One thing I mention more than once in posts around here is playing for the love of the game.

It's true, you have to love the game to keep playing or you will burn and crash hard.

However.  Let's not kid ourselves,  Playing in the NFL means more than that.  it means money.

Now, for the "visible" positions, RB's Receivers and QB's,  There is LOADS of money to be had.  Not to mention the publicity and advertising money to be chased down as well.  If a "visible" player is successful in the NFL, his earning potential skyrockets without "outside" opportunities often exceeding their NFL contracts, which are nothing to sneeze at on their own.

On the other side of the lights though are the "invisible" players.  The "Big Boys", being linemen and "grunt" back positions.

These boys Love the game.  Often it's one of the fewest opportunities they will ever have come their way to make that kind of money, which very often might equal half of the "visible positions at best.

They generally NEVER see the publicity and advertising opportunities come their way, once in a while you get a standout shot, a William Perry, a "Mean Joe" Green, etc. but those are the exceptions, not the rule.

But still, an NFL base contract for linemen is pretty good.  Better than most opportunities a "big Boy" will ever get.

Truck Driver,  Dock loader, farmer/rancher, etc.

I know this because I and a lot of Retired or short term 'invisibles" I know have ended up doing those exact jobs after the NFL was through with them.

A friend of mine was a starting offensive Lineman for the Chiefs in the late 70's, Larry Brown.  That dude was good back then.

got hurt, retired ( nice way to put it ) and what does he do now?

He's a truck driver.  ( just like me)

I don't ever give the "visibles" a hard time for wanting to get what money they can out of the NFL,  the owners make more from their teams than they could ever spend.  and it's the players backs theyr are making that money on.  

but the "visibles" are only really at their best, when some "invisibles" are excelling at their jobs.  where are the bonuses for making the opportunities happen for them?  you got to have a damn good agent to see that happen and even then, count yourself very lucky to even be heard on the subject.

Even the "bad" O line guys we have in KC, I love em.  they play their hearts out, even if they aren't the best and I don't blame them for taking every minute a coach gives them on the field.

Yes, football is just a game.  It's a game that pays the guys who play it very well if they make it to the Pro's.  But that doesn't make the game any easier to play.  

Big Bear