

 

[Don Otreply]

Weo,  football is not some holy thing to not be spoken against, it is just as filled with crappy people and situations  as the rest of society, even more so on some levels, calm yourself, the guy makes very valid points.  The NFL owners are not greedily rich for no reason.  Do you always get this upset when someone speaks out against their employers actions or methods? If you do so you shouldn’t. 

 

[GG]

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

48% of the revenue goes to the players, yes. 

But that still means that 52% of the profits are being split between 32 men, while the other 48% is being split between 1,696 players. 

 

Don't misuse revenues with profits.  Players get the share of topline revenues.  Owners get a bigger share of topline revenues, but they bear the full cost of franchise operations.  The profit is nowhere near 52%.  Many franchises are not profitable on a cash basis.

 

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

I have no idea. How could we know that?

 

 

Extrapolate his high school and college grades to real world earning potential.

[Say When...]

4 minutes ago, GG said:

Extrapolate his high school and college grades to real world earning potential.

 

my parents would certainly tell you my HS grades didn't pave the way for my current compensation level ?

[ddaryl]

The man has the right to walk away and speak his mind. Although it always seems classier to keep it short and sweet when departing IMO.

 

We all go though our own trials and tribulations. Its a personal journey. For him he didn't like being a part of the NFL anymore and gave his reasons. Now will he feel the same way 10 years from now ?....  Yes the money made is under appreciated by many athletes but the toll on the body and the mind is probably greatly under estimated by Armchair QB's. 

We all have to make the decisions that are best for us at any given moment on our timeline. Hopefully he made the right one for himself.

Edited August 13, 2019 by ddaryl

[klos63]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

https://deadspin.com/rishard-matthews-retires-from-nfl-is-happy-to-leave-be-1837189893

 

Here's a guy, 7th rounder, bounced around for 7 years yet made almost 15 million dollars (that's $170K per game and $67K per catch!) ---and upon "retiring" he decides to dump on the sport that made him more money than he earned. 

 

Mind you, this was the guy who, last year after signing a 1 year extension with the Titans, demanded a release due to lack of playing time--after week 3!!  The Titans granted him that request.

 

Just look at that BS he put on Instagram.  "Brainwashing"!!

 

A lot of these guys are really bad adults.

 

A lot of which guys? This story is about 1 guy.

[MJS]

44 minutes ago, Logic said:

But that still means that 52% of the profits are being split between 32 men, while the other 48% is being split between 1,696 players. 

That's not exactly true. The money goes to the organizations, which supports hundreds of employees for each team, plus stadium costs, plus countless other costs associated with the team. The owners don't just put the money in their pocket and call it a day. They have an entire organization (including many employees) to support.

 

And let's be honest. Even if the slice of the pie does increase for the players, where will that extra money go? To the elite, already very well paid players. It won't go to the 7th round picks and guys who bounce around from team to team.

Edited August 13, 2019 by MJS

[billsfan1959]

51 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

As for "actually" "laying their lives on the line"--they actually don't.  They choose to make millions of dollars playing a game that millions of others play for free at many levels.  There are many people who, in their real jobs, "actually" lay their lives on the line (I'm sure you can think of a few, no?), not for entertainment, but for the good of others---and they will earn a "small %" in a lifetime what Matthews averaged in a year

Amen....

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

I don’t disagree at all. But we live in world where politicians act like bigger children than athletes.  Why do we have higher standards for guys who play a sport?

 

 i don't disagree there. 

[Mr. WEO]

58 minutes ago, Logic said:

48% of the revenue goes to the players, yes. 

But that still means that 52% of the profits are being split between 32 men, while the other 48% is being split between 1,696 players. 

I have no idea. How could we know that?

Fair enough. I respect your opinions. As I said, I'm not looking for you to agree with Matthews, or to approve of MY agreeing with Matthews.

You know what they say about opinions...

