OT: NFLPA Instructs College Prospects Not to Attend the Draft
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6216135
Dear God please let this happen. Having a draft with no players to go up and accept their jersey with the commish. Not to mention no post-pick interviews. ESPN would be screwed. Would be an embarrasment for the Owners as well.
HALOL.
Edit: Good points below suggest what I didn't think of right away. This really would suck for the Rookies because they don't get to be part of this once in a lifetime event. Not doubt they are probably being forced against there will to comply.
Meh. The draft is bloated anyways.
I'm completely OK with embarrassing ESPN, the owners, etc., but I don't like that this hurts the incoming rookies more than anyone.
The guys who will/would be at the draft have been dreaming about that day since they first picked up a football (unfortunately most players don't romanticize college as much as we do, but looking down the barrel of NFL money who could blame them). Taking that away from them seems quite unfair, especially when you consider they might already be foregoing their first year in the NFL anyway because of a mess they had no part in creating.
Both sides are really serious this time. I wonder if the NFLPA will sell those same rookies down the river as a bargaining chip when it is time to determine a rookie cap? I'm guessing it doesn't work, but those who do go will be called "scabs" by the vets until they prove themselves.
Man, I wouldn't want to be considered a scab in the NFL...
..dont know about you but I've already ordered new cleats/gloves
Gonna be a Lion by fall baby!!!!!!!! Call in the replacements!!!!
I hope you ordered some new bandages.
SCAB!
NFLPA? You mean that organization that used to exist but decertified?
IIRC, they only decertified the collective bargaining rights of the union. Not the entire entity.
It's a once in a lifetime thing and they should have the chance at that just like all those that came before.
Millionaires and Billionaires fighting for a few scraps at the edges. I could give two shits about the outcome, and this is another reason why I love NCAA sports 1000X more than Pro Sports.
That's a cynical viewpoint but I can't really argue against it. I'm not sure why you got the -1 other than angry RAWR disagreement.
Work stoppages, while sometimes necessary when one side of the table gets too bloated, never fail to point out the disgusting truths about professional sports: Nobody in the real world should feel bad for them.
Cynicism isn't all bad, sometimes it is neccessary.
I'll miss the awkward player moments, such as:
Vernon Davis crying (all the way to the bank).
Aaron Rodgers long, long wait (that worked out well).
Brady Quinn mouthing "Oh wow" (and thinking, "at least I have the workout drink endorsement.")
...the rookies, but this is the price they must pay to show solidarity with their union brothers. Good luck to any of them that actually show up. They will have a short but brutal career.
As always, when deciding how to act, it's best to take the long view.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
Unions these days, are nothing more then legalized crime syndicates.
The NFLPA receives 255 identical seven page faxes. The first page: a giant F
I'm pretty sure that the NFLPA has no standing to force these rookies to do anything for two reasons. The first being, that technically the NFLPA is no longer a union and is simply a trade association. Once they de-certified the NFLPA as it was before ceased to exist. Two being, these players have yet to sign pro contracts, so technically they're not even part of the NFLPA to begin with. It seems extremely selfish to me that the players association is using these kids as pawns to try and gain more leverage when the only people actually being harmed are the players. I hope they tell the NFLPA to shove it and show up anyway, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Does anyone remember the SNL skit where Jane curtain was talking about a strike that was going on at the time as if it was Sesame Street. She was pronouncing the words Picket and Scab real slow and then said "Don't, it might get infected". It was awesome
Yet another short sighted move by a union that seems to be doing things all wrong
The PA sure knows how to mess up a good thing. They got people like Rick Reilly and Bill Simmons shilling for them and trying to drum up support by chastising the owners for being wealthy (as if anyone else could own a football team) and they burn what goodwill they get out of that on petty, ridiculous moves. Simmons' column was even pretty convincing. But if I have to choose sides between rich people making bad business decisions and rich people acting like spoiled children and "negotiating" in bad faith, I know where my sympathies lie.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Usually are quite popular and end well. I guess you'd expect this from a former union that walked away from the table so that the richest players could sue the NFL in court and jeopardize the season.
How much is enough?
Brady contract extension:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Patriots-QB-Brady-gets-16-milli…
Manning contract:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&i…
Brees contract:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2368304
those 3 work out to about $210 million - no wonder they're upset