NFLPA Asking Prospects To Boycott The Draft

...some words might have gotten twisted a bit:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6220232

also surprised

 

Since football season is over with, I've rarely watched espn. Basically, either they are going to have football or they arent.. and if they aren't the only people who are losing out are the players because the NFL is a leisure for most people and we will just barbeque at home on sundays and enjoy the time off from work regardless if they are playing or not....

I mean, by week 10 or 11, you know whether or not your team has a shot at making the playoffs, and by week 15-16 your team is already in or already out so there is only about 2 months of meaningful football being played anyways.

 

Though I tend to side with the players in the labor dispute this is a ridiculous request from them. If I were one of the kids coming out of college and someone called me and asked that, my response would be, "Oh, you want me to boycott the draft to support the players union when the players union is the one who wants to institute a rookie salary cap, which prevents me from making more money than I normally could?"

 

Last year and the year before, every single Titans game became the biggest game of the season. Week-1 meant something, facing the Steelers in week-2 meant something, week-3 in New York was something, then week-4 was something, week-5 and on and on I could go. Point is, I value games in September as much as those in December. Sure the later the games, the closer to the playoffs you get, but a win in the fall can be as important as one in winter.

 

Basically, I think the situation is the exact opposite, but no offense.

 

It's that type of thinking that destroys unions. Most players don't get to go to the awards ceremony just like most players in the league aren't rookies. The NFLPA is trying to make a rookie cap for the benefit of the players as a whole. Players like CJ who really deserve big money would get the big contracts instead of players like VY who just happened to get drafted number 3. Teams have way too much money tied up in high draft picks that don't pan out.

 

Really? An Uncle Buck quote in a labour discussion? ...I like it.

Anyhow, the NFLPA has put the draft prospects in a really unfair, uncomfortable situation in my mind. They seem to be saying 'If you're gonna be one of us, you better not be chummy with the league by attending the draft'. So now, the rookies' reputation with their future teammates is in jeopardy if they attend. So basically they have to forgo what could be the highlight of their career (if they bust out, anyhow).

Instead, they get to just attend some other lame little ditty thrown by the NFLPA. As cute as it is for DeMaurice Smith to congratulate you, before you shake Elvis Dumervill's hand and pop on your Bronco hat, it's not the real draft. It's not Radio City Music Hall. It's not that smug prat Roger Goodell. It's not the same, and it's not the rookies' fault.