| The Post Independent reports that Vance Johnson is having severe financial difficulties a year after his son's tragic death. On February 8th, Johnson had his car repossessed. Two weeks later, he was arrested for failing to appear in court for writing two bad checks. On March 28th, Wells Fargo initiated foreclosure proceedings against Johnson for failure to repay a $630,000 note on his home. On September 9, 2006, Johnson's son Vaughn was killed instantly when his motorcycle collided with an SUV. Vaughn was a community college football star who expected to transfer to the University of Colorado to play football in the fall of 2008. His father has had an extremely difficult time coping with his son's death, saying he shut down emotionally after the loss of his son. Vance Johnson is still the fifth leading receiver in Broncos history with 415 receptions. Alongside Mark Jackson and Ricky Nattiel, he was among the "Three Amigos," an indispensable piece of an offense that won three AFC championships from 1987 through 1991. |  |
Vance Johnson is a childhood hero of mine. I am saddened by news of all the adversity Johnson is facing. Given his service to the NFL, I wish more was being done for him. As a 9-year (he took 1994 off) NFL veteran, Johnson receives a pension of about $3,000 per year spent playing, or about $27,000 a year. Fortunately, this pension money is out of reach of his creditors; however, this is a paltry sum given the duration of Johnson's career.
Many have criticized the NFL retirement benefits program for failing to properly support NFL veterans. When one juxtaposes the average NFL career (less than 4 years) with NFL revenues (over $6 billion), $27,000 for a 9-year veteran hardly seems fair. A large number of NFL athletes retire with few, if any, other job skills. Those that earn multi-million dollar salaries often lack the financial skills necessary to plan for life after the NFL. There is no shortage of vulturous accountants, attorneys, and financial planners looking to get a piece of these large contracts--monies which have to last these players for the rest of their lives.
I know Broncos fans haven't forgotten a former franchise hero. I only hope that the NFL and the NFLPA won't forget struggling veterans like Johnson when the current financial conflicts come to a head in 2010.
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