Ryans teaches students not to be thrown for a money loss

DeMECO Ryans has been in the National Football League long enough to earn the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and learn that a fat wallet may not be thick enough.

"A lot of the younger guys try to keep up with the older guys," he said. "And the younger guys who try to keep up go broke because they're trying to roll with the big dogs."

Living within your means may not make you popular with family, friends and teammates, Ryans told students at Phillis Wheatley High School Thursday, but it's an easy way to accumulate money.

"I can't go out and splurge and spend all my money on cars and jewelry," he said. "Every day I have to be smart about it if I want to be wealthy."

A joint venture between Visa USA, the NFL and its players union — using an online game to teach high school students about personal finance — brought Ryans to Wheatley. A day earlier he became the first Houston Texans player to win an individual performance award. READ MORE