ESPN’s Adam Schefter is arguably the best and most reliable NFL reporter in the industry. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is up there, too — at least on his better days. But on Tuesday morning, both sent tweets in the wake of Chris Borland’s decision to retire that have received plenty of negative attention.
Schefter shared some information about the contract Borland walked away from with the San Francisco 49ers. He probably could have left the commentary out of it.
Chris Borland was scheduled to make $530K this year, plus $10K workout bonus. Not many jobs pay 24-year-olds $540K for 6 months of work.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2015
Florio took a similar stance.
Americans routinely assume far greater physical risks for far less money and fame than the risk/reward of playing in the NFL.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 17, 2015
Whether intentional or not, it seemed like Schefter was noting how fortunate NFL players are to make big bucks at such a young age. Florio’s tweet also seemed to be in poor taste, though he later tried to clarify when a military veteran called him out for using veterans as an example to support his argument.
@mattufford . . . And I had an uncle who was decapitated in a coal mine. The truth is the truth.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 17, 2015
Borland has chosen to walk away from football so he wont end up with a condition like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated blows to the head. CTE is believed to have played a role in this tragic incident involving a former NFL linebacker and the suicide of NFL legend Junior Seau. Both played the same position as Borland.
Schefter and Florio suggesting Borland was lucky to be making so much money proves how out of touch people can be — even the “smart” ones.
