OK, enough already

I came across this news article today on ESPN.com that really ticked me off. It's an article talking about the other jobs (or lack thereof) some NFL players are turning to due to the owner's lockout. What's worse, it tells how much two current players made last year and how they've had to "adjust" to a now different post-lockout lifestyle. I wanted to reach through the computer and slap these jocks upside their concussed heads - because that's how they are acting, like dumb jocks.

Here's some of the article:
You might be thinking: I'm on the owners' side in this lockout mess because NFL players are all spoiled, hat-backward millionaires who will no more miss a year's salary than they'll miss their eighth Lexus.

OK, but maybe you should meet Brian Schaefering, Cleveland Browns defensive lineman.

He has a wife, three kids -- all 8 and under -- and a rented house. He doesn't have a shoe deal or a Lloyd's of London policy or a super agent willing to float him till this is over.

"I'll do anything," says Schaefering, 27. "If I have to work for UPS, I will. I got a family to feed. I've paved roads, fixed roofs, done landscaping. I'm not better'n anybody else. I don't want any handouts. I'd be happy with $12 an hour if I could get it."

You hear anything about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanting to run a road paver lately?

You might be thinking: What the hell has he done with his money he has made so far in the NFL?

Well, he went undrafted in 2008, barely made the practice squad in '09 and finally started nine games for the Browns last season, making $395,000. He says he netted just over $200,000 after taxes. And he had plenty of bills to pay going into last year.

"I hear people joking around about this thing, but it's no joke," he says. "If this goes into the season, my wife might start panicking a little."

Oh really? Your wife might start panicking after you cleared over $200k last year?? You'd be happy with $12 an hour, you say? All right, we'll write that into your next contract extension you greedy bastard.

But let's take the argument one step further... what about the college kids that haven't been drafted and signed to any type of contract?

Maybe you should meet University of Wisconsin All-American lineman John Moffitt.

Moffitt's got no job and no endorsement deals -- "Nobody wants to see my face on anything," he says -- and "my parents stopped sending my allowance." So George is paying for training and living expenses until something breaks.

After that?

"Well, my dad paints houses in Guilford, Conn.," he says. "I think he'd maybe take me on doing that. But it's kind of hard right now. I hope it doesn't come to that."

Yeah... but you have a degree right? Did you attend class for reasons other than staying eligible?? And what's that... you might have to actually work a crappy job before you're pretty much guaranteed to land your dream career? Welcome to the real world, sonny boy! You got a free education - maybe you should consider using it. That's what the rest of us have to do...

Don't get me wrong, I'm completely on the player's side of this whole thing... but reading an article where they are portrayed as "scraping by" makes me sick to my stomach. Promise me $200k for the next year, and I think I could muddle through.