I truly don't give a **** about all that "its a business", "next play could be their last" and all that hoopla. Yeah sure if the player is a low round draft pick, a career backup or such and they get a chance to strike it rich well then by all means go for it.
Brees on the other hand has made close to $250 million (according to business insider) over his career and he is at the point where he has to choose between milking every penny he can or trying to win one more title.



Without fans in the stands no huge TV-contracts, no merch sales and so on. It is all connected. If the fans decide they won't buy the product anymore due to whatever reason the NFL will feel it sooner or later. The fans have a right to be concerned about whatever the hell they like when it comes to the teams they support. Without the fans there would be no teams in just a short while.