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I think yàll are taking the concept of slavery too literal. Its like when people compare stuff to war or when guys compare shoe prices to rape.
Peterson compares NFL labor to slavery
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by trelvis tha thrilla,
- Start date
I think yàll are taking the concept of slavery too literal. Its like when people compare stuff to war or when guys compare shoe prices to rape.
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There's a different standard. If he pleases, he can always quit the business or move on to a different league.
If you want to put it like the "normal" man consider the NFL as a company with the 32 teams being branches of that one company. Just 'cause Joe Schmoe is making more money than you at a certain branch doesn't mean you can just transfer over. There's a process that usually involves HR.
If you want to get technical, we can continue, but I don't want to fill this space with HR jibber jabber or office politics. NFL players can always quit and work for another employer. The only problem is that they are working for the company that has the highest pay, there's nowhere to go but down.
I understand what they are fighting for, more power to them, but comparing it to slavery...nah, don't buy that.
Oh, just to add. Most major companies have their CEO's and High ranking executives sign contracts. Even though low level employees think they are saving the world every time they punch in, it is always harder to replace a CEO/VP/Executive as opposed to Joe Schmoe making under 30k.
NFL players have the choice to quit and pursue another profession.
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NFL players can quit...slaves couldn't.
end of discussion.
end of discussion.
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Again taking the `slavery`thing too literal. Its kinda like Prince writing `Slave`on his cheek. Was Prince trying to literally say he was a slave....No! he was just trying to illustrate a point.
Now that I think about it, the only other profession that really compares to it is if you`re a recording artist stuck in a bad contract....A la Prince, The Rolling Stones, George Michael and TLC. Sure those artists could quit and get another job but really thats their profession; their one real skill, they trained for multiple years for it like a professional athlete( Like a doctor or a lawyer) they didnt just luck into it.
Whether we like it or not professional sports is a highly skilled job and very few people can actually do it.
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Poor NFL players...
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Originally Posted by DeadsetAce
Exactly.
%+%$ ing idiot.
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I totally get where he's going but it's a dead end.
Majorbread
formerly 40inchboost
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sounded pretty uneducated with this one SMH
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Mannnnnnnnn......these athletes never satisfied with their millions.
Too much is never enough for 'em.
Too much is never enough for 'em.
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Originally Posted by 23ska909red02
Ouch.
What a %@#*%$@ idiot I though AP was better than that
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On top of that, imagine going to your employer and demanding to see their books
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you are out of your depth right now.Originally Posted by nawlinsjunkie
On top of that, imagine going to your employer and demanding to see their books
the NFL Owners and NFLPA are Partners in a anti trust Business... that is what the collective bargaining agreement is predicated on the fact that since there is no fair market, that the two groups have to make agreements on gdetting the most money for both sides.
Article with the full interview not just a sound bite from AD
My bad, for me jumping to conclusions on a "soundbite" I should have looked for the entire interview as soon as I saw the clip
Spoiler [+]
[h2]Adrian Peterson expresses frustration on labor issues[/h2]
By Doug Farrar
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.
No matter what NFL players may be doing in the offseason, the ongoing labor negotiations are never far from their minds. Even stars like Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson have strong feelings on the issues being debated by NFL players and team owners, who are fighting over how to divide the league's estimated $9.3 billion in revenue.
Speaking just minutes after the owners locked out the players, Peterson compared the players' place in the game to "modern-day slavery," a statement that, while ill-advised, was made in the context of how the players feel they're being treated in these talks. (Note: Based on the context in which the comments were made, I do not believe that Peterson was actually equating his current position in the NFL with any kind of slavery. I will update this piece if he clarifies his statement.) What follows is our full interview.
See the controversial quote in its entirety here.
SC: We're talking about 15 minutes after the NFLPA sent in the paperwork to decertify, so the lockout's on everybody's minds. I've talked to a lot of players about this recently, and I always ask the same question — what is the message you want to get out to the people who love the game and are tired of hearing all the labor talk?
AP: We're business-minded, also. It's not just fun and games. A lot of football players, whether it's Sunday or Monday night — we're out there on the field, competing, hitting each other. But people don't see everything else behind it. It's a job for us, too — every day of the week. We're in different states, sometimes thousands of miles away from our families and kids, and a lot of people don't look at it like that. All some people see is, 'Oh, we're not going to be around football.' But how the players look at it … the players are getting robbed. They are. The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that…
SC: It's nothing that I haven't heard from other players, believe me.
http://AP: It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money … the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey — without us, there's no football.' There are so many different perspectives from different players, and obviously we're not all on the same page — I don't know. I don't really see this going to where we'll be without football for a long time; there's too much money lost for the owners. Eventually, I feel that we'll get something done.
