Darrius Heyward-Bey has been in the NFL since 2009, when the Oakland Raiders made him the No. 7 overall pick in the draft despite somewhat underwhelming college statistics. Heyward-Bey was a speedster, though, and there was nothing late Raiders owner Al Davis liked more than a tall, speedy wideout, and so Heyward-Bey was drafted far earlier than most prognosticators had him coming off the board.

Heyward-Bey, now a solid sub-package wideout with the Steelers, did not exactly live up to the high draft status: He totaled 140 catches for 2,071 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons with the Raiders, and wasn't signed to a second contract with the team. Heyward-Bey's rookie contract with the Raiders did pay him $30.3 million, though, and he's earned an additional $4.4 million in the four seasons since then.

That brings him pretty close to $35 million in career earnings, and according to Heyward-Bey, he still has almost all of it left -- thanks to his mother. Heyward-Bey's mother, Vivian, is a certified public accountant, and she keeps track of all of his finances, in exchange for a commission.

"I get an email [from her] every Tuesday," Heyward-Bey said, per ESPN.com. "I can read it over, check it up. I see where the money is going."

Heyward-Bey told ESPN that he and his mother specify a monthly allowance he uses for his spending money, an allowance that grows over time because he keeps saving more and more. "I don't have any kid and I'm not married, so the money I spend is on me. It's really easy to say no to myself," Heyward-Bey said. "I keep things real simple. I'm not really a flashy guy. I understand what I want to buy. I invest my money well and pay my taxes."

With all the stories you hear about players either spending their money too quickly, getting conned out of money by crooked financial managers, or getting sucked dry due to clingy hangers-on, it's great to hear about at least one player that has a solid system of support behind him that is helping him save for his future after football.