Ex-Redskins CB Phillip Buchanon: My mom said I owed her $1 million

In a new book detailing the perils of fortune for athletes, former Redskins CB Phillip Buchanon said his own mother asked for $1 million in exchange for raising him.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Apr 10, 2015

In a new book detailing the perils of fortune for professional athletes, former Washington Redskins cornerback Phillip Buchanon said that his own mother asked for $1 million in exchange for raising him, according to a Fox Sports report.

After he was taken as the 17th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Buchanon wrote in the book, "New Money: Staying Rich," that his mother had calculated he owed her approximately $1 million for spending 18 years of her life raising him.

While he did not pay her the money, Buchanon defended his own generosity by noting he followed the "unwritten rule" of the new money NFL millionaires by buying his mother a new house. He detailed his growing resentment he felt toward his mother while he paid the mortgages on two properties: his mother's previous house as well as the new house Buchanon purchased her.

• RAIOLA: For athletes, tax season is just as important as anything else

"When I got to the NFL, it was all dollars and no sense," Buchanon said, according to the report. "I want to make sure the next generation of athletes doesn't make the same mistakes.

Below is an excerpt from the book (h/t Fox Sports):

In the excerpt, the former NFL cornerback talks about family members, particularly his mother, coming to him for money after he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2002. Buchanon says his mother told him he owed her $1 million for raising him.
“Well, that was news to me. If my mother taught me anything, it’s that this is the most desperate demand that a parent can make on a child. The covenant of having a child is simply that you give your child everything possible, and they owe you nothing beyond a normal amount of love and respect. There is no financial arrangement.”

Classic Photos of the Washington Redskins

Cliff Battles, Sammy Baugh and Wayne Millner

Quarterback Sammy Baugh, center, celebrates with teammates Cliff Battles, left, and Wayne Millner in the locker room after a win of the Chicago Bears in the National Football League Championship game in Chicago. Millner scored two of the teams four touchdowns and Battles tacked on another in the Redskins 28-21 victory.

Sammy Baugh

Washington quarterback Sammy Baugh holds a sculpture of his right throwing hand in the Washington office of his boss, George Preston Marshall. Mrs. Marshall had Baugh's hand sculpted as a birthday gift for her husband. Baugh was in his 11th season out of Texas Christian University.

Bill Chipley and Dan Sandifer

Redskins' halfback Dan Sandifer (right) catches a Boston Yanks pass intended for Bill Chipley (left). Sandifer took the interception 40 yards for a Redskins touchdown.

Rob Goode and Russ Craft

Russ Craft (33) of the Philadelphia Eagles gets a firm grip on Redskins halfback Rob Goode during the second quarter of this matchup in Washington. Goode was brought down for no gain and the Eagles would edge the Redskins 35-21.

Larry Siemering, Bill Dudley, Curly Lambeau, Herman Ball and Wayne Millner

The coaching staff of the Redskins, from left to right: Larry Siemering, line coach; Bill Dudley, backfield coach; Earl (Curly) Lambeau, head coach; Herman Ball, assistant coach; and Wayne Millner, assistant coach and scout. They are picture here looking over a team workout at Occidental College in preparation for their charity game against the Los Angeles Rams on August 19th.

Don Bosseler and Joe Kuharich

University of Miami fullback Don Bosseler was drafted in the first round by the Redskins and is pictured here with a feathered headdress as he gets the traditional rookie initiation with Coach Joe Kuharich.

Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi, the Redskins head coach and general manager encourages some of the players during a training camp workout on July 16th. After success with the Green Bay Packers, Lombardi returned to coaching in 1969 and was able to guide the `Skins to their first winning season in 14 years.

Lem Barney and Larry Brown

Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions grabs the leg of Redskins' running back Larry Brown during the fourth quarter of this matchup in Washington. With the help of this 11-yard run, Brown and the Redskins upset the Lions 31-10.

George Allen, Charlie Harraway, Sonny Jurgensen and Larry Brown

Running back Charlie Harraway (31), quarterback Sonny Jurgensen (9), running back Larry Brown (43), and center Len Hauss (56) pose with new coach George Allen during the Redskins training camp.

Sonny Jurgensen

Washington Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen winds up for a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at RFK Stadium. Jurgensen threw for 32,224 yards and 255 touchdowns over the course of his illustrious career, earning him a spot in the Hall of Fame class of 1983.

