and you've gotta throw the fans into that indictment. Fans push the idea that every player is expendable ("next man up!") as hard as the coaches and owners.... but the coaches and owners know that isn't true because they'll bend over backwards to cater to players that contribute greatly to winning or the bottom line.

If the average players are expendable, so are their views. And that gives the NFL owners and coaches the cover to just throw away players that aren't contributing enough to the bottom line or winning.

I still can't deny the financial aspect though... the lack of financial security is certainly keeping alot of players quiet. Considering the long term health risks, I think I'd need $5-10 million in the bank to really feel financially secure in the NFL.