OT: Trevor Pryce on retirement (NYT)

Submitted by Jasper on

Long-time UMich fans may be familiar with Trevor Pryce. He played a couple years at Michigan in the mid-'90s before transferring to Clemson. (I'm hazy on what prompted the move.) He was a 1st-round pick of the Broncos and (as you'll see here) has had a long NFL career. This article contains his thoughts on retirement:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/sports/football/jets-trevor-pryce-is-…

Not something I'd post mid-season, but it seems OK for now.

Dudeski

April 24th, 2012 at 9:20 PM ^

What was the point of this? I mean, the guy writes decently well, and I guess I wouldn't pass up free advertising for my book in the NY Times either, but really? There are tons of people working shitty jobs and double/night shifts, and this guy complains cause he retired in his mid-30s...

1974

April 24th, 2012 at 9:23 PM ^

Not sure I see the point, either, but the NYT runs articles of that type all the time. Maybe not "Let Them Eat Cake" pieces, but ones where the writer is frightfully out-of-touch with the average U.S. citizen. Much like a decent percentage of NYT readers, eh?

Duval_Blue

April 24th, 2012 at 11:15 PM ^

When viewed by the "ham and eggers"

who grind out their living every day, Pryce's situation garners no sympathy. But all is relative, and when luxuries no longer feel like they have been earned, it is interesting to witness how satisfaction quickly evaporates. So who is happier, one with high net worth, or one with high self worth?







EJG

April 25th, 2012 at 7:19 AM ^

Duval, I think you get it.  To the others, in fairness to Price, he stated multiple times he wasn't looking for sympathy and he understands how lucky he is.  "The point" is at 37, no matter how much time and effort you put into planning for retirement, it is a tough adjustment.  Seems pretty straightforward to me.

Sopwith

April 24th, 2012 at 10:28 PM ^

you certainly seem to spend a lot of time reading the New York Times.  

I believe this affliction is also known as "Chris Chase Disorder" where Yahoo-news hating readers religiously click and comment on Chris Chase-authored articles, because, you know, they hate reading articles by Chris Chase.

1974

April 25th, 2012 at 6:17 AM ^

Believe it or not, I enjoy most of the articles and it's in my WWW power rotation. I most definitely care for it.

If you enjoy tinfoil hat conspiracies, consider that the NYT articles like the one I mentioned likely get (in a Chris Chase sort of way) lots of clicks (and $) from furious members of the hoi polloi.

My favorites (not necessarily in a straightforward way) are the ones where a writer appears to interview three friends in, say, Williamsburg. (They might also call someone in the -- HA!!! - "gritty" Mission district of San Francisco.) Then s/he extrapolates wildly to cover the whole U.S urban archipelago.

Hannibal.

April 25th, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^

I mostly agree, but I will say this -- this isn't a situation totally unique to athletes or the wealthy.  Retirement has this weird effect on some people.  I don't know how common it is, but I have known factory workers who go through this same experience. 

His Dudeness

April 24th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^

He also late hit Jason Hanson and injured him for what I believe to be the only extended time he was injured in his career. So I say fuck Trevor Pryce. That is all.

Schembo

April 24th, 2012 at 9:25 PM ^

Part of that defense with Ty Law, Irons, Morrisson, Horn and company.  I'd like to have that 94 season back. That will always be the one that got away in my book.

BawseWeeks

April 24th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^

I wonder why his dog is in day care if he's at home doing nothing all day. Playing with man's best friend should be more entertaining than waiting for someone to offer to participate in a friendly game of soccer. Oh well. What a great problem to have, Trev.

si_daddy

April 24th, 2012 at 9:47 PM ^

I read that in the paper when it came out. Aside from the incredible disconnect from normal everyday  people, it was an interesting portrait of a grown man with all the resources and time in the world and yet completely lost and at his wits end with what to do with himself.

LSAClassOf2000

April 24th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^

"Don’t cry for me, though. I’m getting used to it slowly and will be content with my new life. "

I was not crying for Trevor Pryce at the end of this article. I am two years and some change younger than him and I wish I had his problem. 

That being said, I find it interesting, if true, that one of the things taught to new players in the NFL is how to get along after the NFL. As the average career is not long, it's understandable, of course, and I do applaud Pryce for being candid and pragmatic in that context. It seems like too many players are not practical about it. 

Johnny Blood

April 25th, 2012 at 8:41 AM ^

So many things he could do... volunteer more at his kid's school, volunteer to coach football at a local school, write more, etc. 

Net, if I don't think I would have his problem with boredom if I was in his situation. 

And while we're on a semi-related topic, I also don't think I would go broke if I won the lottery like so many of them do.

Hannibal.

April 25th, 2012 at 8:58 AM ^

Christ, I'd do anything to have this guy's problem.  I can't effing wait to retire. 

I once had five weeks off between jobs and it was possibly the happiest five weeks of my life.  I enjoyed every travelling, sleeping in, and playing video games minute of it.  I know that there are lots of people who genuinely don't enjoy retirement because they lose the guiding force of work and, in Pryce's case, the status and perks.  I'm definitely not going to be one of thsoe people. 

jmblue

April 25th, 2012 at 3:33 PM ^

A five-week hiatus from work is very different from retirement.  You still had the structure of being a part of the workforce.  You knew at some point you'd return to working, so that made the time in between precious.  Retirement is different.  You suddenly have unlimited amounts of time, without an external structure for it. 

sundaybluedysunday

April 25th, 2012 at 9:30 AM ^

I read this Sunday as well, definitely interesting and worth posting on the board. Just wondering though, did anyone else get a Brooks from Shawshank Redemption vibe from reading the article? It just has that "I don't belong here, I don't know what to do" vibe that reminded me of that.

543Church

April 25th, 2012 at 9:45 AM ^

I remember Pryce when he played at UM.  He looked huge but not fat like he got in the pros.   I seem to recall him playing DE  or OLB during his time here and that he would always bring strong outside pressure and somehow let the QB get away. 

Trevor, I am disappoint.

 

543Church

April 25th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^

Ok, I actually read the article and noticed something interesting.  He states he has no friends except old high school buddies....anybody else find that sort of weird?  I guess I understand his point that you don't really pal aroudn with your NFL teammates, but it is strange that a guy who went to college for an extended period of time has no friends from that period.

I wonder if that would be different if he had stuck at Michigan instead of transferring?  Not being a True Michigan Man means he probably doesn't get invited back for the golf outings, spring games, etc....he might be ostracized from the entire network.

jmblue

April 25th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^

IIRC, he transferred after getting into some off-field trouble here.  Or maybe I'm confusing him with someone else.

This is a pretty well-written article.  I don't think he's asking for anyone's sympathy, just describing the abrupt lifestyle change athletes have to go through when their careers end.  For so many people, their job is part of their identity, and it's no different for athletes.  The one difference is that they have to go through the retirement transition at a much younger age that other people.  Sure, it's a luxury to have that kind of time and money, but at the same time, these guys must feel directionless, at an age when most people are settling into their prime work years.