Some Athletes Just Cant Hang it up

On the opposite side of athletes that hang it up too early there are some that no matter how beat up, how broken down or how “over the hill” they are.  They cannot step away from the game.  Of course this is if a team will give them a paycheck to keep playing.  If they play past their prime does this tarnish their “legacy”?  Many people in the main stream media would say that yes it does.  I don’t really understand that since if a player plays past their prime.  It cannot take away from what they accomplished earlier in their career.

Once a player hits an achievement it is theirs.  If they are on a team that wins the Super Bowl then they are a Super Bowl champion for life well even past their life.  They will be a champion for ever.  If they set record it is theirs till someone else takes it away.   It does not matter how they play the last year of their career.  It does not affect what they have done.

In some sports it is easier to play past what many would consider a players prime.  In Baseball a player that can no longer play the field but can still hit can go to the American League and become a DH.  I am not a fan of the DH but that is for another post.  In other sports like Football it is much more difficult for players to play at a high level when they get older.  I have nothing against them doing this.  And don’t see a reason that this is always a bad thing.  If a team is willing to give a player a paycheck and the player is willing to take the risk then it is up to them.

The players do not ask for our opinions and I am sure that people will still go and see them play.  Well at least to a point.  If they are out there and can no longer perform at all then people will not watch but then even if they were a fantastic player before they would no longer be on a team.  Well maybe the Browns would take them.  It is hard to tell what they are thinking.

If an athlete decides to play past their prime and can no longer perform at the same level they did earlier.  I see nothing wrong with that.   I say play as long as someone is willing to pay you.