NFL CAREERS ARE precarious at best with the organisation responsible for the welfare of players suggesting the average length of one if just over three years.
Joe Anderson’s story is typical of the sport. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears in 2012, the wide receiver played nine games — mostly on special teams — over the next two seasons before injury saw him waived in 2013.
He was briefly picked up by the Eagles in 2014 before spending some time in the Canadian Football League but has been out of work this year.
With a young family to look after, Anderson decided enough was enough and took an unusual approach to finding a new team when he stood outside the Houston Texans training facility with a cardboard sign:
While it didn’t work with the Texans, the New York Jets were paying attention and have taken a chance on Anderson, signing him to their practise squad yesterday.
While it’s not quite a return to the league, it will put food on the table as practise squad players in the NFL make a minimum of $6,600 (€6,036) per week and are paid on a weekly basis.
