I think Mansell’s argument is fair – to a point. For the vast majority of players who do not go on to the NFL, finding a connection for life after football is indeed very important, and being loyal to a strong fanbase who can provide a bevy of business opportunities is key.
But we’re in a new era of football where some – although far from the majority – can make life-changing money at the college level, with some players having the opportunity to earn enough to potentially retire after their college careers are done. And other players – such as Miami’s Cam Ward, who went from draft afterthought to the #1 pick by the Titans last month – have managed to transfer into the perfect situation to elevate their NFL opportunities. That being said, the way that Nico’s departure went down also helped burn any possible remaining bridges with the Tennessee fanbase. Perhaps if it was a more amicable departure, but the no show at practice and the message from his father on Twitter/X and surrounding rumors of wanting more money helped make sure that there was no bridge that wasn’t smoldering by the time he left town.
Perhaps Nico’s departure and the fallout around it will result in other players who decide to move on doing so in a way that’s a lot softer and perhaps keeps some relationships intact. Because, no matter how good your professional football prospects might be, you never know when you might need to call in a favor one day
