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![Keith Fitzhugh: NFL, Jets Free Agent]()
If given the choice between your dream job and the security of your day job in this economy, what would you do? NFL prospect Keith Fitzhugh was recently presented with this very complex scenario -- and you may be surprised with his selection:
Keith Fitzhugh chose operating trains over a shot at a Super Bowl.
The free-agent safety turned down an offer to join the New York Jets to remain a conductor with Norfolk Southern Railroad and stay on track financially while helping support his parents in Atlanta.
"I've got something now where I know every two weeks I'm getting a paycheck," Fitzhugh told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday night. "That's what helps out the most right now. I don't knock the Jets at all. I highly appreciate them."
Jets coach Rex Ryan said the team was looking to sign a safety after Jim Leonhard was lost for the season last week with a broken shin and James Ihedigbo suffered a leg injury in New York's 45-3 loss to New England on Monday night. New York has only two safeties - Eric Smith and Brodney Pool - listed on its roster.
The 24-year-old Fitzhugh, who had stints in camp with the Jets the past two years, was contacted by the team but declined New York's offer to return.
"You don't hear this too often and some people might think it's not a good idea," Fitzhugh said. "Some people might think it is. I don't know. I just have to look out for what's best for me and my family."
Fitzhugh's father, Keith Sr., is disabled and unable to work, while his mother, Meltonia, has been struggling to make ends meet.
Fitzhugh went undrafted after an outstanding career at Mississippi State and signed last year with the Jets as a free agent. He was later cut and signed to the practice squad before Baltimore signed him last December. He re-signed with the Jets in the offseason.
"I was released three times. That's a lot," he said. "I just don't want to give up what I have now and say that I'm there for a couple of weeks and then I'm released again. Then, what am I going to do? It's really tough. It's the nature of the business."
Fitzhugh, who keeps in touch with a few former Jets teammates, has been working for Norfolk Southern Railroad for three months.
Fitzhugh said he has been blessed to work with his two childhood passions: football and trains. He also keeps close watch on his former team, to see if he still recognizes the defensive schemes Ryan is running.
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Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Quarterback
Player's name: Levander "Bird" Williams
Played by Mykelti Williamson
Film: 'Wildcats' (1986)
Actor's Scoreboard: Long before he starred opposite Tom Hanks in the Oscar-winning film 'Forrest Gump,' Williamson played a number of supporting roles in smaller films and TV series. Known as Mykel T. Williamson in the early '80s, the St. Louis native played a quarterback alongside Wesley Snipes and Goldie Hawn in the film 'Wildcats.'
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BlackVoices.com
Black Actors In Football Films
With the new NFL season now underway, we thought it was the perfect time to look at some of the actors who have donned a helmet and uniform for roles on the big screen. From Denzel Washington to Cuba Gooding Jr., Blackvoices.com has compiled a who's who of black actors who have appeared in football films.
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Running Back
Player's name: Gale Sayers
Played by Billy Dee Williams
Film: 'Brian's Song' (2000)
Actor's Scoreboard: Williams starred opposite Diana Ross in both 'Lady Sings the Blues' and 'Mahogany,' and is best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in the original 'Star Wars' trilogy, but he gained critical acclaim for his role as Chicago Bears running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers in 'Brian's Song.' Sayers helped teammate Brian Piccolo through his struggle with cancer.
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Defensive Coordinator
Player's name: Montezuma "Monty" Monroe
Played by Jim Brown
Film: 'Any Given Sunday' (1999)
Actor's Scoreboard: Considered one of the greatest NFL players, Brown, who played only nines years as a running back for the Cleveland Browns before turning to acting, got a chance to get back on the field when he was featured as a coach in 'Any Given Sunday' with Al Pacino and Jamie Foxx.
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Quarterback
Player's name: Levander "Bird" Williams
Played by Mykelti Williamson
Film: 'Wildcats' (1986)
Actor's Scoreboard: Long before he starred opposite Tom Hanks in the Oscar-winning film 'Forrest Gump,' Williamson played a number of supporting roles in smaller films and TV series. Known as Mykel T. Williamson in the early '80s, the St. Louis native played a quarterback alongside Wesley Snipes and Goldie Hawn in the film 'Wildcats.'
