Shortly after the 2012 NFL Draft concluded, Andrew Sweat tweeted that he had signed a free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns. The linebacker out of Ohio State would be trading Columbus for Cleveland. Later tweeting out a link to the Browns' roster with his name included, Sweat seemed to be excited about entering the NFL.
However, Sweat has changed his mind, tweeting that he will not to purse a career in the NFL, citing health concerns.
The impact of head injuries on the lives of NFL players is once again a central talking point among athletes, sports media and fans in the aftermath of the suicide of former NFL star Junior Seau. Veteran guard Jacob Bell announced his early retirement shortly after Seau's death, citing his concerns over head trauma.
Sweat's senior season at Ohio State was marred by injuries, including a concussion suffered against Purdue.
Before tweeting his decision, Sweat had reportedly informed The Columbus Dispatch via text message. The Dispatch also reported that Sweat indicated he had been accepted to five law schools.
Writing for AboveTheLaw.com, Elie Mystal describes Sweat's decision to eschew the NFL for the law school as something that "could be the biggest mistake of his life."
The reactions on Twitter were more supportive than Mystal's post.
According to SB Nation's Ohio State football blog, Land-Grant Holyland, Sweat's best chance of sticking with the Browns was by making an impact on special teams.
Is AboveTheLaw right about Sweat's decision or does the NFL pose health risks to players that could outweigh the potential financial gain?