Too much money at a young age, it just takes your eye off the ball. And you're not as hungry as players used to be. You think you've made it before you've done anything.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
A ball player has to be kept hungry to become a big leaguer. That's why no boy from a rich family has ever made the big leagues.
Money is not a motivating factor. Money doesn't thrill me or make me play better because there are benefits to being wealthy. I'm just happy with a ball at my feet. My motivation comes from playing the game I love. If I wasn't paid to be a professional footballer I would willingly play for nothing.
When money comes into play then that's all it's about wanting money, who's making the most who can get the most, me, me me... and in the end it screws up the person and the sport.
It is not about money. It is about how you treat the player.
This is where young players today want to land. They want to be NBA players because of the money.
The source of wealth is from individuals with little or no history of interest in the game, who have happened upon football as a means of serving some hidden agenda.
I believe a lot of players that start to think about money - 'Oh my goodness; I'm up for a new contract' - they don't have a great season because they're thinking about all these different things. Do your business on the field, and everything takes care of itself.
I think all players reach a point in their career where it's natural to lose some of that hunger, that desire, to sort of break out or be a star.
It's hard not to chase the money. You sit at home when guys are out playing for a $6 million purse, and you know you're going to drop back on the money list, so you end up playing when you don't really want to.
The scary thing is that players have a one-upsmanship about money; they sign a contract and they like it until someone signs a bigger one and now they don't like it. I don't like that. I don't begrudge anyone money, but it disrupts the football team.
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