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Defensive Lineman
Player's name: Julius Campbell
Played by Wood Harris
Film: 'Remember the Titans' (2000)
Actor's Scoreboard: Best known for his roles as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale in the HBO television drama 'The Wire' and Motaw in the 1994 motion picture 'Above the Rim,' Harris gained critical praise for his role as high school football player Julius Campbell in the film 'Remember the Titans.' The film also starred Denzel Washington, Donald Faison and Nicole Ari Parker.
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Defensive Lineman
Player's name: Andre Krimm
Played by Sinbad
Film: 'Necessary Roughness'
Actor's Scoreboard: Better known for his stand-up and his comedic role in the TV series 'A Different World,' Sinbad once played a college professor recruited for the defensive line in 'Necessary Roughness.'
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Defensive Lineman
Player's name: Charles Jefferson
Played by Forest Whitaker
Film: 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (1982)
Actor's Scoreboard: Before moving into the director's chair -- and winning an Academy Award for his role as Idi Amin in 'The Last King of Scotland' -- Whitaker suited up to play opposite Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage and Anthony Edwards in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.'
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Offensive Lineman
Player's name: Michael Oher
Played by Quinton Aaron
Film: 'The Blind Side' (2009)
Actor's Scoreboard: Based on the true story of NFL player Michael Oher, 'The Blind Side' featured Quinton Aaron in his film debut. The movie not only captured the hearts of audiences but also led to an Academy Award for co-star Sandra Bullock, who won an Oscar for best actress.
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Defensive Back
Player's name: TJ Banks
Played by Nicoye Banks
Film: 'Invincible'
Actor's Scoreboard: Based on the true story of Vince Papale, a former player for the Philadelphia Eagles, Banks played a defensive back alongside Mark Wahlberg in 'Invincible.' Earlier this year, he costarred with Matt Damon in 'Green Zone' and Wesley Snipes in 'Brooklyn's Finest.'
Black Actors In Football Films
Position: Wide Receiver
Player's name: Rod Tidwell
Played by Cuba Gooding Jr.
Film: 'Jerry Maguire' (1996)
Actor's Scoreboard: With small roles to his credit after taking a leading role in John Singleton's 'Boyz n the Hood,' Gooding refined his acting career when he played the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver who told Tom Cruise's title character to "Show me the money!" His performance led to an Academy Award for best supporting actor.
Black Actors In Football Films
I've seen Fitzhugh interviewed a few times on TV since this story initially broke. He is an intelligent guy with a character of quality who genuinely cares about his family. Because he is the sole breadwinner, he needs to make the safest financial decision and chose job security over chasing a dream. The railway company he works for is so impressed with Fitzhugh's dedication to family (and the resulting good PR this has bought them) that after hearing the details they granted him an indefinite leave of absence to go join the Jets and take his chances, but by then it was too late because the team had already hired someone else for the spot.
Still, the minimum NFL salary for first year players is $325,000. Prorated, Fitzhugh (assuming he stuck) would have made roughly $20,000 per game. The Jets currently have four regular season games remaining, and they seem like a shoo-in to make the playoffs. Players get 1/14th of their annual salary for playoff games, which would have meant another $23,200 for each week the Jets survive the post season. If he'd played well for the Jets, he could have likely parlayed this into a contract (with any team) next year. So, theoretically, Fitzhugh left a least $100,000 on the floor to remain a train conductor.
Just in case you're wondering, the typical train conductor at Norfolk Southern Corporation (Fitzhugh's current employer) makes between $40,695 - $58,958.
As much as I admire his dedication to family, I think this was an unwise financial decision. Fitzhugh himself says if he was given more time (the Jets only gave him 30 minutes to decide before moving on) and had known the railroad would give him a leave of absence, he definitely would have taken the NFL gig. Given the PR blitz he's currently on (he was on CNN, HLN and Fox News in one day alone), chances are he'll get another call sometime soon. Lets all hope so.
Thankfully for Fitzhugh, unlike most NFL players, he has a career to fall back on.
Good luck, Keith.
Question:
What would you have done? Chased the NFL dream, or kept your safe day job?
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