At what point do you have enough money??? To play a kids game? I mean, what the hell is Tom Brady taking team friendly deals? What the hell is Chris Long giving away a years salary? The year after signing for the league minimum at NE....After the last 2 years....he should be signing for 5 mill.
If it's we not me, when does an overpaid guy give back??? Never?...ok, say that at the start.....
Answering questions in order.
Unless you have turned down a lot of money, taking less to do something that might cripple you or cause premature death or insanity, not sure you should question others' reactions. In any case, if it were me, I would factor in wanting to live a great lifestyle while paying a lot in taxes, wanting to do it for the rest of my life to make up the certainty of significant pain when I retire, wanting to protect myself somewhat from some of my investments going south, and wanting to make sure that my children, nieces and nephews, grand children, great grandchildren are all in a good position. I'm not saying I would support them, but I am saying that so long as they put forth an effort, they would never have to pay a penny for school, if they needed help with a downpayment for their first home (again, so long as they know they would have to make the payments) they would get it. If they need help establishing their career post education it would be there (i.e., if one becomes a dentist, there would be help setting up their practice. Not just a gift, but the help they need so that interest rates would be reasonable, so that they don't waste decades of paying rent, etc.
Now, how much money is that? Don't know? Neither do they - so they get more when they can, since they are unlikely to ever have such a chance again.
Chris Long? He's a great guy. He gave up salary, but NOT his signing bonus. Just saying.
When does an overpaid guy give back? I don't know. When does a team give a player who over performs his contract more money just for the underpaid season?