 

 

No.  52% of the revenue goes the teams, who's owners than pay all expenses of running the team: staff/benefits/stadium/debt/taxes/etc.  Any money after that, yes, the owner keeps-because it's a business, like every other pro sport.

 

Most teams owners pay fully to the players what the players and the owners collectively bargained for.  Why a player would complain about that makes no sense whatsoever.

[Deranged Rhino]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

48% of the revenue goes to the players, yes. 

But that still means that 52% of the profits are being split between 32 men, while the other 48% is being split between 1,696 players. 

 

That's wildly inaccurate.

[Mr. WEO]

59 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

Weo,  football is not some holy thing to not be spoken against, it is just as filled with crappy people and situations  as the rest of society, even more so on some levels, calm yourself, the guy makes very valid points.  The NFL owners are not greedily rich for no reason.  Do you always get this upset when someone speaks out against their employers actions or methods? If you do so you shouldn’t. 

 

 

Well, good thing nobody is saying it then, right?

 

This guy suddenly decided that the organization that he spent his life aspiring to join and that paid him far more than he will ever earn for the rest of his life to perform to the adulation of millions, a game.

 

And when did he suddenly learn that the owners were fleecing of his health and vitality?  That his egomaniacal teammates were betraying their race? That the NFL was a brainwashing scheme?  I'm guessing it was soon after his performance in the Saints preseason game, after which he walked out of camp----and was then cut by the Saints.  It was an epiphany!  A real burning bush moment!

 

He's a phony.    In Tennessee and Miami, he's pulled the same BS--give me more touches or I'm out of here.  Now, on his way out the door, he craps on the league and its players announcing his "retirement" (sounds better than "just got fired", don't it?.)

[berg1029]

Quote

Matthews played for three teams over his seven full seasons in the NFL, and had his best years in a two-year stretch with the Titans. He spent the back half of last season with the New York Jets, which it is probably safe to assume explains a lot of why he’s feeling so completely ***** and demoralized about the sport of football these days.

 

[thenorthremembers]

15 minutes ago, Deranged Rhino said:

 

That's wildly inaccurate.

It also isnt a very good argument.  How many companies pay their employees that percentage of their profit.  Football may be an incredibly glorified job, but its still a job.   He is set for life for working a few years.   I am not going to shed too many tears for the guy.  

 

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Well, good thing nobody is saying it then, right?

 

This guy suddenly decided that the organization that he spent his life aspiring to join and that paid him far more than he will ever earn for the rest of his life to perform to the adulation of millions, a game.

 

And when did he suddenly learn that the owners were fleecing of his health and vitality?  That his egomaniacal teammates were betraying their race? That the NFL was a brainwashing scheme?  I'm guessing it was soon after his performance in the Saints preseason game, after which he walked out of camp----and was then cut by the Saints.  It was an epiphany!  A real burning bush moment!

 

He's a phony.    In Tennessee and Miami, he's pulled the same BS--give me more touches or I'm out of here.  Now, on his way out the door, he craps on the league and its players announcing his "retirement" (sounds better than "just got fired", don't it?.)

You nailed it.  I am not sure he is a phony, or just has a ton of growing up to do.  

[Mr. WEO]

13 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

It also isnt a very good argument.  How many companies pay their employees that percentage of their profit.  Football may be an incredibly glorified job, but its still a job.   He is set for life for working a few years.   I am not going to shed too many tears for the guy.  

 

You nailed it.  I am not sure he is a phony, or just has a ton of growing up to do.  

 

He's a phony for sure.  Yet another NFL team gave him a chance and he walked out the building pouting.

 

This has nothing to do with the NFL, how it's run, who runs it or who else plays in it (everything he brought up in his laugher of an Instagram post.  Anyone familiar with this guy's history would see this immediately.

 

In 2015, he stopped attending OTAs and demanded a trade or release from the Dolphins because they drafted a WR.

 

I Tennessee, after signing a contract extension, demanded a trade or release after week 3.

 

In NO, after 1 preseason game, he walked away from camp and was cut.

