![820E72B9-24CC-4EDD-8B79-22438CFDF538.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYFFA4hB3jTiUZFN9w3djXenotggoJ24UTDstzSYZD7TN/820E72B9-24CC-4EDD-8B79-22438CFDF538.jpeg)

Unlike most other professional sports leagues, the NFL does not have guaranteed contracts. This is manly due to how violent the game is, and therefore a player can have a career threatening or career ending injury at any time. Although that is the case in all sports, it is most obvious in football. 

The NFL owners are a very powerful group, and the NFL players association is relatively weak compared to players unions in other sports. 

The average career of an NFL player is less than 4 years, and it’s rare for even great players to play for more than 10 years. In other words, most NFL players are on to a second career by their late 20s. 

Earl Thomas, an All-pro safety from the Seattle Seahawks held out during training camp in order to get a long term contract. He was not given this contract, nor was he traded(which he requested; to the cowboys). He cane back on a one year deal, and this past Sunday he broke his leg. That is why he gave the middle finger to his own team as he was being carted off. 

It is a worse case scenario for Earl Thomas because it will impact the amount that he can try to get on the open market next year. Sadly it also illustrates why teams are wise not to give long term contracts. (For what it’s worth- he will get paid all year because all contracts are insured.) 

I wrote an accompanying post about LeVeon Bell, who is currently holding out, and is a counterpoint to the Earl Thomas example. 

Here’s my Bell post:

https://steemit.com/sports/@newcastle/le-veon-bell-is-set-to-return-to-the-steelers

Image is from The NFL