Adrian Peterson vs. Le’Veon Bell and Post NFL NIL
It was announced Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell will box in CRYPTO.COM arena this past week. Krebs’ latest Monday NFL Column explores how athletes look to expand their network past their NFL careers.
The NFL Running Back lifespan is usually between three to five years, with some eclipsing the marker as players who survived the wear-and-tear that comes with handling a football 20-30 times a game. NFL players, especially those with far from perfect reputations, always look to profit off their NIL, especially Running Backs, once their career is on the decline. Even though their physical skills have diminished, these players are still capable of profiting off their built muscles.
Running Backs and other skill players see diminishing returns on years preparing for a singular league with a short lifespan. Their first instinct is to turn to other mediums to extend their popularity. Once in the public eye, the name continues to hold weight, even though some argue it should not. People, even those with blogging authority, continue to give attention to less-newsworthy events may be because of a slower news cycle but still find the truth amongst public events.
While the Adrian Peterson vs. Le’Veon Bell Crypto.com boxing match is a cash grab, it serves as a reminder that NFL names will always be NFL names. Even with the baggage these former players attached to themselves, people will still tune in and see what they are up to with the impact they made during their playing careers.
Seeking other forms of entertainment to prove athletes are physically demanding is an idea explored decades before but still holds weight where anybody can be a celebrity if they have a rich history. Especially when athletes are less than an average citizen, it will lead to an all-out effort to expand into other sports. It begins with one boxing match until suddenly the WWE has their next signing. Star appeal is still star appeal, even with a less than moral history, and will continue to rack up figures in pay-per-view and ticket prices.
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