You say college football players get tax shelter for NIL deals. I say it’s more harm than good

We’ve now officially crossed into the land of willful stupidity.

Seriously, what are we doing here?

It’s one thing to do right by players and allow them to earn off their name image and likeness. It’s another to take it one step further by giving them free player movement.

Sharing media rights revenue? Absolutely, no problem with it.

But I’m drawing the line at tax-free shelters. And everyone involved in collegiate sports should, too — including the pandering pom-pom wavers in state governments who have decided that players shouldn’t be taxed on NIL income.

The state of Georgia has proposed a bill to eliminate a 5.49% state income tax on NIL income. And because Georgia did it, it should come as no surprise that the state Alabama followed suit.

And you better believe a majority of the SEC states will, too.

PLAYOFF PICKS: Projecting next year’s field of 12 with some surprises

LOOKING AHEAD: Our way-too-early college football Top 25 for 2025

But this line in the sand that now must be drawn has nothing to do with millions in would-be taxes generated on NIL deals, or that those millions could support critical infrastructure (physical and mental) in our cities and states. Good, important things.

This is something much deeper. It’s not about what we’re giving young people for playing a sport.

It’s about what we’re taking away.

What message are we sending to 18-year-old young men, who have been glad-handed all of their sports playing lives? Who have been told, over and over since elementary school, their talent and ability will take them places their parents could only dream of?

Life is their oyster, and they’re the perpetual perfect pearl inside.

Until they’re not.

Until they eventually become part of the 98.4% of college football players who don’t make it to the NFL. Until those years of avoiding hard life…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-players-tax-shelter-110604030.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-14 11:06:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.