Gonzo is a generous dude. If you need some scratch, then call TG Savings and Loan! But he doesn't condone poor financial planning. USA Today's Sean Leahy penned an interesting article re: our tight end today.
Gonzalez, the Atlanta Falcons tight end, said this week he is joining Dallas Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware in declining payments from the NFL Players Association's lockout fund in order to help his less highly-paid teammates.
Gonzalez clarified, however, that he doesn't have much sympathy for NFL players who are facing serious consequences because they did not budget appropriately.
"If you're a player and you haven't prepared for this and you haven't set aside money to go through this lockout deal, then this is your fault because you knew this was coming," he said. "You knew it was coming, and you should've prepared for it and have been ready for it."
He has a point. My mom always told me: "James, I don't care if you're making minimum wage, save 10 percent of every paycheck, because you never know when a rainy day will come along." She was right about the importance of saving money. But let's be honest, sometimes you don't think a rainy day will come, then you spend all your money on yoo-hoo and swedish fish.
The lockout is different. It's akin to a category four hurricane you just decide to ignore. Weatherfolk rant about it for days on end and - because you're cool like that - you decide beach camping is a solid option. Unless you're a marginal NFLer, an empty bank account is inexcusable. No empathy from this blogger. And no empathy from Gonzo.
Discuss!