March 23, 2011, - 7:03 pm

So Sad, Too Bad: Locked Out, Whining NFL Players Forced to “Downsize”

By Debbie Schlussel

The headline of this post really should have read, “So Sad, Too Bad: Locked Out NFL Players Forced to ‘Downsize’ . . . to Mercedes.”  ‘Cuz these multimillionaire whiners who are not selling crack in the ‘hood or pumping gas in suburban New Jersey–only because they were accidentally born abnormally big, tall, fast, and strong–are now whining, as I warned you they would.  I also predicted that some would run out of cash fast, and one of those I noted, Antonio Cromartie–babydaddy to eight kids with seven women and only in his mid-20s–already began his moaning and bitching before the lockout even started, faulting the players union for halting his steady flow of Benjamins.

Poverty: NFL Players Scott Fujita, Chester Pitts & Willie Colon Struggle to Get Buy in Multi-Millions

Cromartie aside, it’s kind of ridiculous to hear the comments and whines of out-of-touch players, like Seattle Seahawks guard, Chester Pitts, and Cleveland Browns linebacker, Scott Fujita:

The lifestyle for pro football players, particularly the veterans, is a good one. Seahawks guard Chester Pitts, a nine-year veteran, calls it “very comfortable.”

But Pitts notes it also needs to have limitations, more so when the players have no money coming in from the owners because of the labor stalemate.

“The guys in the locker room call me the cheapest guy around,” Pitts said with a laugh, “but you have to be wise with your money. You can live a great life and still be careful and still be smart.

“I tell guys, ‘Why do you need that $250,000 car? A Mercedes is a great car and it’s $85,000. You can afford that on your salary, and what’s that ($250,000) car going to do for you?’ “

Oh, yeah, that’s hard times . . . an $85,000 Mercedes.

Willie Colon didn’t need that advice; he already had decided to stay out of the automotive market this offseason.

The Steelers tackle, who missed the 2010 season with a torn right Achilles’ tendon, had thoughts of purchasing a new car for himself and one for his brother.

Won’t happen.

“I wanted to buy a car for my brother because his car is beat up,” said Colon, who earned $2.198 million last year. “But I told him this is not the year to make a lot of moves, especially with me being a (restricted) free agent and the lockout.”

Colon, who is single, also said he is eating out less and being responsible with his money, something he admits wasn’t always the case.

Whoa! How the heck does someone live on $2.198 mill for a few months? I don’t know how he does it. Definitely, no new cars. And definitely no meals out at Outback Steakhouse, dude.

“If you are wining and dining every night, try and cut back, go to the grocery store and then stay home and cook. Your lifestyle doesn’t have to take a complete 180, but you need to be concerned because you never know when this lockout will end.”

OMG, an NFL player has to cook to make $2.198 million in ends meet. Now that’s torture worse than Gitmo. How does he do it?! Incredible.

Pitts knows of players who aren’t living as large as they once did, including several who told him their postseason vacations were cut in half or even shelved.

So sad, too bad. And get this, Cleveland Brown player Scott Fujita actually has to pay insurance for his family. I just don’t know how he did it on that paltry $8 million he got up front upon signing his contract. Whatta struggle!

All the players have taken a bit of a financial hit already because of the lockout: NFL teams no longer are paying for their health insurance. Fujita paid $1,900 this month for coverage for his wife and two children. For bigger families, the price is around $2,400 a month.

Yes, Fujita signed a three-year, $14 million free agent contract with Cleveland a year ago, with $8 million guaranteed. He’s also played nine seasons, and the league average is about one-third of that.

Wow, now that’s poverty.  By the way, Pitts and Fujita are on the board of the NFL Players Association, their union which was just de-certified.

Did it ever occur to any of these steroid-addled multi-millionaires that at a time when millions of Americans are jobless and homeless, these idiotic comments might sound just a tad insensitive and childish?

Gauche to the Nth.




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30 Responses

This lockout was predicted 6 years ago, if you’re not prepared by now you must be stupid. It never ceases to amaze me how a person making millions a year is buying things on credit increasing they’re dept load. This attitude is why so many Americans are behind the 8 ball due to the creative home financing scams of the last 9 years.
DS go easy on my Seahawks, Pleeeeeeeze.

Anthony on March 23, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Some of us are planning a matzoh benefit for them so they’ll have enough to eat during Passover.

