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A Rocket tight end retiring.
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Jerry Weaver Offline
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A Rocket tight end retiring.
This is too bad. He was a talent and if not for the injuries, I suspect his career would have been good.
https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/form...years.html
09-06-2020 06:46 PM
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pono Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
the article is no joke. and i bet this thread has fewer replies than a video of him catching a td in week 1 would. he is really struggling emotionally and says he needs to retire from the sport he loves - "to save his life". been through a lot physically with the injuries and rehabs, but suggests the added mental stress of fighting for a job in the league and failing physicals and worrying he's gonna fail a physical has worn him down. said, initially, "football saved my life" and is largely referring to his time at UT, a university and football program that challenged him to grow and supported him at the same time. we see this with a lots of ex rockets who bounce around the NFL a bit, but can't quite make it a career. guys like tuzar skipper who may never quite catch on in the league but went from inexperienced under recruited juco to an NFL player because of his growth at UT which included an severe knee injury, surgery and rehab and then a successful return. sounds like roberts time at UT was great but the pros have been rough. no place in that league for injured backups and your window for getting a first and second look is shorter than other sports.
(This post was last modified: 09-07-2020 04:01 AM by pono.)
09-07-2020 04:00 AM
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rocketpaul Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
Michael Roberts thank you for the enjoyment you gave me on the football field. I am happy that you were able to find a path to life through football. Good luck with all your future endeavors.
09-07-2020 04:20 AM
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Springboromark Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
With is passion for the sport, would not surprise me to see him make a go at it again, especially with the right team.
09-07-2020 04:40 AM
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PTLROCK Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
I said early on Michael was going to be an unstoppable go to on 3rd down. He became a fantastic tight end. He was huge in the Arkansas win. Michael was a pleasure to watch play at UT. I wish him all the best in his transition. I wonder if he could play a role at UT going forward if he truly does retire?
09-07-2020 12:59 PM
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NewMex RocketFan Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-07-2020 12:59 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  I said early on Michael was going to be an unstoppable go to on 3rd down. He became a fantastic tight end. He was huge in the Arkansas win. Michael was a pleasure to watch play at UT. I wish him all the best in his transition. I wonder if he could play a role at UT going forward if he truly does retire?

I was wondering the same thing. Michael would have invaluable experiences on and off the field to share with Rocket players.
09-07-2020 01:39 PM
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Rocket_Fanatic Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
Best of luck to him. I bet he stays in the game coaching
09-07-2020 02:09 PM
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Rocket75 Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
I have spoken with Michael a couple of times in person. He is a class act. He is definitely a role model for kids who had a tough life growing up. I wish him the very best.
09-07-2020 04:06 PM
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PaulJ Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-06-2020 06:46 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  This is too bad. He was a talent and if not for the injuries, I suspect his career would have been good.
https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/form...years.html

sobering reminder that average NFL career is 3 years
09-08-2020 10:39 AM
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Boca Rocket Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-08-2020 10:39 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  
(09-06-2020 06:46 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  This is too bad. He was a talent and if not for the injuries, I suspect his career would have been good.
https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/form...years.html

sobering reminder that average NFL career is 3 years

Average annual salary is close to $3mil. Lowest paid
players about $500,000. Not too shabby.
09-09-2020 02:04 AM
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eastisbest Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-09-2020 02:04 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  
(09-08-2020 10:39 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  
(09-06-2020 06:46 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  This is too bad. He was a talent and if not for the injuries, I suspect his career would have been good.
https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/form...years.html

sobering reminder that average NFL career is 3 years

Average annual salary is close to $3mil. Lowest paid
players about $500,000. Not too shabby.

Probably a lot of hands in that pocket though. Agents, trainers.... The take-home, particularly if there are lasting injury effects needs good investment before it could be considered life changing. These short time players that have moved from roster to roster had a great experience, no doubt. But that last day at work....is a dramatic life change. Not much transition time. Need a lot of emotional support I imagine. Hope he finds something he enjoys doing real soon.

Not exactly on-topic but relevant to transitions in life, I watch Netflix' Away.There was a small but very important part with ex-EMU Olympic high jumper Jamie Nieto who had been paralyzed in an accident. The transition from athlete to the mundane has to be difficult enough.
(This post was last modified: 09-09-2020 06:27 AM by eastisbest.)
09-09-2020 06:17 AM
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BearcatMan Online
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-09-2020 02:04 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  
(09-08-2020 10:39 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  
(09-06-2020 06:46 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  This is too bad. He was a talent and if not for the injuries, I suspect his career would have been good.
https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/form...years.html

sobering reminder that average NFL career is 3 years

Average annual salary is close to $3mil. Lowest paid
players about $500,000. Not too shabby.

