And neither do college players, nor should they while they are in college. And they are getting degrees, and the AVERAGE NFL player is out of the league by I think age 29? Take away punters, kickers, and Brett Farve and the average is a lot lower. So yes, most of them WILL use their degree after they are done playing because they don't make the $10m a year that the AP's get, they get probably closer to the 6-800k per year mark. Still, incredible money, and if they invested it wisely, they could make it last for a good amount of time, but they will still need to work because it won't last them forever, and what do you know, they got a degree too!
Ok, so free tattoos you think is nothing? Then where is the line? Free food? Scholarship does that. Rent paid for? Scholarships do that. Books for school? Scholarship. Extra spending money? SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDE THAT. Here's the thing, with scholarships, the leftover money, GOES TO YOUR POCKET. So why not use that money, that the school is paying you, to get a stupid tattoo of some tribal pattern?
The rules are there for a reason, if you like them or not. Want to know what happens when they aren't upheld? Cam Newton. His father was "selling his commitment" to the highest bidder. Yet, since Cam "never saw the money" (which is quite easily the biggest crock of **** we have ever been told) he wasn't violating any rules, and his dad was banned from going to the NCG. Since then? Auburn has become the joke it was before again without the sanctions. This is worse than anything Ohio State or USC did in my eyes, yet it isn't deemed a rule violation even though money changed hands between the school and the players father? Please.
USC gets in trouble because an AGENT (not a booster, NO ONE affiliated with the team) hooked Reggie Bush up with stuff for when he graduated. Agents have no rules, they can do what they want because there is no one who suspends them or whatever if they give college players stuff. Agents want the best clients they can get, so they do what they can to get those clients.
And it isn't like the players that break the rules are the ones getting punished. It is the FUTURE players who get punished. I don't think any of the Penn State football players were there in 2002 when shower parties were happening. Hell, they were still in elementary school! The programs get punished, and until the actual players get punished, nothing will change. Money can only hide stuff for so long.
What does need to happen is drug testing in college, and I am looking directly at that kid from LSU when I say this. If you fail a drug test during the season, your team automatically is no longer BCS eligible. You wanna see how fast those programs will get cleaned up? Take away their lifeline, BCS money. Watch what happens when the Bama, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, USC, Oregon, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, etc. all miss out on BCS bowls because of failed drug testing. I can tell you one thing, they will get cleaned up real quick, and it will discourage usage by athletes. Either that, or immediate expulsion from the university and a ban on competing in the NCAA at any level. Just watch what would happen, chaos. Complete chaos because somebody take a hit from a bong. And I would love it.
But Joey, you need to find a team. That's what it all boils down to.