Jonathan E. Grant on March 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm

My heart breaks for deprived millionaires, it really does.

They need to man up!

NormanF on March 23, 2011 at 7:50 pm

OH! MY!!! how could the owners be so heartless? Cutbacks in lifestyle, buying less drugs, smaller cars, and cheaper ho’s, this is what real bad economy can do! My$ 8 million won’t get me through the year. Please send donations to my Poor Players Fund! Part of the money will go to my 8 women and my 10 rugrats!!

bobby99 on March 23, 2011 at 8:06 pm

Jeez. You’re right, it would be sound advice if not for the amount of zeros at the end of their paychecks. And at this time, being frugal is the sound thing to do, but my advice is get a car worth $1k…NOT $85.K!

And that fool with the 8 kids w/ 7 ladies? OMGoodness! Maybe that is it’s own punishment. I am so sure that all 7 of them in a room together means the fur is flying! The kids will pay dearly (as will Daddy Fool…first in wampum, then in remorse as he ages). BabyDaddy-ism is a serious problem. I know some peeps try to act like it’s all love, but maybe they have never lived near it or seen the damage it does as the years go on. I mean, even kids who had sperm donors for Dads are actually looking for them for a connection (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) No worries, men don’t matter./(sarc)

Who is that lady who has a new book out on the crap feminism has wrought?

Skunky on March 23, 2011 at 8:07 pm

Jeez. You’re right, it would be sound advice if not for the amount of zeros at the end of their paychecks. And at this time, being frugal is the sound thing to do, but my advice is get a car worth $1k…NOT $85.K!

And that fool with the 8 kids w/ 7 ladies? OMGoodness! Maybe that is it’s own punishment. I am so sure that all 7 of them in a room together means the fur is flying! The kids will pay dearly (as will Daddy Fool…first in wampum, then in remorse as he ages). BabyDaddy-ism is a serious problem. I know some peeps try to act like it’s all love, but maybe they have never lived near it or seen the damage it does as the years go on. I mean, even kids who had sperm donors for Dads are actually looking for them for a connection (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) No worries, men don’t matter./(sarc)

Who is that lady who has a new book out on the crap feminism has wrought?

Skunky on March 23, 2011 at 8:07 pm

How much is 20 years of your life worth? Is it worth a few million? If the answer is yes continue believing what is written. If not probably shouldn’t be so closed minded.

Eradke on March 23, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Child support for 8 baby mommas, when you know they are collecting welfare too, ka-ching.

ender on March 24, 2011 at 2:55 am

Eradke, that argument is weak because they willingly CHOOSE to play a sport where their body takes such a physical beating. They could, ya know, stay in college all 4 years, and get their degree, so when their body begins to break down they don’t need to rely on steroids and drugs to continue playing. They can use some common sense, listen to their bodies, and stop playing football, with millions in the bank already, and move onto a real career.

But none of them will stay in college for 4 years anymore because it isn’t required. They can jump to the NFL, and as it stands now, if they are a top pick get paid millions in guarenteed money for doing absolutely nothing worthwhile. Also, their degrees they are working on in college are shams. Their hands are being held all the way through college, most likely having other students take tests for them, or undue pressure being placed on professors to pass them. The main focus in college for them is on football because for most schools that is a cash cow.

It is all becoming disgusting. I don’t believe anyone plays professional football for the love of the game anymore, and sadly that is how I am starting to feel about all sports, including college. High school sports are starting to feel that way too because of recruiting procedures allowed by NCAA and the High School atheletic leagues.

DonkeyDonk on March 24, 2011 at 8:17 am

    Right-on, Donkeydonk

    Joel-texag57 on March 24, 2011 at 10:51 am

    Yes they do choose but my point is that it is not very much. You take the top 1% of 1% of any group and they do not get paid anything in terms of total compensation. The very most an NFL player is going to get from their contract is 40% of the total value and that is if they are 100% healthy.

    eradke on March 24, 2011 at 10:54 am

How many Americans dream of the day when they have $1,000,000
in their retirementso they can reel “secure”. These prima donnas go through a life time of money in months. But why do
those making $40,000 a year spend $1000 for a football jacket
advertising a team where the player make SO MUCH MONEY. Fans
need to think before they spend $100 for a ticket.

