Sometimes it is easy to get lost as a fan between viewing a person as a player and seeing them as the human being they are. We want our favorite teams and players to succeed at a high level, but that shouldn't come at a cost to their long-term health. This is why Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward has a real question to ask himself.
Ward is in his first season with Indy, but ahead of Week 14, he had suffered two concussions. One concussion can have life-altering effects well after a player's career is done. A second one so close to the first can compound the issue.
Unfortunately, Ward appears to have suffered his third concussion in Week 14. If that is the case, the team should keep him out for the remainder of the season for his own benefit. After his second, he was placed on injured reserve, and he has been open about having some trepidation about his potential return.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward appears to have suffered third concussion
He should be even more focused on how much football means to him and how much he wants the sport to potentially alter the rest of his life. But there is, of course, more to the issue.
Professional athletes get paid to play a game and can make a lot of money. Not just for them, but for generational wealth. The money can be passed down from children to grandchildren if managed well. If a person has a chance to earn this kind of wealth, it is obviously difficult to give up.
Is the great amount of money worth more than a person's potentially long life? That is the question that Charvarius Ward and his family have to answer for themselves. He signed with the Colts this past offseason to a three-year deal worth as much as $60 million. $27 million of that was guaranteed. However, only $5 million of that is guaranteed in 2026, and none in 2027.
This isn't to say Ward should be happy with all the guaranteed money he received in his first season with the Indianapolis Colts, but his health concerns could be greater than what the team needs. After all, Indy is simply an employer just as Progressive and Costco are employers. If an employee has long-term health concerns, they should take care of themselves first.
That is what Charvarius Ward should do. Maybe he decides to keep playing for the remainder of his contract with the Colts, and if so, obviously the hope is that he stays healthy. If he chooses to no longer play, no ill will should be felt toward him.