NFL contracts are NOT guaranteed., especially in this instance…if he signed he would get paid on a game to game basis…IF he was kept for more than one game. He has no bargaining power.
Maybe, but if he were to leave Norfolk Southern, they won’t give him a second chance.
Ahhh the ugly head of greed. American style. It is so sexy, so glamarous, so enriching to grab the spotlight as an NFL (or other sport, or entertainment, or investment) star for the moment than it is to be level headed, sincere and understanding the long term needs of a real career and life for oneself and the family. Fame is fleeting! So is the monies and false sense of security earned with such fleeting fame. A career as a garbage truck dirver, a machinist, a railroad conductor or engineer, a plumber or electrician, a store clerk or manager, or any one of thousands of other long tem and secure jobs giving one a sense of life long accomplishment and filling the needs of one’s family, is certainly not to be condemned. Not only has this man’s family gained a lot, but so has the Norfolk Southern in particular, and American business in the long run. If only the short term, bottom line, instant money gamers (i.e., the American high end investors) would realize that a long term, level headed committment like this is what this Country needs more of at this time rather than overnite riches from cheap imported products, with no value or money added to our economy.
I dunno. If this guy had a chance to be in the NFL, it meant that this has probably been his dream and his life’s goal. By this time in his life, he’s probably put more effort into chasing that dream and goal than most people would expend in a lifetime. To have to give that up, and get a job must have been a real let down, requiring a lot of soul-searching on his part. Perhaps it’s not really fair to blame that on greed on his part. Isn’t it everyone’s dream to snatch that gold ring? He tried. He missed. That’s greed?
Exactly…but… in any high end career you’ve got to KNOW you’ll make it…people who have doubts in their own abilities and hedge their bets with are out of the game before it even begins… maybe he understands that.
You/ve missed my point by 180 degrees! He is not greedy, his feet are on the ground, he sees reality. Those who would go to the Jets for the implied glory and money ignoring family and future, where risk would actually be greater than the reward, would be the greedy ones.
Some more links on this story worth looking at
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=12338666
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/sports/football/12jets.html
http://www.cnn.com/search/?query=Keith Fitzhugh&primaryType=mixed&sortBy=date&intl=false
Trains newswire:
Of course he’s not greedy. If he was he wouldn’t work for a freight railroad in Jersey. That job just does not pay that much. Stability? Being at the bottom of the roster, stability is not the word to use. Then you have the people hiding in the weeds, trying to find a way to fire you.
What a life.
But it’s his choice. Yeah, fame is fleeting, but I’m famous here. Or at least I think so… [:-^]
This would make a good story on ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown show. I guess its to each his own. This guy was one of the pre season cuts to get the roster down to 53 players as required by rule. The NFLPA and the owners are already in a bickering war on expanding the regular season starting next yr from 16 to 18 games. Players don’t want it, the owners do. For the good of the game, a 18 game season would not be good. However, with an expanded season, more injuries will take place which means teams will have to sign replacements which will increase chances for guys like this to make a team roster spot. I’m a hard core die hard AZ Cardinals fan and the way things are going this yr,perhaps this dude should sign with the Cardinals.
And even if he were to get signed because of the increased injury risk…there is the risk that he could then get injured and cut with the injury being sufficient that he would not be employable in a field that requires physical abilities.
Each of us has to make our own decisions based on our own circumstances.
If the NFL were a industrial concern, I am certain they would not be able to get any form of employee insurance account of their demonstrated injury record.
And he could just as easily get injured on the railroad and not be able to do physical work as well…
Perhaps infamous might be more appropriate…[:-,]
This man is going to be on the Jay Leno show tonight.
Another factor in his decision, is the possibility of an NFL strike or lockout in 2011, which means NO MONEY COMING IN AT ALL.
And he has the possibilty of being fired or furloughed on the railroad. That also means NO MONEY COMING IN AT ALL.
I’ve never worked for a railroad, but I’ve been laid off and I’ve been fired.
It happens in every industry except government work.
Railroad Retirement Unemployment will be coming in for a period of time after the first 7 days.
There are a lot of laid off government employees out there these days…
Funny how some of the biggest proponents of the railroad job are people that never worked for the industry. The myth better than the reality? Red pill or blue?
Probably true of any job…and railfans who have had no experience on the railroad like myself probably view the job through rose colored glasses… Its the old adage…you’ve got to walk a mile in the other guy’s shoes to get the real picture…
I’ve never worked on a railroad either but my hat is off to those who do. The working conditions sound… well, pretty rough.
Maybe the guy just wants a less dangerous job?