Tim on March 24, 2011 at 9:22 am

This reminds me of a statement by Patrick Ewing during a standoff in the NBA between owners and players. Referring the the “Larry Bird” rule regarding teams being able to offer whatever they wanted to sign their own free agents, the tall imbecile said something like “We cannot exist without it”.

I_AM_ME on March 24, 2011 at 9:50 am

Maybe we should take up a collection? Tomato cans at every 7-eleven………

Tanstaafl on March 24, 2011 at 10:36 am

He has millions and can’t buy a car for his brother, whose car is beat up? What, he never heard of Ford?

Heck, he could get a Kia for less than $20K.

I think, though, that the problem is more than just spending way more than most people would spend on a similar item (going on vacation to some less expensive place, for example). It’s also the fact that these guys have families to support. Not just the wife and kids (and kids and kids), but also the brothers and sisters and cousins, and parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and best friends, etc., ad nauseum.

They make it big, and alllllllll the poor relatives and friends come out of the woodwork, expecting handouts. The same thing happens to lottery winners.

Then, these people want a few real luxuries for themselves, but feel bad getting the luxuries ONLY for themselves, and have to get them for the hangers-on, as well, and then you really ARE spending the big bucks.

Some of these guys may very well have their hearts in the right place, but we don’t see it.

Their best bet is just to say “No comment.”

Michelle on March 24, 2011 at 12:18 pm

Same as when the vile Latrell Sprewell bitched that he couldn’t afford to feed his family with ___million a year.

Phineas on March 24, 2011 at 12:42 pm

DonkeyDonk – another thing they could do, if they are smart, is take the NFL offer when it comes up, leaving college (where, as you say, they are most likely NOT really learning anything, but just being passed in order to keep them on the team), and have their football career and millions. Then, when their bodies start to say, “ENOUGH,” they can go back to college for real, and actually learn what they need to know for a new career, without all the pressure of football, or the uncertainty of whether they’re being passed due to pressure, or because they actually did the work and learned the material.

There’s no reason they can’t go back to college when they’re ready to really mean it, and appreciate the education. Sadly, few do.

Michelle on March 24, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    Good observations overall, but let’s keep it in perspective. Regarding the NFL in particular, the article said the average career = about 3yrs. Since out of 53 on roster, only 22 are starters.

    Regarding the money: ALL 22 starters dont make the kind of $ everyone’s focusing on. Perhaps only 3-4 players per team do. The rest…average about 600k. Pretty well off, but nowhere near the “gazillions” that others (perhaps envious, jealous, etc) want to focus on. The Top 1-3% instead of the 97-99% of players, (e.g. special teams, average less than 800K and dont last longer than 2-3 seasons) The point: VERY FEW players can in reality “retire comfortably” on their player salaries. If not for their player pensions, most would be bankrupt. The others post-retirement consist of: local or national stints as mediamen or pitchpersons or going the coaching route. Those fortunate few positions are reserved for those who have a reasonable sized IQ and haven’t been worn down by numerous injuries via their playing days.

    Also, something DS and other should consider: Most players get “banged up” or…severely injured. Once they’ve been retired for 5 yrs, the NFL is absolved from ever paying for their medical bills. Almost every other private sector job in US, that simply isnt tolerated. Most firms have to pay for their ex-workers’ injuries that were suffered on the job at work, usually this is worked out in collective bargaining. But since this is about the NFL, one of the weakest unions in US, don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.

    An Example of how the game really is: By the time a Willie Colon’s salary is raised to 2.1mil, usually he’s getting toward the end of his career and thus HAS to keep playing in order to continue the gravy. Or else, he’s on the way out since the younger draft picks are finally ready to take away his starting job.

    The big picture: Only one side….really looks at the NFL the way it should be…as a business, first, last and always and that of course is the billionaire owners (ones who get their stadiums build at near 100% taxpayer funded). The day that most sports fans target and single the owners out and finger-point the responsibility for their lack of concern for their workers the way other big moguls are often criticized in public realm, THEN we shall see if the players ever can get a reasonable slice of the profits (ones that total mega mega mega billions per year).

    Jilly on March 24, 2011 at 5:43 pm

Boo Hoo. I’d like to see what kind of jobs these idiots could get if they had to make it in the real world. My family has had to cut back, but our idea of racheting down expectations is things like a smaller refrigerator than the one we replaced and buying meat that’s been frozen before its sell by date. Adrian Peterson likened the “plight” of NFL players to slavery, so it must be pretty bad for them.

