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This NFL Star Pulled A Genius Maneuver Before Getting A Season-Ending Injury

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Jena Greene Reporter
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As Philadelphia Eagles running back Jay Ajayi recovers from ACL surgery today, he’ll be able to rest a little easier knowing he’s covered off the field too.

No, this isn’t a commercial for All State. It is, however, a story about how Ajayi apparently knows what he’s doing because he took out an insurance policy on his body right before sustaining a season-ending injury in Week 5. (RELATED: NFL Week 5: Here Are The Most Important Moments You May Have Missed)

 

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The Super Bowl LII star had only played four games and rushed for 184 yards when his season came to a screeching halt against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday when he tore his right ACL. (RELATED: New Details About The Vikings Star Who Allegedly Threatened To Shoot Up A Hotel Emerge. They’re Horrifying)

But Ajayi’s business manager Josh Sanchez says his client took out a market loss insurance policy just this past year to prevent losing any potential contract money because of an injury. Either the guy’s really smart or really, really lucky.

 

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This is especially important since Ajayi becomes a free agent next year. It could be a nightmare scenario for an injured player who’s losing money due to lost game time and waning potential value because of a serious injury.

“Ajayi was valued as a significant free agent based on the policy. If the injury takes his market down to a point where he would be a lower-level free agent, he can receive a maximum payout $5 million net — after taxes,” NFL.com explains. “In other words, if Ajayi’s free-agent value goes down, the policy will help make up the difference. Let’s say he’s valued as being able to earn a four-year, $16-million contract before the injury. But now, he ends up earning just $8 million over four years.”

Ajayi’s been a pivotal game changer for the Eagles since joining the team last year and it would be difficult to imagine him leaving anytime soon. But if his market value does happen to go down, or if he is traded, he’ll be thankful he decided to go with a policy that’s highly advised — but not often utilized — in the NFL.

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