Union Gesture Kicks Off NFL Season
- Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:40pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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In an attempt to show solidarity before Thursday’s NFL season opener between the Saints and Vikings, members of both teams came out on to the field just prior to kick off and gave team owners the finger. Not the middle finger, but rather players all held up their index fingers to say that they (and all members of the NFL’s players union) would not be divided as they seek a new labor contract.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, a member of the NFLPA (the union) executive board, said the effort was coordinated to send a message that the players are united in their current quest for a new labor deal (collective bargaining agreement).
“Even though five minutes from then we were going to go out and bash each others’ heads in,” Brees said, “we’re all one voice.”
The owners have opted out of the old agreement, and are threatening to lock the players out next year if they do not negotiate a new deal. Among the sticking points: asking players to take a pay cut. That has the union very upset, and failed negotiations prompted last nights gesture.
Not everyone was impressed, though. Former player and ESPN host Mike Golic lambasted the gesture this morning on his radio show, and had it out with fellow NFL veteran Marcellus Wiley:
H/T: Gawker
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Comments (52)
unionrockstar
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:21pmMy experience with unions has not been positive. Having formally worked for a union company (of which I was a supervisor and my salary was less than the people who worked for me) Even though our incentive program gave us the opportunity to earn additional income; the point is my employees base salary was less than mine. Why do think we can’t export our products? Why do you think our rate of inflation has risen to the point it has? When everyone makes the same; the incentive to excel goes out the door. What if we as non-union members decide to unite and refuse to attend there football games? (But that will never happen). This isn‘t the first time Pro football teams have done this and it won’t be the last. Get use to it we now have a President who has spent his entire career on the side of unions (I’m certain campaign contributions had nothing to do with it.
Report Post »Sorry, I got carried away.
Okie 1
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:10pmI am 48 and been a Dolphins fan since I can remember. I have given up. The new ownership at Miami had turned me off and now this? I’m done! I had pretty much relegated myself to College and High school anyway because in my humble opinion, they are 10 times more exciting than the “pro’s” have become. Not that I seriously expect it, but whatever happened to “I love this game so much I would play for free”? Whatever happened to playing because you LOVE the game, not how much can I make off of it? I’m as conservative as they come and I believe everyone should earn a buck, but this is getting ridiculous, especially in this economy. These guys are spoiled from the time they are in grade school and are totally out of touch. They could care less for “us”. Yes I am bitter because they have ruined a really good thing. There are no hero’s in big time sports anymore. Very sad!
Report Post »solvitur ambulando *** Deo
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 5:45pmUnions are out of control. Players are paid too much, demand too much and think the world revolves around them. We have fostered a world where sports players are the heros for our youth…and these very same heros throw temper tantrums about pay….and charge outrageous amounts of money for their signatures (I’m of the age where I remember they used to sign things for free.) The owners should disolve the companies and reach out to new players and start a new team. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Report Post »angroehl
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 5:36pmThis sucks! I LOVE watching the Vikings!
Report Post »John in VA
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:53pmMillionaires versus Billionaires… this is just pathetic… I have seen several NFL games… only 1 since having kids… I have taken my son to see Lambeau Field (yes, I am a cheesehead), but for me to shell out at least $1000 for a three hour event (me, my wife + our 2 kids) while these guys BOTH whine… I will continue to watch on regular TV (at least until a strike) and take him to see high school students who play for pride.
Report Post »davejag
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:44pmPLEASE keep unions out of sports. Before long, they won’t be allowed to play on Sundays.
Report Post »CowboyKate in Montana
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:38pmI’ve been an NFL Fan most of my years from the mid-1970′s until recently. I now have a true distaste for UNIONS, especially since OBAMA got elected. The NFL Players already EARN more than they deserve. Football used to be a sport — has not been for decades–and it‘s marketed just to keep suckers spending money they don’t have. I wouldn’t cry if they cannot reach a contract and cancel playing in 2011 season. Have to admit though the BEST PART of the NFL SEASON this year, is they benched KEITH OLBERMAN from using his venomous microphone! Yeah Team!