After taxes and agency fees, he probably made just about $500,000 or so in his two years with the Lions...great cushion to start life on, that's for sure. Hope he uses it as a launch pad instead of an anvil and he can focus on his psychological health for a bit to get back to "normal" life again.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/miami-dolphi...-earnings/
09-09-2020 08:57 AM
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PaulJ Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-09-2020 02:04 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  
(09-08-2020 10:39 AM)PaulJ Wrote:  
(09-06-2020 06:46 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  This is too bad. He was a talent and if not for the injuries, I suspect his career would have been good.
https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/form...years.html

sobering reminder that average NFL career is 3 years

Average annual salary is close to $3mil. Lowest paid
players about $500,000. Not too shabby.

UDFA start at around $500,000 and by 3rd year player would be up to $720,000. So year after three years you could be around $1.9m pre tax and agent fees. Average annual salary is really not representative as impacted by the mega contracts of small number of players. Average NFL career is 3 years. Real money is with top players signing first deals after rookie cap, and mid career players cashing in.
09-09-2020 12:42 PM
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northcoastRocket Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
Roberts was luckier than most (salary-wise) being that he was drafted relatively high, which means he got guaranteed money up front. Lower drafted players and UDFAs don't get that. Practice squad players get $8400 a week for 2020. They are often maintaining residences in multiple cities, hiring personal trainers in the off-season and such, so their expenses can be very high compared to a non-athletes. And the checks can stop on a dime any particular week for those without guaranteed money.

Roberts reportedly made about $1.8M in his 3 seasons - better than most. Even after agent fees, taxes and other expenses that is a good chunk of change, but not enough to make someone set for life. Cody Thompson on the other hand, reportedly made about $80K so far.

Roberts was unlucky though, in that he didn't make 3 accrued seasons. Need 3 seasons to qualify for any of the NFL benefits, like a pension or the big one, health insurance. Once off contract, players with <3 seasons have to handle their own healthcare costs. If you need expensive surgeries or have long-lasting issues that need recurring care, that can rapidly eat away many of those $.

The top players rake in more money than anyone ever should need to make. The middle tier players that last 4-5+ seasons should do fine. But there are many who really don't end up with much at all when you add it all up.
09-09-2020 05:53 PM
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MotoRocket Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-09-2020 05:53 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Roberts was luckier than most (salary-wise) being that he was drafted relatively high, which means he got guaranteed money up front. Lower drafted players and UDFAs don't get that. Practice squad players get $8400 a week for 2020. They are often maintaining residences in multiple cities, hiring personal trainers in the off-season and such, so their expenses can be very high compared to a non-athletes. And the checks can stop on a dime any particular week for those without guaranteed money.

Roberts reportedly made about $1.8M in his 3 seasons - better than most. Even after agent fees, taxes and other expenses that is a good chunk of change, but not enough to make someone set for life. Cody Thompson on the other hand, reportedly made about $80K so far.

Roberts was unlucky though, in that he didn't make 3 accrued seasons. Need 3 seasons to qualify for any of the NFL benefits, like a pension or the big one, health insurance. Once off contract, players with <3 seasons have to handle their own healthcare costs. If you need expensive surgeries or have long-lasting issues that need recurring care, that can rapidly eat away many of those $.

The top players rake in more money than anyone ever should need to make. The middle tier players that last 4-5+ seasons should do fine. But there are many who really don't end up with much at all when you add it all up.

I would think the ACA would take pretty good care of a young person that doesn't have to worry about the effects of needed surgeries for pre-existing conditions once football is over. <Some sarcasm embedded in there....> Always better than paying for it out-of-pocket, or skipping the surgeries altogether. That is hopefully an area where the agent will earn some of the money they take as their commission for not a whole lot of work for young players drafted mid to late rounds.
09-10-2020 03:02 PM
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PaulJ Offline
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RE: A Rocket tight end retiring.
(09-09-2020 05:53 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Roberts was luckier than most (salary-wise) being that he was drafted relatively high, which means he got guaranteed money up front. Lower drafted players and UDFAs don't get that. Practice squad players get $8400 a week for 2020. They are often maintaining residences in multiple cities, hiring personal trainers in the off-season and such, so their expenses can be very high compared to a non-athletes. And the checks can stop on a dime any particular week for those without guaranteed money.

Roberts reportedly made about $1.8M in his 3 seasons - better than most. Even after agent fees, taxes and other expenses that is a good chunk of change, but not enough to make someone set for life. Cody Thompson on the other hand, reportedly made about $80K so far.

Roberts was unlucky though, in that he didn't make 3 accrued seasons. Need 3 seasons to qualify for any of the NFL benefits, like a pension or the big one, health insurance. Once off contract, players with <3 seasons have to handle their own healthcare costs. If you need expensive surgeries or have long-lasting issues that need recurring care, that can rapidly eat away many of those $.

The top players rake in more money than anyone ever should need to make. The middle tier players that last 4-5+ seasons should do fine. But there are many who really don't end up with much at all when you add it all up.

Not sure what the new CBA does in terms of vested years for pension or health insurance but minimum salaries are taking a jump, 20% starting this season (to $610,000) and first year minimum will get to $ 1 million in 2030, similar interests in 2-4yrs, plus 7+ year salaries. So by 2030 a player in league for 3 yrs will get total salary in excess of $3.6 million
09-10-2020 03:43 PM
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