If Marcus Lattimore decides he will retire from football, he has a tax-free $1.7 million insurance policy that he should be able to collect on, Lattimore's agent Michael Perrett told ESPN.com.
Lattimore took out the permanent total disability policy during his junior year at the University of South Carolina, which sources say cost him between $10,000 and $15,000.
On Oct. 27, 2012, in a game versus the University of Tennessee, Lattimore tore ligaments in his right leg that ended his season. Despite the injury, the running back declared himself for the NFL draft.
Lattimore's condition resulted in him falling from a consensus first-round pick to a fourth round selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 draft, a projected monetary loss of at least $5 million in signing bonuses and guaranteed salary.
The standard permanent total disability policy of an athlete who buys the policy in college allows for that athlete to play a rehab period of up to four games the following year in college or in the pros. Once the player plays in four games, the policy is considered expired.
Lattimore has played in no games since his injury two years ago, as he just started practicing with the team this week. Reports surfaced on Monday that he was contemplating calling it quits, after he wasn't present at the team's game on Sunday.
In order to collect on the $1.7 million, Lattimore would have to file a claim and to have a doctor physically rule him unable to play.
Lattimore was given a $300,000 signing bonus for signing a four-year deal, but was put on non football injury reserve list the past two seasons, which means the team doesn't have to pay him.