Report Post »politicaljules
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:37pmMore reason to stick with NASCAR racing.
Maybe football could take some pointers. Sponsers provide money to the racing teams. If you are a good team/racer you get lots of big bucks.
If you suck, you dont.
It is a win-win where the incentive to perform is strong in order to keep sponsors who, in turn get a ton of PR through their players and the fans who adore them.
With the union infection in popular sports, it is no wonder the teams and sports are failing. There is nothing for me to get distraught about because I do not support the union in any form. If they want to destroy the sport, then so be it. Maybe it is time for some new grassroots movements to arise.
Report Post »CowboyKate in Montana
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:32pmAdd your comments
Report Post »familyofsix
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:32pmI won’t be attending any NFL games, too expensive. But I also don’t like this union crap being thrown in my face at a sporting event…that’s just a bad show. I’ll spend my hard earned entertainment money elsewhere.
Report Post »David Foxfire
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:16pmAnd people wondered why they came up with the XFL and their ilk.
Report Post »needanotherReagan
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:01pmThey’re all a bunch of overpaid primadonnas. They get millions of dollars for playing a meaningless game once a week, and they still want more. This is just another example of how unions are destroying the country.
Report Post »floydjr
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 4:02pmYpu got It!
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:58pmIMAGINE a season WITHOUT football.. What oh WHAT would the left do..? I know the people on the right will pick up a book and read but the LEFT?? they will WHINE and blame BUSH while STILL getting high….LOL..
Report Post »wb2121
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:31pmNot watching pro sports anymore!!! All about money no honor.
Report Post »yogi
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:28pmThe players want all the rewards and glory but are not willing to take any liability in team financial performance.
Report Post »A Extremist
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:27pmThey could shut down the whole NFL and would would not make a bit of difference. This is a meaningless activity that can be replaced any number of other meaningless activities.
Report Post »Elisha Bjorne
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:26pmOh, could we see the days of the NFL scabs back for an encore? 1987, time machine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_NFL_season
Report Post »James
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:22pmI watched last nights game between the Vikings and Saints. The longer I watched it, I became less and less interested. Not sure why, but somethings turned me off and I’m a life long NFL fan. Could be because the NFL has too, too many show boats, that turns me off. Many, many athletes have the same talent or more athletic ability, but they never seem to make the team. Seems like there are too many overated players and owners.
Report Post »warner
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:04pmYeah…I feel real bad for those poor football players. Let’s see Brady just signed for $16 million a year. FOR WHAT…to play football! Good night! I hate unions and this typical of the whoa is me…we will fight them mentality. If it wasn‘t for the owners having a team these morons wouldn’t be anywhere in life. Now we are suppose to feel sorry for them …they can stick that finger up their greedy butts. I hate seeing that crap at a game! They can all get on the same page to run onto the field and raise a finger but they can’t put their hands over their hearts during the Pledge of Allegience – pathetic!
Report Post »anOpinion
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:02pmMaybe I’m naive, but I don’t have a big problem with players unions because the players are elite, and are hired and fired based on their ability to play and what they contribute. Them asking for a fair cut of the proceeds is similar to actors getting paid well for movies.
This is the exact opposite of the labor unions, where employee qualifications, work ethic etc. have nothing to do with hiring/firing.
Report Post »poppopschell
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:59pmWhatever happened to the Amer4ican virtue of playing for the fun of the game? I rarely watch baseball and professional footbal anymore.
Report Post »MichaellivinginCanada
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:57pmHey, El Paco. I’m not an American and all, but wouldn’t a Dodger game be considered a baseball game? I agree with everything else you said though.
Report Post »Tennessee Veteran
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:45pmThere are differences of course since they are different games. The similarity is that they are professional sports and it is one group of millionaires/multi-millionaires vs another group of millionaires/multi-millionaires. Both sides squabble with each other and too often ignore the real source of their income – the fans.