But this crazy idea about an 18-game season … I'm sure they want more entertainment and more revenue, but we're not going to see a pinch of that (the increased revenue), and it's just the business we're in.
SC: It seems to most of the players that if the owners had nothing to hide financially, and if the current business model was as unsustainable as they claim, they'd have no trouble opening the books and showing audited profit and loss per team. Is that your impression?
AP: Exactly! It's like … 'Well, show us.' We want more information, and they want to bull****, going around, saying this and that, just open it up and give us the information we want. If they have nothing to hide, just give us the information. Why not? Obviously, there's a lot to hide -- these guys are professionals, and they're maximizing what they do. But they know that if all this information comes out, the information the players want, it'll be right out there for everyone to see. It's a ripoff — not just for the players, but for the people who work at the concession stands and at the stadiums. The people working at the facilities, you know?
http://
SC: Do you feel that you're represented well by DeMaurice Smith and George Atallah and what now used to be the Players' Union?
AP: Yeah, I think so — they're doing a good job. And with the veteran guys on board, and the player reps, they give us a lot of confidence.
SC: Obviously, last season was a disappointment for the Vikings — your team went 6-10 while the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears played for the NFC championship, and the Packers won the Super Bowl. How do the Vikings get back to the top of the NFC North? And how should you get that new quarterback now that Brett Favre(notes) is gone?
AP: We need to make some adjustments. Obviously … I mean, Favre hasn't retired yet! (laughs) You never know! The quarterback situation is up in the air, and some adjustments need to be made there. We need to go out and do a good job of recruiting in free agency (whenever there is free agency) — bring some new guys in, patch up some areas, and I feel that with Coach [Leslie] Frazier and the changes he's made, they're all for the better, and they'll help our team in the ways we're hoping for. It's all about having 53 guys that come together, and can get it done with the same goals, and will make sacrificed to accomplish those goals.
I see so many teams … the Patriots are a perfect example. Tom Brady's(notes) the guy everyone knows about, but it's about all the other players — the role-players who, one way or another, will get it done somehow. It's not all about talent, and we were a perfect example of that. Brett Favre at quarterback, me at running back, the offensive line, Sidney Rice(notes) … Percy Harvin(notes) is one of the best athletes I've ever seen. Our defense is always ranked in the top five … that shows you that talent doesn't always get it done. So, the changes Coach Frazier has made, new offensive and defensive coordinators, I feel like the mindset those guys bring to the table will be the key we need to get back to that level.
By Doug Farrar
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.
No matter what NFL players may be doing in the offseason, the ongoing labor negotiations are never far from their minds. Even stars like Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson have strong feelings on the issues being debated by NFL players and team owners, who are fighting over how to divide the league's estimated $9.3 billion in revenue.
Speaking just minutes after the owners locked out the players, Peterson compared the players' place in the game to "modern-day slavery," a statement that, while ill-advised, was made in the context of how the players feel they're being treated in these talks. (Note: Based on the context in which the comments were made, I do not believe that Peterson was actually equating his current position in the NFL with any kind of slavery. I will update this piece if he clarifies his statement.) What follows is our full interview.
See the controversial quote in its entirety here.
SC: We're talking about 15 minutes after the NFLPA sent in the paperwork to decertify, so the lockout's on everybody's minds. I've talked to a lot of players about this recently, and I always ask the same question — what is the message you want to get out to the people who love the game and are tired of hearing all the labor talk?
AP: We're business-minded, also. It's not just fun and games. A lot of football players, whether it's Sunday or Monday night — we're out there on the field, competing, hitting each other. But people don't see everything else behind it. It's a job for us, too — every day of the week. We're in different states, sometimes thousands of miles away from our families and kids, and a lot of people don't look at it like that. All some people see is, 'Oh, we're not going to be around football.' But how the players look at it … the players are getting robbed. They are. The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that…
SC: It's nothing that I haven't heard from other players, believe me.
http://AP: It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money … the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey — without us, there's no football.' There are so many different perspectives from different players, and obviously we're not all on the same page — I don't know. I don't really see this going to where we'll be without football for a long time; there's too much money lost for the owners. Eventually, I feel that we'll get something done.
But this crazy idea about an 18-game season … I'm sure they want more entertainment and more revenue, but we're not going to see a pinch of that (the increased revenue), and it's just the business we're in.
SC: It seems to most of the players that if the owners had nothing to hide financially, and if the current business model was as unsustainable as they claim, they'd have no trouble opening the books and showing audited profit and loss per team. Is that your impression?
