The realities of football make it difficult for Arian Foster to enjoy from a fan’s perspective.
Foster told actor Michael Rapaport in a recent Houston Chronicle podcast that, having seen the risks and met the players, he struggles to enjoy the game as a fan.
“I watch zero football. I swear,” Foster said, via ProFootballTalk. “Of course, I used to be a super fan growing up. Once you see the business side, you see it differently. I’m pondering entering the last couple, 3-4 years of my career and I’m thinking about what life will be like after football and I’m looking at the game differently. I look at it more like, ‘I hope these guys come out healthy because they’ve got families.’ It’s not just entertainment to me any more. I see the men and the humans behind it. It’s a vantage point that not a lot of people get to see. I still do enjoy the game. I love it, but it’s just hard for me to watch it from a fan perspective.”
Foster also said he believed there to be a double standard for players, who are criticized when they try to get a new contract, and owners and management who have no problem releasing players as cap casualties.
Foster has dealt with head injuries before and been thrown right back into the fray, and that’s just one of the numerous physical issues he’s dealt with over his career. He’s had so many issues that his own owner has talked about his injury proneness. It’s a stark reminder of the risks and the human side of the game. As Richard Sherman said, he sees a concussion movie every Sunday.
