Pro Players Pumped For Franchising

Franchise Times:

Lorenzo Neal wants two more years. The All-Pro fullback isn’t ready to retire, but after being cut loose by the San Diego Chargers, he may not have a choice.

“After 15 years, it feels weird – not being the first girl asked to the dance,” the free agent says. “I was all-pro, the first one picked and I’m still at home on the couch watching Scooby-Doo. I miss the guys; I miss being part of a team.”

He probably misses his salary, too, which Sports Illustrated online calculated was $1,592,880 for the 2007 season.

The average NFL salary was $1.4 million last year, while the median is $777,000, according to sports Internet sites. While the money is good – for a part-time job no less – the longevity isn’t. The average career in the NFL is three to five years, so Neal’s lengthy career is a tribute to his tenacity, as well as skill. “Hard work pays off. I may not be the strongest or the fastest, but you’re not going to outwork me,” he says. Read more.