 

He's never been as good a player as he thinks he is, yet plenty of teams gave him opportunity and millions to extend his middling career.  He quit everywhere he went and now blames football.  The balls on this guy.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2019 by Mr. WEO

[Buffalo716]

Do people not realize that stoking racial flames actually makes race relations worse in america?

 

He got million to play a game and he tries playing the race card

 

Real racism would have never even allowed him to suit up

[White Linen]

2 hours ago, Logic said:

The one about the NFL owners -- who are already wealthy -- paying only a tiny percentage of their profits to the guys who actually lay their lives on the line for peoples' entertainment.
 

 

They don't do it for peoples entertainment.  They aren't court gestures.  

[ALLEN1QB]

Who names their kid Roscoe?

[GG]

All this does is prove that Terry Robiskie was right.

[White Linen]

The NFL has been a huge ladder to minorities.  If that can't be celebrated then the issue is with the people that can't.  

[C.Biscuit97]

17 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Do people not realize that stoking racial flames actually makes race relations worse in america?

 

He got million to play a game and he tries playing the race card

 

Real racism would have never even allowed him to suit up

The US is having racial problems because of Rishard Matthews and not idiot politicians who are playing to racist’s beliefs.   

 

I don’t really agree with him but he isn’t allowed to voice his opinions?  And he worked a lot harder to play that game than a lot of lazy people criticizing him. 

[Buffalo716]

2 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

The US is having racial problems because of Rishard Matthews and not idiot politicians who are playing to racist’s beliefs.   

 

I don’t really agree with him but he isn’t allowed to voice his opinions?  And he worked a lot harder to play that game than a lot of lazy people criticizing him. 

I don't think I ever singled out Matthews ... ... and I never said he can't voice his opinion

 

But it ludicrous how much race gets brought up , I was taught to never see color so this stuff irritates me

[White Linen]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

I don't think I ever singled out Matthews ... ... and I never said he can't voice his opinion

 

But it ludicrous how much race gets brought up , I was taught to never see color so this stuff irritates me

 

Exactly.  However, often minorities are taught to recognize racism in is as many areas as possible.  It was initially an effort in standing up for themselves and not allow it anymore.  For years the problem was to just get more black people to fight because they cowered for so long because of the injustice.  They knew they were going to face hard times for standing up and they certainly did.  Now they have a voice and are just using it incorrectly.  

 

It's turned into working in opposite directions.  The answer is to turn to God to help us but fewer and fewer people are doing that.  

[billsfan1959]

13 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

The US is having racial problems because of Rishard Matthews and not idiot politicians who are playing to racist’s beliefs.   

 

I don’t really agree with him but he isn’t allowed to voice his opinions?  And he worked a lot harder to play that game than a lot of lazy people criticizing him. 

He is allowed to voice his opinions and those criticizing him are allowed to voice theirs. And how did you arrive at the conclusion a lot of people criticizing him are lazy?

[C.Biscuit97]

Just now, billsfan1959 said:

He is allowed to voice his opinions and those criticizing him are allowed to voice theirs. And how did you arrive at the conclusion a lot of people criticizing him are lazy?

Agreed 100%.  I was pointing out that people who just dismiss him playing a game and not recognizing how hard it is to play in the nfl.  Most people couldn’t do it.

9 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

Exactly.  However, often minorities are taught to recognize racism in is as many areas as possible.  It was initially an effort in standing up for themselves and not allow it anymore.  For years the problem was to just get more black people to fight because they cowered for so long because of the injustice.  They knew they were going to face hard times for standing up and they certainly did.  Now they have a voice and are just using it incorrectly.  

 

It's turned into working in opposite directions.  The answer is to turn to God to help us but fewer and fewer people are doing that.  

Wow.  There is so much wrong with this.

 

and I love god but the sad part of religion is some of the most religious people are the most judgmental people on the planet.  I was taught to treat people how you wanted to be treated. And that Jesus hung out with the outcasts and the helped out the less fortunate.