Which NFL athlete has cost themselves the most money over their career for reasons they could control?

[Drained]

On 1/6/2020 at 3:20 PM, August4th said:

AB is trying his hardest to be the face of this

did he already lose around 30 mil this yr? how much money has he already lost on a future deal. no team is going to give him a deal that matches his skill going forward

I'm ngl... if he gets a one year prove it next year, shuts up (which he was doing on the Patriots, aside from that text he sent, clearly wanted to be on that team all along) and performs to his normal level, he will get another big contract. This is a top 5 WR we're talking about.

[Tk3]

On 1/6/2020 at 7:15 AM, BayRaider said:

Aldon Smith? Dude was a monster, let’s not forget. A Top 10 Pick and the best player on that Niner Defense with Willis. At the time, was the best edge player in the league with Watt. He would of had a record setting second contract. He had 14 sacks his rookie season and 20 sacks the next year when the Niners went to the SB. Then threw it all away the following year. 
 

He easily cost himself 80M not getting that second contract and probably 180+ over the course of a career. His net profits from his rookie contract are less than 15M total. 
 

I don’t see how anyone touches Aldon here. 

If we are talking about early retirement - I think Andrew Luck probably beats Aldon Smith simply for the fact that QBs get paid egregious amounts of money, despite the fact that Smith left more years on the table.

[Split the Sticks]

@Tk3 that was beyond Luck's ability to change. He was just really beaten up

[3rivers]

AB lost a bit of coin this year, and considering  if he played a few more years at top salary, that gets costly.  Aldon Smith was also talented enough to be  on the verge of a mega deal , but threw it away . Seems like the nfl always has a few players that throw away major cash somehow. 

Andrew luck at $30M per season adds up too, but he values his health more and good for him. What good is all the money when you are not able to walk or be without painkillers ?

[Bolts223]

On 1/6/2020 at 4:05 AM, Elky said:

Oh God I would feel so uncomfortable if I was his coworker.

I'd add Jamarcus Russell to this list. He isn't a thug or anything, just insanely lazy and stupid.

He loved his purple drank.

[NYGiantsman10]

How about Ryan Leaf? He was neck and neck with Peyton as a prospect and QB salaries have ballooned since 98. Plus QBs always get the best endorsement deals 

Edited January 10, 2020 by NYGiantsman10

[Kiwibrown]

14 minutes ago, NYGiantsman10 said:

How about Ryan Leaf? He was neck and neck with Peyton as a prospect and QB salaries have ballooned since 98. Plus QBs always get the best endorsement deals 

true, manning earned over 300 million, so Leaf probably lost that much if he would of committed. 

[Split the Sticks]

I wonder where Albert Haynesworth fits in here. He got paid a ton but had a few good years left in him when his brain went on vacation

[sloppyjoefeed]

Josh Gordon. He just couldn't stay clean. Such a shame. I was rooting for him.

[Broncofan]

AB keeps adding to his lost income with each social media event, today being the latest.... I won't link it, because of the rules against profanity...but NOT GOOD, AB.  NOT GOOD AT ALL.

 

Edited January 13, 2020 by Broncofan

[scar988]

On 1/6/2020 at 7:31 AM, Nabbs4u said:

If you're going Strictly off the Total amount Possibly lost, the Answer Starts and Ends with Vick! From the $100M contract that was null in void, to the Millions in Endorsements also lost!

Now while the Money back in the day pails in comparison to Todays Athlete,  I'd go Dexter Manely before Josh Gordan as well.

Can't forget that Vick had to pay back a ton of money to the Falcons (around 35M)

[Darbsk]

Todd Marinovich is an interesting one, clearly had talent and pedigree of a top draft pick but never really even had a career due to drug use and things under his control. Obviously in that era the money was a lot less but he could have been a star in a huge market.