Good stats ethat. A few questions:
1) in terms of 78% being bankrupt shortly after leaving the game - what does this prove to you? I ask since you quoted the stat. For me it says that regardless of the amount paid, many players will poorly manage their money. And would lead me to the suggestion that maybe less focus should be on salaries, and more on retirement care and follow up.
Same question about the average lifespan. I don't see that much as an argument for or against the player's union, as much as a need for greater education of the player's on healthy after football lifestyles.
I don't think anyone, players, owners, or fans, are saying players should be paid at the same rate as a teacher, or policeman, etc. However, no teacher starts at 41000 at 20 y.o. Most teaching positions require at least a BA degree, and higher paid positions certainly require MBA or better. Although policemen may start at 20 y.o. I also doubt that most teachers or policemen work for 45 years as the stress and general environmental factors would drive those who make it 20 years to seek retirement somewhere along the lines.
One last hypothetical (and truly this is not anywhere near reality), given your statement
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At least the firefighter or teacher gets the money over a lifetime, so they can more carefully invest it -- most NFL players are 20-something and waste much of the money & crippled by divorces.
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what would you think of a proposal that a significant portion of a player's salary be put in a fund, and paid out over a 10-year time frame, thus hoping to reduce the number of bankruptcies and give players more time to prepare for their after-NFL career.