Report Post »El Paco
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:10pmNo, you are right. I don’t have an NFL team by me (Thanks to us booting BOTH our NFL teams out back in the 90′s) but go to baseball games every year. I love going to games, but “Likes to get drunk guy” makes me not want to go to stadiums. Just making a point with a personal story in the most applicable way possible.
Report Post »lastmanstandin
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:56pmlet them strike,lock them out who cares these players and owners are all multi-millionires. Ever try to take a family of five to see a football game or hockey game, better take out a loan. forget these over paid crybabies both owners and players.
Report Post »puck30
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:08pmYou got that right brother, I’ve been priced out to the minors.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:03pmare you kidding I couldn’t afford to take my kids to a football OR baseball game 15 years ago.. If you could afford the price of the tickets .. the FOOD and TRANSPORTATION would break the budget.. and FORGET a overpriced trinket made in China.. you CAN’T bring your own food in they check your bags etc.. I quit going when sports turned into a money cow for the players and owners with NO consideration for the fans
Report Post »gracentruth
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:25pmAmen. You are thoughtfully correct.
Report Post »yankee03
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:54pmThese guys make more money than their maturity desevers. The bussiness they are in requires incredibale infrastructure and overhead costs, what is a 7 figure paycut to a guy making 2-20 million a year?? I am all about making as much money as you are worth, (or in this case, someone is stupid enough to sign to you on contract), but if they want a carrer, pricing the owners out of needed stadium and team equipment improvments will only cause future players to play for less .A very small cut in pay would go years to make the bussiness better for the rookie and star, and take nothing away from long term financial security (minding they have the maturity to save it).
Report Post »budlawman
Posted on September 12, 2010 at 2:07amAre you serious? The guys on the field taking the punishment, with a very limited career span, should take a cut to keep the owners in clover? Owners who get tax breaks and corporate welfare up the wazoo to build that infrastructure to which you refer, and whose franchises appreciate, THEY are deserving of concessions by the other side? I don’t think so. Not until the fans pay to see Jerry Jones and Al Davis tackle, block, and throw and catch passes to each other.
Report Post »RightWingKookTank
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:44pmWhat a start to the NFL season! Makes me NOT want to watch at ALL.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:27pmLOL who wants to watch a bunch of overpayed men in tights playing grabass
Report Post »El Paco
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:44pmWoot, first comment!!
I think the owners and the players both need to think of fans first. Ticket sales are declining due to people not wanting the expensive food and drinks, drunken fan shouting obscenities and spilling his brewsky on your wife’s purse (happened at a Dodger game) and mainly the drive.
Make the game about the fans. And this needs to come from both sides.
Report Post »Rock Knutne ND
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:08pmSorry to rain on your parade there El Paco…
“Ticket sales are declining due to people not wanting the expensive food and drinks, drunken fan shouting obscenities and spilling his brewsky on your wife’s purse (happened at a Dodger game) and mainly the drive.”
While the economy is playing its part in declining interest in NFL attendance, the larger reason is the ‘Thug’ mentality seeping into ‘The League’ much like the NBA. Or maybe you haven‘t noticed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s pre-emptive strikes on any and all thug like activities.
When it, and He (Goodell) clean up their act, the NFL will return to its glory days.
Kinda like the USA and it‘s ’Restoring Honor’ campaign. Real Hope and Change IS coming.
Report Post »El Paco
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:25pmHey, that’s also a good point. There’s a lot more than meets the eye with this issue.
Report Post »admojo
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:42pmI dumped my Cincinnati Bengals seat and seat license for exacly the reason EL Paco states. 75 bucks per game plus beer and brats to sit with drunken idoits not watching the game and puking on my shoes-not worth it.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on September 10, 2010 at 4:45pmEl paco you’re right about one thing….they should pay attention to the fans a little more. Its the fans that made football what it is today. The super bowl wasnt all that super on Super Bowl I sunday. They didnt even fill up the colliseum.
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