Clemson football: Former Tigers find the NFL path punishing

Former Clemson football players finding out how hard the NFL life really is.

When most football fans think of the NFL, they think of the millionaire lifestyle. Clemson football fans see former players like Deshaun Watson and Deandre Hopkins who make really good money and take photos on private jets and wearing lavish clothing.

However, that is not a reality for most of the men that make an NFL team.

Most NFL careers last 49 games, that isn’t enough accrued time to qualify for NFL retirement let alone accumulating millions and millions in the bank. Free-agent minimum deals can mean anywhere from $480,000 a season to a million depending on the service time of the player.

Of course, that is before they pay agents, lawyers, and taxes. Sure $250,000 post taxes is still a great living but it’s not enough to live extravagantly. Also, let’s not forget about the journey to get there, which is oftentimes riddled with holes, turns, and tears.

Winning a title at Clemson doesn’t guarantee an NFL career

Two former Clemson football players are finding out just how difficult the road is to make an active NFL roster.

Because of the NFL’s COVID rules, teams were unable to hold tryouts for players. That moratorium ended this week and former quarterback Kelly Bryant finally got a call from the Arizona Cardinals.

Many were shocked that the one time Clemson starter never got a call from an NFL team but it honestly should not have been. He was propped up by the talent around him at Clemson and showed as a senior at Missouri that he didn’t make those around him better.

The NFL is a passing league and a huge knock-on Bryant was his propensity to tuck the ball and run before routes could develop in college was a huge red flag. The Cardinals are looking for another camp arm and decided to call him.

Hopefully, he can make the most of the opportunity and stick around.

Former running back Tavien Feaster got the exact opposite news this week as the one time Tiger and Gamecock were cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars. While this is tough news to get after not getting drafted four months ago, it does not necessarily mean the end of his career.

There are plenty of players around the league that don’t make it with their first team and go onto have success. The first one that comes to mind is current 49ers running back Raheem Mostert. He went undrafted out of Purdue and spent time with five different teams in his first two years before finally breaking out with the 49ers in 2019.

Who knows if either Kelly Bryant or Tavien Feaster will ever see NFL stardom. But the journey isn’t for the weak or timid and only those that are mentally prepared for the grind finish the journey.