Are NFL players role models?

Role Models in the NFL

by Brett Stern

     Professional athletes are often looked at as role models for young athletes. In some cases this statement is true, but the number of true "role models" in the NFL is steadily declining. The NFL has been in the news a lot over the past year mostly for legal reasons. There have been 94 NFL players arrested since 2013! Athletes cannot be role models from the inside of a jail cell. Athletes can however have large and positive impact on children's lives if they set there mind to it.

     Aaron Hernandez was arrested for murder. Aaron took someone else's life. He also had the eyes of millions of kids on him, watching his every move, adoring him. Hernandez showed kids that violence and gangs were ok. That doesn't seem like a good role model. Ray Rice knocked his fiance out cold in an elevator. Adrian peterson beat his child with a tree branch. They were two of the biggest stars in the NFL and threw it all away because they resulted to violence against there family. Showing kids once again that violence is OK. These kinds of NFL players are NOT role models for kids.

    Ndamukong Suh donated $250,000 to his old high school. Showing kids how to be generous and always give back to the people who made you the person you are today. Peyton Manning Donated $500,000 to the Pat Summit Foundation showing once again that NFL players can do amazing things with their "overly high" yearly salaries. People like Suh and Manning are part of the few NFL players that can still show kids the right way to act and live your life. The NFL has many role models that can show kids the right path, but unfortunately children need to be careful in choosing their sports icon because he just may end up in jail.