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Just because you apparently lack any sort of moral fiber doesn't mean everyone else does.

It wasn't $50M -- though of course I hadn't already earned $250M+ -- but I absolutely have sacrificed aspects of my career because I spoke out on a controversial topic. Long and short of it, I was a partner at a large law firm, and spoke out against practices where we funneled work to associates based solely on racial/gender considerations. I said I would refuse to do it because I thought it was not only unethical, but unlawful.

I was shortly thereafter removed from that client's cases, which resulted in a large enough reduction in billings than I eventually decided to leave. I knew ahead of time it would happen, but I wasn't going to play the PC game just for more money.

You seem like just a "I was just following orders -- who am I to object" kind of guy. I hope that's worked out well for you.

[Just because you apparently lack any sort of moral fiber doesn’t mean everyone else does.

It wasn’t $50M — though of course I hadn’t already earned $250M+ — but I absolutely have sacrificed aspects of my career because I spoke out on a controversial topic. Long and short of it, I was a partner at a large law firm, and spoke out against practices where we funneled work to associates based solely on racial/gender considerations. I said I would refuse to do it because I thought it was not only unethical, but unlawful.

I was shortly thereafter removed from that client’s cases, which resulted in a large enough reduction in billings than I eventually decided to leave. I knew ahead of time it would happen, but I wasn’t going to play the PC game just for more money.]

My hat’s off to you. But here’s a question - did you ponder the possibility of swallowing your qualms, working within the company, and gradually bending its policies to your will? Because that’s what any number of other people have done. You can’t always fight The Man head-on.

Note also that you had the option of moving to another firm or hanging out your shingle. Brees doesn’t. For him, it’s the NFL or nothing, if he wants to play pro ball. He would have given up 2 years’ salary *and* the rest of his career, as well as another chance at the Super Bowl. The analogy would be to you giving up a career in law.