X

Undrafted Rookie Turns Down NFL for Law School

With the state of today’s economy and job market, it is tough for people to have one job offer, let alone two. A former Ohio State linebacker, Andrew Sweat, had two job offers on the table. He could have earned a roster spot as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns this fall. Instead, because of concussion problems, he will work as a lawyer and head to law school. Sweat announced his plans on Twitter:

“Concussion symptoms didn’t want to risk it..thanks to the browns for the opportunity. Health trumps football any day.”

Sweat suffered a concussion while at Ohio State, so between that injury and the knowledge of head injuries in the NFL, Sweat seems to have made an informed decision. Sweat has received some heavy criticism since his announcement, most notable from Deadspin and the legal blog Above the Law. The editor of Above the Law, Eli Mystal, who is a former lawyer, said that Sweat’s decision was ‘the biggest mistake of his life.’

Sweat responded to all of the criticisms with the following via Twitter:

“@Deadspin might need to get facts right. ‘good setup’ my dad has a very successful law firm think I’m okay here..”

Sweat was criticized for turning down the NFL because of the financial debt law school students find themselves in upon graduation.

Jim Vassallo: Jim is a freelance writer based out of the suburbs of Philadelphia in New Jersey. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Journalism from Rowan University in 2008. While in school he was the Assistant Sports Director at WGLS for two years and the Sports Director for one year. He also covered the football, baseball, softball and both basketball teams for the school newspaper 'The Whit.' Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife Nicole, son Tony and dog Phoebe.

Follow Jim Vassallo on Google+