I wonder if there'll be even more star players retiring early like this when their talents are still in demand then guys who stuck around too long only retiring when the NFL teams no longer need them. Like play about 8 seasons make your money and get out while you still have your mental capacities.
sharePosition players like running backs and WRs have always retired earlier than QBs Offensive lineman, and Special Teams. Nothing new there.
shareRunning backs don't make it much past 30 but a lot of Wide Receivers make it to 35 before the dropoff.
sharea lot of Wide Receivers make it to 35 before the dropoff.
I can see more young Athletes starting to lean toward baseball and basketball,, GAURANTEED money and way less health risk....baseball will probably see the biggest increase in talent,, hopefully black parents start getting their kids into baseball rather then football,, baseball has been missing talented black athletes in the past decade, hopefully guys like Granderson, Adam Jones Andrew Mccutchen and Starling Marte' are paving the way for the young black athlete to get more involved in a better paying, less violent sport! Antwan Randel El is on record saying if he could do it over again no doubt he would if played baseball instead
shareI can see more young Athletes starting to lean toward baseball and basketball,, GAURANTEED money and way less health risk....baseball will probably see the biggest increase in talent,, hopefully black parents start getting their kids into baseball rather then football,, baseball has been missing talented black athletes in the past decade, hopefully guys like Granderson, Adam Jones Andrew Mccutchen and Starling Marte' are paving the way for the young black athlete to get more involved in a better paying, less violent sport! Antwan Randel El is on record saying if he could do it over again no doubt he would if played baseball instead
This is all about the Outliers argument. To play at the highest level you need unbelievable talent and the chance to play the game again and again from a young age. Let's look at the four major sports and their demographics:
Football: Mostly poor black players with a few corn-fed midwest white players and white QB's and kickers. This is because black kids can play for free in high school, and middle school in many cases, and then they are given scholarships to keep playing. Many positions are very speed and strength oriented where they pick up what they need from an X's and O's standpoint in high school and college. QB's are a complex, technical position where they've been groomed since elementary school with private coaches, travel team leagues, and are often the sons of NFL QB's themselves.
Baseball: Historically a white sport because of the barrier to entry to play caused by the need for expensive baseball fields, equipment, and paid umpires. The timing, coordination, and skill requirement makes it tough to pick up in you teens, and you need to start from the time you're at least in elementary school. However, in the past 20 years, we've seen tons of Latin talent due to it being the major sport in the Island countries, and while they are poor, they have tons of space to baseball fields.
Basketball: Typically seen as a mostly black sport due to the lack of equipment needed to play, and abundance of basketball courts in the inner city. Young kids would play basketball every day of their youth, and the best would win scholarships to prep school. The tide is shifting as the game is becoming more and more international, and as recruitment starts younger and younger. Kids from wealthy families (often times still black, but wealthy families) take the process seriously and hone the skills from a young age, the way that young QB's do.
Hockey: Pretty similar to baseball but with a higher barrier to entry. Most schools don't even have hockey programs. Ice time and equipment is incredibly expensive and has the highest barrier to entry. Ergo, all white dudes with a few token rich black guys from wealthy family.
Remember, the abundance of a race in sports does mean that a race is doing well, like it does if they're involved in the sciences or politics or business. Its a way to escape tough situations if you have the rare talent for it. People forget that decades ago, Jews were disadvantages and dominated basketball.
It's very rare a Running Back is in the NFL past 30.
Receivers usually last pretty long as they don't get hit as much. Calvin being so big probably took vicious hits as that is the only way to get him down, which could be the reason he retired so young.