No it's down to the ridiculousness of his defence. I've often said I don't begrudge players trying to earn as much as they can, and if he'd said that it would have been fine. But to hide between some concept of needing to provide for his family is cowardly. People provide for their families on a fraction of what he earns.
Totally agree with your main point. Wonder if Snodgrass played the violin while spouting such claptrap.