# Would guaranteeing NFL contracts lessen the health issues

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-guaranteeing-nfl-contracts-lessen-the-health-issues/637360>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 10, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-guaranteeing-nfl-contracts-lessen-the-health-issues/637360 "2012-10-10T21:41:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-guaranteeing-nfl-contracts-lessen-the-health-issues/637360/1 "2012-10-10T21:41:44Z")

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It seems that players rush back to the field, and lie about injuries, because they worry about losing their jobs to injury. Would guarenteeing contracts lessen the incentive to put their health in danger?

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-guaranteeing-nfl-contracts-lessen-the-health-issues/637360/2 "2012-10-10T21:45:33Z")

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Yes. It would also lessen the incentive for them to play at all.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-guaranteeing-nfl-contracts-lessen-the-health-issues/637360/3 "2012-10-11T00:46:40Z")

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As it is, the phenomenon of a guy playing well, getting a huge contract thanks to playing well, and then proceeding to play far worse, is far too common. I think it’d be even worse if contracts were guaranteed.

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**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-guaranteeing-nfl-contracts-lessen-the-health-issues/637360/4 "2012-10-11T01:00:30Z")

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Players can’t be cut from the team if injured, and must be medically cleared before a team can cut. Players probably fear the next man out-performing them and being made expendable.