Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 7, 2010, 4:30 PM EST The Jets called safety Keith Fitzhugh on Tuesday, wondering if he’d like a job. The Mississippi State graduate respectfully turned them down. “I told them I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” Fitzhugh told Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger. “But right now, being that it would be for just a couple weeks, I feel that I’d rather stay with a secure company and job, somewhere I know I could have long-term employment.” Fitzhugh, 24, has worked as a conductor for Norfolk Southern railroad since getting released by the Jets on September 4. He enjoys the job and more importantly is responsible for supporting his parents. His father is disabled and can’t work, so Fitzhugh made what must have been a tough decision to deny the Jets. “Being unemployed is not a good feeling,” Fitzhugh said. “It’s a lonely feeling. I’d rather be somewhere safe and have a great foundation.” The Jets plan to release receiver Laveranues Coles (again) to make room for a safety after reserve James Ihedigbo suffered a high ankle sprain. Fitzhugh won’t be the guy because he has more important things to worry about than the Jets’ playoff push.
Conducters make like 50 or 60k a year. If he was on the active roster for 4 games he'd probably make triple that. Wtf? Not to mention playoffs
But his contract isn't guaranteed. Unless there's something none of us know. The team could rightly sign him for a week, cut him, and he'd have one game check and no job to go back to. He's got people who depend on him. I have a lot of respect for this kid. Pretty mature decision.
I think the minimum comes out to only something like 20k per game. If that's what the Jets offered then you could see why he would turn it down. Really hard to judge his decision without seeing the raw numbers from both sides.
I don't blame the guy at all. I have a ton of respect for the fringe guys who bounce from practice squad to practice squad. You could be in a shitty condo in Jacksonville one week, a lousy red-eye flight to San Diego two days later, a crappy motel in Seattle two weeks after that, a long train ride to San Fran shortly thereafter... and then you get a call from the 49er's: "hey, we've got to let you go. But stay in professional athlete-shape and wait by the phone for the next ten weeks and we might give you a job." That's tough.
If I were him, I'd take 2 weeks vacation (if he has it) from the job and play football. Then he can go back to is job, unscathed, if he sucks or gets released. He can quit his regular job if he amounts to something.
Except that he has to move, most likely across the country. I'm fairly certain there are a few thousand quality football players out there who couldn't deal with the stress involved with uprooting their families on a week-to-week basis. I'll also bet there are a few hundred fucked-up families in the NFL whose patriarchs don't have such reservations.
I'm highly impressed that a 24 year old is mature enough to turn down an offer like this. I know I wouldn't be.
Maybe its just me but i think he not someone we would want.... Not to knock working @ a railroad getting secured pay but the Jets offered you a position that you could have thrived in due to our current loses. You dont automatically assume that it will just be a few games that you will play.. Your a football player who competed at a high level to make it this far.. a jets team with a fanbase just dying to find a new safety to bring us to the next level is something anyone who is confident would snatch instantly. Its a good thing he declined because he had no hunger... this defense needs you to be hungry!
he is probably in a union, has amazing benefits, and a pension - with the jets he gets what 4 weeks maybe and he is unemployed again?
Man tell that to your parent when you are supporting them and they depend on you for there roof and rice bowl. Much respect for this kid he put those who loved and care for him when he couldn't ahead of his own dreams. I know if he were my son I could not be more proud of him for the choice he is making.
