Puka - “Retirement at 30”

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dieterbrock said:
Of course I'm not seeing the context of the conversation but this type of stuff doesnt sit well with me. Aaron Donald played 10 years as an undersized DT who stayed on top by being an absolute freak of nature who was a workout warrior/legend.
To equate the physical grind of #99 career to that of a WR, it would be in like dog years.
Puka also watched Kupp broomed out the door after giving his heart and soul, and wants nothing more than to get back out on the field.
So again, hopefully I'm just seeing it out of context because it just sounds like "I'm gonna milk this, cash in, and get the eff out"
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You're right that WR is not the same as DT. I would add that all NFL positions, except maybe kicker and punter, take a toll on one's body. We've already seen Nacua miss time with injuries, which will likely continue with his playing style.

If he wants to live a fully healthy life after football and spend quality time with his kids, there's nothing wrong with "I'm going to make as much as I can and get the eff out." That doesn't mean he's not passionately laying it all on the line when he's out there.
 
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DzRams said:
You're right that WR is not the same as DT. I would add that all NFL positions, except maybe kicker and punter, take a toll on one's body. We've already seen Nacua miss time with injuries, which will likely continue with his playing style.

If he wants to live a fully healthy life after football and spend quality time with his kids, there's nothing wrong with "I'm going to make as much as I can and get the eff out." That doesn't mean he's not passionately laying it all on the line when he's out there.
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Saying it now? Sounds like lack of commitment
AD didnt miss games in college or pros even though he was banged up and played a more rigorous position
Puka has already missed a lot of games, could he have played thru? I dont know. Again, it may just be context but I'd prefer to hear a guy say that he's gonna play until he's not able to anymore
 
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dieterbrock said:
Saying it now? Sounds like lack of commitment
AD didnt miss games in college or pros even though he was banged up and played a more rigorous position
Puka has already missed a lot of games, could he have played thru? I dont know. Again, it may just be context but I'd prefer to hear a guy say that he's gonna play until he's not able to anymore
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I get your perspective on how it can sound like a lack of commitment. I don't feel it automatically means that though. Early in his career, in his 1st or 2nd year, AD said the same thing. He played the exact amount of years he said he would.

Puka missed games in college too when he was still working at getting a high paying NFL job. It comes with his playing style. Knowing the low quality of life many NFL players have after long careers is it really noble to say you want to play until your body falls apart? Yeah, that's commitment...and insanity.
 
Not surprised, his play style exposing himself to a lot of big hits for a WR along with blocking assignments is a recipe for significant wear and tear
 
I mean, that's fair. It's his choice, and I respect it. I hope he gets out with a lot of money, a lot of endorsements, and a lot of Super Bowl rings for the Rams.
 
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Well, I hope Puka retires from the Rams with 2-3 Super Bowl rings. I really wish AD had gotten one more. He deserved it.
 
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Good for him! Probably not the best marketing practice though.
 
Perspective. Puka was 21 when he was drafted. The distance between age 30 and 21 is the same as the distance between age 12 and 21.

In other words, when he was drafted his goal retirement age was almost half of his previous life away.

When I was 21, I could barely imagine being 30.

AD was wise beyond his years. Puka could be too, but I think he's just a kid saying whatever comes into his head at the moment. It's one of the things I love about him.

Either way I'm happy he's in horns.
 
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Complete non story.

All through my 20s I had zero idea how retirement really worked. Sure I contributed to a 401k, but I had no clue. Now in my late 30s I have a better idea, but still hear something from my parents that surprises me each year.

And it's a catch-22...sure you want to spend time with your kids, but being what I am pretty sure will be the first opportunity in his family to accrue generation wealth - leaving potentially $50 million on the table to retire at 30 instead of 35 will feel pretty silly once he gets closer IMO.
 
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dieterbrock said:
Saying it now? Sounds like lack of commitment
AD didnt miss games in college or pros even though he was banged up and played a more rigorous position
Puka has already missed a lot of games, could he have played thru? I dont know. Again, it may just be context but I'd prefer to hear a guy say that he's gonna play until he's not able to anymore
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What I have seen of his play and how he conducts himself on and off the field, I took it as, he is going to give it his all till he is 30 and then he is out. I also know that young men say things about life they mean and then life happens and their perspective changes and what they end up doing is different. So I really take it with a grain of salt.
 
Well nothing wrong with the concept since around 30 is when your value starts to drop.

Not really a smart thing to say when you are looking at extensions in the future.
 
Its whatever. I said alot of things when I was 23 and thought I had the world figured out. But the reality is, once you make a certain amount of money, you don't need to do this job anymore. The people that continue love this sport more then anything else. Quite frankly, I think retiring at 30 is probably the healthier decision if he still decides to do so then.
 
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