Not For Long

There is a classic NFL Films clip where Jerry Glanville, then coach of the Atlanta Falcons is berating an official after a blown call and he asks him "Do you know what NFL stands for?" Glanville answers for the official "Not For Long if you keep making calls like that".

Well, apparently there are other ways to have a short career in the National Football League and many players seem to be doing their best to end their stint. With the average career being only 3.5 years, and contracts not being guaranteed, you would think players would try their best to stay around as long as possible.

Well, this year alone we've had a bunch of interesting incidents that have affected players and therefore their teams...

- Steve Smith, wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers broke his arm in a flag football game. He will be out until the first week of the season, hampering his chances to build chemistry with the new starting quarterback Matt Moore.

- Johnny Jolly, defensive lineman for the Packers was charged because he "bought, sold, funded, transported and aided in the buying, selling, funding and transportation of illegal narcotics including cocaine and marijuana" in Texas from 2006 through May 2008. Jolly was arrested in Houston in July 2008 allegedly for illegally possessing at least 200 grams of codeine. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Since this all violates the leagues substance abuse policy, Jolly has been suspended for the entire season.

- Santonio Holmes, wide receiver for the Jets was suspended for the first 4 games of the season for violating the substance abuse policy. Not only was it enough to get him suspended, but this also got him traded from Pittsburgh to the Jets.

- Albert Haynesworth, defensive lineman with the Washington Redskins is still not participating in training camp because he can't pass the teams conditioning test. Haynesworth is the only player in camp who has to pass the test because he didn't participate in half of the teams off-season workouts. Way to go fatty!

- Another player with similar problems was Terrence Cody a rookie defensive lineman with the Baltimore Ravens. Cody who tips the scales at 380 lbs took 3 tries to pass the Ravens conditioning test, but if you are getting paid to play professional sports don't you come prepared to pass that test the first time? Why jeopardize your chance of making thousands if not millions of dollars.

- We have a slew of first round picks who still have haven't signed their contracts. This is a negotiation tactic, but with NFL rookies basically getting slotted into a dollar amount based upon where they were picked, they need to get their name on a contract and get into camp so they don't stunt their growth.

There you have it, just a few of the reasons that players are screwing themselves out of longer careers.

Can you guys remember other ways careers were cut short...