Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan made approximately $35 million from 2001 to 2009 as a Panthers linebacker. He received a $5 million signing bonus when he inked a five-year, $28 million extension with Carolina at the peak of his career in 2005.

So when the Seattle Seahawks offered him a yearly salary of about $35,000 to be a scout in 2010, it was a reality check. But it was Morgan's goal to become an NFL general manager, and he knew the best way to do it at the time was to start at the bottom as most before him had.

Morgan said not many former players are willing to do that, and that's one reason only two of 32 NFL general managers played in the league -- Morgan and the San Francisco 49ers ' John Lynch.

There are six GMs in the 30-team NBA with pro playing experience, s

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