Here's Why The Recent NFL Fraud Charges Might Speak To A Bigger Issue That Needs To Be Addressed

Recently 10 former NFL players were charged with defrauding a healthcare program for fellow retired players of nearly $4 million.

Some of these players include former Washington Redskin star running back Clinton Portis and ex NFL Wide Receivers Joe Horn and Reche Caldwell.

Portis who made more than $43 million in his NFL career, made headlines when he lost a large amount of his fortune in a Ponzi-scheme involving a Washington-area financial advisor.

In 2017, he told Sports Illustrated that he even staked out a local coffee shop with a gun looking for the advisor, before coming eventually his senses.

Reche Caldwell will now be arrested for at least the fifth time since he stopped playing football in 2007. This begins from a 27-month sentence at a federal prison for attempting to import and distribute what he falsely believed was more than 5.5 pounds of pure Molly (MDMA).

From the 2016 ESPN the Magazine article titled, “How Reche Caldwell Googled his way from the Patriots to prison” — his family members say his post-football angst is because of two critical dropped passes in the 2006 AFC Championship in which the Patriots lost to the Colts 38-34.

Joe Horn is recognized in retirement for suing the NFL in 2011 over painkillers, saying he’s experienced anxiety, depression and short-term memory loss since his playing days.

While I'm not justifying what these players have done by any means – it seems pretty apparent that a bigger issue is hidden in plain sight.

The average NFL career lasts about 3.3 years.

Most guys walk away from the game banged physically, emotionally and mentally tired and lose the identity that has probably been attached to them since they were young.

It's safe to say that making this transition into life after sports isn't easy even for the most talented and smartest athletes.

The real issue here isn't the fact that healthcare fraud or any type of fraud is a widespread epidemic among former athletes.

It isn't even the fact that these players stole from a fund that supports NFL players' healthcare.

To me, the real problem is that no former athlete should feel they need to do these types of things to maintain a living or some type of sustainability going forward in life.

Especially after giving so much to the game.

And for clarification, this is not to blame the NFL, NFLPA, The Trust or the NFL Alumni. In fact, I think all of these entities do a great job providing resources and programs to help these athletes succeed off the field.

This isn't about pointing fingers at anyone at all. It's more about what can all of these entities, along with NFL players themselves, do to bridge the gap even further so that we can prevent this from happening going forward for every athlete.

How can we independently address each athlete's situation to make them feel heard, acknowledged and understood?

How can we give them a stronger voice, and empower them further to ask for help when they truly need it?

In my opinion, it's about realizing that some might need one on one coaching. Some might require the already in place group transition programs and mental health seminars. Or some athletes might just prefer and need something different altogether.

Regardless, everyone's circumstance is separate and isolated. The way you help one athlete won't necessarily be the way to help another. There is no one-size-fits-all here. Now, I don't consider myself to have all of the answers, but this I do know.

And as a former pro athlete who's been through this difficult transition period in my life – I know that it's damn near impossible to do alone.

Asking for help is certainly part of the equation, but giving it in the right way matters as well. 

But maybe I'm too ambitious to believe that every athlete can be saved. Maybe that thinking process unrealistic and that some guys will go astray no matter how much you try to extend a helping hand. Maybe it's impossible.

Nonetheless, I know for a fact and have always believed that wherever there are problems – there are solutions.

We just have to do our best to find them.

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