George Allen

After winning the 1972 NFC Championship and earning the Redskins their first Super Bowl birth, Coach George Allen gets carried off the field. The `Skins took down NFC rival Dallas Cowboys in a blowout 26-3 win.

Larry Csonka, Verlon Biggs and Chris Hanburger

During Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles, Hall of famer Chris Hanburger (55) stands above the fallen Larry Csonka (39) of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins would eventually defeat the Redskins 14-7.

Clint Longley

Dallas Cowboys' rookie quarterback Clint Longley shows off a newspaper report discussing his stellar performance in a 24-23 victory over the Redskins. Longley was called upon in the third quarter after Roger Staubach was injured. Longley led the Cowboys back from a 16-3 deficit and threw a last second 50-yard touchdown.

George Allen and Brig Owens

Redskins coach George Allen waits to congratulate Charlie Taylor as he comes off the field to catch his breath. Allen had taken the team to the Super Bowl three seasons earlier, which resulted in a loss to the Miami Dolphins.

John Riggins

John Riggins poses for the camera during Redskin training camp. After sitting out the entire 1980 season over a contract dispute, Riggins returned in 1981 and ran for 714 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Joe Gibbs and Mark Moseley

Redskins kicker Mark Moseley converses with head coach Joe Gibbs during a practice on January 3rd. Moseley was named the MVP of the strike-shortened season of 1982--the only placekicker to ever win the award.

Jack Kent Cooke, John Riggins and Joe Gibbs

Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, left, running back John Riggins, and head coach Joe Gibbs, right, share the game ball in the locker room after a Super Bowl XVII win over the Dolphins. Riggins was named the MVP of the game after scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Joe Theismann

Quarterback Joe Theismann (7) celebrates after John Riggins score their second touchdown against division rival Dallas Cowboys at RFK Stadium in Washington. Riggins would later be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

John Riggins

John Riggins (44) breaks a tackle against the San Francisco 49ers. During the '83 season Riggins rushed for 1,347 yards, and then-NFL record 24 touchdowns, and was named an All-Pro for the first time in his career.

Joe Theismann

Quarterback Joe Theismann is seen here on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a fictional piece of tape over his mouth in 1984. This cover refers to the self-imposed gag order that Theismann imposed on himself as rumors swirled regarding him having marital problems and dating a Hollywood personality.

Joe Theismann and Lawrence Taylor

On this infamous play during a Monday Night Football matchup between the Redskins and the New York Giants, Lawrence Taylor foiled a flea-flicker attempt and gruesomely broke quarterback Joe Theismann's leg. Thesimann, a Hall of Fame quarterback, would never return to the NFL after this play, which would become known as "The Hit That No One Who Saw It Can Ever Forget".

Ricky Sanders

Dave Butz, Wade Wilson and Dexter Manley

Art Monk

Art Monk (81), leaps in the back of the end zone to make a touchdown catch during Super Bowl XXVI in Indianapolis. The Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24, and Monk had seven catches for 113 yards including this touchdown.

Michael Westbrook and Stephen Davis

George Starke, Mark May, Jeff Bostic, Russ Grimm, and Joe Jacoby

Former Redskins, from left to right, George Starke, Mark May, Jeff Bostic, Russ Grimm, and Joe Jacoby are recognized as one of the best offensive lines of all time. This group was called the "Hogs" and they became famous for smash-mouth football and adding personality to the typically mundane offensive line position.

Darrell Green and Champ Bailey

Darrell Green and Champ Bailey line up on defense during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. Drafted in 1983, Darrell Green has the most career interceptions in Redskins history (54), as well as most game starts (258) and games played (295).

Clinton Portis

Sean Taylor

Redskins' Sean Taylor (21) follows the ball on defense against the rival Philadelphia Eagles. The Redskins drafted Taylor with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, and he quickly became a fantastic player, known for his earth-shattering hits. In 2007, Taylor died tragically from gunshot wounds after intruders had entered his Miami home.

LaVar Arrington and Joe Gibbs

Donovan McNabb

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb winds up for a deep pass against the Baltimore Ravens. McNabb would only play one season in Washington--passing for 3, 377 yards and 14 touchdowns.