NFL Players: America's Newest 'Victims'

Recently in the news it has been made apparent that many former athletes in the NFL have suffered serious, life altering injuries. Many past players have concerns and are calling for reform of the pension and medical-disability system. This includes New England Patriots All Pro linebacker Ted Johnson, who claims he suffered multiple concussions during his 10-year career and is now addicted to amphetamines and former defensive linemen Conrad Dobler who during his 10 year career destroyed his knees and now has to take 150 Vicodin a month to dull the pain.

Because players are and were compensated so well it is hard for many to sympathize with them. Young professional athletes get paid for the amount of talent they have. As their careers progress they get paid for performance. If they perform at a high level comparable to the other highly paid athletes, they will receive a similar salary. Paying for performance is a good way to solve the Principal-Agent Problem. This occurs when workers pursue objectives that conflict with the goals of the firms or employers.

If athletes don't perform at a high level they are compensated less, however they are usually paid less because they aren't as talented or haven't produced, and they are still paid two to three times as much as the average American. Even if they are injured do athletes have an argument? Do they deserve to be compensated more because there jobs are dangerous? Or should they have considered this before making the decision to become a professional athlete?

According to the article, “Further undermining the players' efforts to portray themselves as victims is the fact that they're represented by sophisticated sports agents and a union that hasn't completely ignored the issue. The union pays out about $16 million a year in retirement benefits, and the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, negotiated in March 2006, included more than $50 million in enhanced medical and pension benefits. In the end, what this comes down to is money. Many of the older players, who made $50,000 a year, are jealous of today's players, who make $5 million. And the worst cases, like Mr. Dobler, are being held up as the norm instead of the exception. "What you don't hear about is the guys we help," Mr. Upshaw said at a press conference during Super Bowl XLI.”