NFL Coaches Spending Too Much Time at the Office

I just finished reading a story about Britt Reid, the 21-year-old son of Philadelphia Eagle's coach Andy Reid, and how he was recently arrested and charged with numerous drug and weapons offenses. In addition, his other son, Garrett, 23, caused a car accident while under the influence of heroin.

I personally like Andy Reid. I think he's a great head coach and, overall, a decent person so it is upsetting to me that he would have a family problem like that.

Even more upsetting is this incident happened just a little over a year after James Dungy, son of Indianapolis Colts coach, Tony Dungy, committed suicide. He was only 18.

While, granted, these are isolated incidents, I think the message they send is clear; National Football League head coaches spend too much time at work and not enough time with their families. It's a cruel irony coming from a league that focuses on providing family-oriented entertainment.

Because of the competitive nature of the sport, coaches often find themselves working long hours going over playbooks and researching potential players. Some coaches even keep cots or couches in their office so they can just sleep there overnight. While it is easy to say that is by choice, it really isn't. While the positions pay well, there is very little job security and, if spending less time on a game plan than your opponent means you lose the game, it could mean being put on the unemployment line.

And, family isn't the only thing affected by that.

While many coaches are able to retire early, they end up having health problems that shorten their life. Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, who currently coaches the Washington Redskins, has a well-documented history of health problems (which are part of the reason he originally retired from the league). Former Eagles and Green Bay Packers coach Ray Rhodes has had a problem with strokes. Mike Martz, former St. Louis Rams head coach, was hospitalized for endocarditis. Once again, this is cruel irony for a league that prides itself in giving its players the best medical care.