Unfortunately, there are no mulligans when it comes to pro football contracts.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I had pro offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, who were pretty hard up for linemen in those days. If I had gone into professional football the name Jerry Ford might have been a household word today.
In the NFL they talk about 'contracts,' but it's not really a contract, it's a one year agreement. If you have a 10 year contract, it means nothing. If you get cut in the NFL, you get nothing. People don't talk about that.
Nowadays there are too many players who can't get a contract elsewhere, who come to England and just take the money.
A consulting position might work in another profession, but not in pro football. There's no such thing. They give a guy a parking spot and put his name up as a consultant, and in six months, they erase the name.
The thing I really look for in this business is there are guys who are into football and there are guys who are in the profession for other reasons.
There needs to be a college football commissioner.
I'm not trying to be the highest-paid receiver in the National Football League. I've never received that, and that's not ever going to happen. So I'm fine with what I have, I make good money, and I'm happy about it.
There is no primer for being an NFL owner. It is learn-as-you-go.
It's not uncommon for a big free agent to come to a new club with a big contract and not perform up to his standards.
I don't pitch for contracts.