ChiefsPlanet - Football Troy Vincent has an interesting take on the state of NFL players

In light of all the crap going on lately (concussions, suicides etc) I thought this was an interesting perspective. Take from it what you will but the numbers he sites should be verifiable...no, I haven't bothered verifying...

Quote:

There are many myths about professional football players. We all have heard them repeated, especially when an athlete makes off-the-field headlines.
Check out the "The Top Five Myths About NFL Players" to give you some insight about the real story beneath the helmets and uniforms.

Contrary to longstanding lore, national studies indicate that former NFL players live long productive lives, own homes, have strong marriages and successful jobs after football. You also might be surprised to know that the NFL provides a vast array of services and programs to assist its players in attaining success throughout their athletic life cycle – including before they make it to the professional ranks, during their playing career, the transition away from playing, and throughout the next phases of their lives.

NFL Player Engagement employs a unique peer to peer model where former players are trained and teamed with industry experts to lead outreach to players before, during and after their time with the NFL. We provide degree completion, ongoing career counseling and professional development outreach that includes boot camps in broadcasting, culinary arts, movie making, franchising, and music. Through internships and job shadows, former players can explore corporate environments or the business of football.

In the NFL family, every life is valued, loved and honored. Our Total Wellness platform takes a holistic approach to family safety, mental and physical health, and transition. It includes an independent national crisis intervention hotline as well as local partners in each NFL city providing assistance in education, prevention and intervention. These are resources available to the entire NFL family.

As a former player, I, my family, and my peers want you to know that most of us do well after our NFL experience. It takes shared responsibility and a commitment to accountability to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the NFL. We are not defined by the myths, but rather by our personal responsibility as honorable men and good citizens.

For more information about the resources made available through NFLPE, go to www.nflplayerengagement.com.

Here's a link to the Top 5 Myths:

http://e.nfl.com/PS!uQeqPqDxHRUFBgIA...c2OTYKBUZBQ1RT