Mominminnesota on March 24, 2011 at 2:04 pm

the greed of the nfl players
is outdone only by
the greed of the nfl owners

taxpayers undewrite the greed by
building megabuck stadia

the greed is financed by
megabuck advertising

consumers underwrite additionally by
buying advertised products

prestigio on March 24, 2011 at 8:18 pm

When 66%- 75% of the league has a felony record, I couldn’t have given two s–ts about these guys. Everyone else in this country is having a hard time so I can’t care a bit about those guys.

samurai on March 24, 2011 at 8:25 pm

It is a ghetto mentality. Every rapper and ghetto professional athelete ends up broke. Look at hockey players, the lowest paid out of the professional sports, they have modest homes and drive Chevy Tahoes. They realize that the money doesn’t last forever.They are the exception. These football players are the same idiots that are still trying to make money in real estate. Didn’t 50 cent just lose 40 million on one house? They end up trying to get people to feel sorry for them when they have to move in with their parents. They refuse to get a normal job, so they end up homeless. You cant teach people to be responsible. You just have to laugh when they fall on their faces.

Forsberg on March 24, 2011 at 9:19 pm

I don’t care for unions in sports but of all of them, I’m sympathetic to the football union. They have the shortest careers of all the pro sports and deserve as much as they can get. Yeah, they have morons who live life too large but they really take a pounding. The saying that it can all be over in a second is especially true in football.

Scott Fujita is an Obama supporter who’s pro-choice (ironic since he was adopted at birth) and favors gay marriage.

Bill on March 24, 2011 at 10:42 pm

What did Chester Pitts say that was so bad? He openly acknowledged they have a perfectly good lifestyle, but that they should be smarter about their money. DS is saying that the players are going to run out of money, and this is a guy agreeing with her point and saying they need to be smart instead of wasting it, and everyone is killing him for it.

He never said that an $85,000 car was terrible or some kind of hardship. He said it was a “great car”.

DS also lumps Scott Fujita in with the “idiotic comments”, because he complained about having to pay health insurance. Except he never said that. The story talks about him paying $1900/month for the insurance, but he doesn’t complain about it. His actual quote?

“We’ve been hammering the point home for two years that you have to be careful and you have to be prepared,” Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said. “Guys I know have made concessions.

“There are always a few guys you have to be concerned about, that you think might not have taken the right steps. It’s a part of the education process. Maybe you have to spoon-feed them on filling out direct deposit slips or coaching them on a change of lifestyle.”

Like Pitts, he’s basically agreeing with DS’s point – there are NFL players will be broke if they don’t figure out how to handle money responsibly. That would be true whether there is a lockout or not.

You want to talk about stupid player comments, go ahead. There’s no shortage of them, starting with Peterson’s slavery quote. But to call Pitts and Fujita whiners is a complete mischaracterization of what they said.

Dave on March 25, 2011 at 12:06 am

ok wait a second. NFL players have a shorter career that other sports professionals – but — before you think “they earn every penny” because of what’s done to their bodies, think about what a paramedic earns ($38,000/year) — those guy and gals break their backs carrying people around and they save lives every day.

Mominminnesota on March 25, 2011 at 8:24 am

Mominminnesota,

Would you rather the money go to the owners, who do nothing but rake in billions of television money while screwing taxpayers for publicly funded stadiums?

Dave on March 25, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    I’d like to see the owners buy their own stadiums — believe me.

    Mominminnesota on March 25, 2011 at 8:32 pm

What’s more ridiculous is the billionaire owners’ side of the story, that they’re not making enough money. Maybe they need to stop being so greedy. I also love the “they’d be selling crack on the streets if they weren’t playing football” bit of racist stereotyping. Pretty abhorrent.

Majifitz on March 25, 2011 at 8:46 pm

The owners risk their money on a business…they deserve to profit from their investment.

JD Farmer on March 27, 2011 at 11:04 pm

These guys should SHUT up! I wish they and a veteran had each other’s salary for a decade!/I bet I wouldn’t hear the veteran complain, and the football player would be screaming his head off, no wait on second thought, switch the salary of both jobs for life! What do you think Mrs. Schlussel?!

Robyn on January 15, 2016 at 4:38 pm

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