When people think about NFL players, all they usually think about is the fame and fortune-filled lives that they will live. But what about the personal sacrifices that a player must make as soon as he signs that high-dollar contract?
Two major sacrifices are family and friends. The NFL players must travel a great deal of the time, leaving behind their family and friends. This can cause friendships to end, fast. One reason for this is because no matter what people say, someone is always going to be envious of a professional football player’s lifestyle. The money, the fame, the women, etc., is more plentiful than what the average person has. This can cause a lot of animosity and resentment, as well as the ‘friend’ no longer wanting to have a relationship with the NFL player.
Some so-called friends will even choose to remain friends with the NFL players, but with one ulterior motive: Asking for and expecting handouts on a regular basis. They may feel that because they’re friends with this now-rich person that they are somehow entitled to receive some of the money. And as soon as the cash stops flowing, when the football professional wises up, the phony friend rapidly disappears.
There will undoubtedly be some genuine people who wish to remain friends with the NFL player. These friends, however, will usually drift away from their professional football friends because of the simple fact that the player just doesn’t have enough time to devote to friends.
When making the decision to become an NFL player, the person must also consider his family, especially if he’s married. He will be separated from his family on regular basis, which could cause numerous problems, many possibly leading to divorce. The pro ball player will have all sorts of temptations from beautiful women, throwing themselves at him just because he’s famous. This may be difficult for some men to resist, resulting in him breaking his marriage vows. The wife may also be tempted to stray because of loneliness. This is why when a young person is presented with an inviting football contract, they must think about all aspects of the career and its expectations, and not just the money and recognition.
Most professional football players live happy and prosperous lives, but they just need to remember where their priorities are before they even decide to sign that life-altering contract.