The purpose of posting the video was to give insight, give some background on Raji's decision. Rourke clearly doesn't care about that, which is perfectly fine (as I've always said, we are all entitled to our opinions). I felt it's an asshole thing to say about someone who walked away from millions to spend time with his family because FAMILY was more important, not money. He didn't go "eh I made enough money, time to walk way". He walked away from the game because he wanted to spend the remaining moments, hours, days, weeks, months, years with those were dying.

As someone who's lost many (like most) this is highly sensitive to me because I wish I had that opportunity.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

I find it fascinating how you repeatedly go to lengths to understand others and skim over my point in an effort to attack me. You're more interested in ridiculing me than focusing on the topic. I get it, you don't like me, no need to keep attacking me. I have enough shit to deal with.

I'm locking this thread (because my stupid emotional reaction of comment derailed the fuck out of it), please, just watch the video. What Raji did is admirable, in my opinion.

Update: Apparently locking it was another mistake. Go ahead, pile on.

I'm not making any kind of value value judgment when it comes to what BJ Raji did for his family. Maybe it was noble; maybe it wasn't. It simply doesn't matter to me personally. As cold as it sounds, I couldn't care less about NFL players as people, any more than I care about rock stars, movie stars, or comedians as people. To me they're nothing more than a bunch of wildly talented thoroughbreds paid obscene sums of money to provide me a few hours' worth of fun and respite from the shit I deal with in my everyday life. I root for them as long as they continue to play for my team or thrill me with their exploits (ala Peyton Manning), and after that, I'm through with them and don't look back. I know I'm on the extreme end of the spectrum when it comes to my lack of attachment to athletes, but there you have it.

From my perspective, it's obvious BJ Raji had made enough money, since the money wasn't enough to lure him back. And it's obvious his heart wasn't in the game, because unlike a lot of the old guys who keep on mushing until they die in the traces, he was able to stay away. That's neither a good nor a bad thing. It just is. Not every player has to be -- or even should be -- a Reggie White or a Charles Woodson.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 

Because of a family situation, I was forced to choose between fast career advancement and family. Like Raji, I chose family....never regretted it. And my guess is, he didn't either. Thankfully, my choice was not as binary as his. I did not have to permanently sacrifice a career....but I am not sure he had to either, but that was his choice.

You will never regret the time you spent with family during difficult times.

Originally Posted by: KRK 

I am probably only 2 steps behind you. I don't really know who these people really are. Only their public persona. They certainly don't know me or even care about me. That's fine.

In general people don't understand it when players "Max Bernbaum" and leave before they grow old. Barry did it and people who weren't Detroit fans had coronaries. For what? They still had to go to work on Monday and pay their mortgage once a month. Nothing in their drab little lives was different. Every single one of them eventually found a new personality to take Barry's place and they lived happily ever after.

Originally Posted by: wpr