AP: Exactly! It's like … 'Well, show us.' We want more information, and they want to bull****, going around, saying this and that, just open it up and give us the information we want. If they have nothing to hide, just give us the information. Why not? Obviously, there's a lot to hide -- these guys are professionals, and they're maximizing what they do. But they know that if all this information comes out, the information the players want, it'll be right out there for everyone to see. It's a ripoff — not just for the players, but for the people who work at the concession stands and at the stadiums. The people working at the facilities, you know?
http://
SC: Do you feel that you're represented well by DeMaurice Smith and George Atallah and what now used to be the Players' Union?
AP: Yeah, I think so — they're doing a good job. And with the veteran guys on board, and the player reps, they give us a lot of confidence.
SC: Obviously, last season was a disappointment for the Vikings — your team went 6-10 while the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears played for the NFC championship, and the Packers won the Super Bowl. How do the Vikings get back to the top of the NFC North? And how should you get that new quarterback now that Brett Favre(notes) is gone?
AP: We need to make some adjustments. Obviously … I mean, Favre hasn't retired yet! (laughs) You never know! The quarterback situation is up in the air, and some adjustments need to be made there. We need to go out and do a good job of recruiting in free agency (whenever there is free agency) — bring some new guys in, patch up some areas, and I feel that with Coach [Leslie] Frazier and the changes he's made, they're all for the better, and they'll help our team in the ways we're hoping for. It's all about having 53 guys that come together, and can get it done with the same goals, and will make sacrificed to accomplish those goals.
I see so many teams … the Patriots are a perfect example. Tom Brady's(notes) the guy everyone knows about, but it's about all the other players — the role-players who, one way or another, will get it done somehow. It's not all about talent, and we were a perfect example of that. Brett Favre at quarterback, me at running back, the offensive line, Sidney Rice(notes) … Percy Harvin(notes) is one of the best athletes I've ever seen. Our defense is always ranked in the top five … that shows you that talent doesn't always get it done. So, the changes Coach Frazier has made, new offensive and defensive coordinators, I feel like the mindset those guys bring to the table will be the key we need to get back to that level.
quick question,
Any one ever read William C Rhoden's book "40 million dollar Slave..." ?
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well played
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has he ever had a regular job before? like he said, everyday working people deal with stuff all the time. i don't think anyone feels sorry for nfl players. maybe they won't work this year but they can afford to. most of us can't relax in our expensive houses and drive around in nice cars.
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Now if he would say that pro sports is a modern day Minstrel Show, maybe I think he would be on the money but like you all said, you can't chose a profession and get paid that much and call it slavery.
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I've read a good portion of it. It's a good book; well-written and argued. IIRC, he places a lot of blame on the athletes themselves. Jordan gets a lot of hate. I just think the word slave is just a term that shouldn't be used. It's too emotionally charged for both sides of any argument. Same goes for terms like "slave-master" and "plantation mentality". These terms seem to end or misdirect debate. I just think there are better words to be used to get one's point across. "Unfair labor practices" or "exploitation" sound a lot better and grounded.
The NFL isn't modern-day slavery. It's incredibly far from it. There are other jobs that can invoke that title. Ever read up on Wal-Mart's labor practices? They kill unions before they even have a chance to get started. Yet, they are the biggest employer in many towns and kill off the competition. Not much people can do there and they are making peons.
im not you
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I haven't read the rest of this post yet...but I wish people would stop saying %%#! like this.
Every time a black man speaks out about anything like this there's always the "wait...but you have nice things" or the "wait...the president's black" crowds come out in full force.
I suggest you dudes read the "Mascot" chapter of The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
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Even when I was younger I always thought about this. In the 1990s everyone wanted to be like Michael Jordan but in the back of the mind something was always strange. There was always this old white guy they showed on TV sitting there who always had the biggest smile on his face and it was because his work horse was making him millions of dollars and he was paying him a fraction of the amount he was making off of him. It was a few years later that I figured out that this guy was the owner of the team (Jerry Reinsdorf)
I would say that playing professional sports today is a great living presently but the guys with the serious money are the owners. It was great to see that Jerry Jones interview where he just casually mentions that he built a 1.2 BILLION dollar stadium so it could be played in. Its an elite club and Michael Jordan is now an owner of a basketball team so I'd expect to see the same from him.
Is it a form of "wage slavery" compared to the percentage of money that gets made off of the top players certainly but its a better deal then the average person gets who makes 50K a year to work for thousands of hours a year. I don't think he meant actual chains and cotton picking slavery though.
I would say that playing professional sports today is a great living presently but the guys with the serious money are the owners. It was great to see that Jerry Jones interview where he just casually mentions that he built a 1.2 BILLION dollar stadium so it could be played in. Its an elite club and Michael Jordan is now an owner of a basketball team so I'd expect to see the same from him.
Is it a form of "wage slavery" compared to the percentage of money that gets made off of the top players certainly but its a better deal then the average person gets who makes 50K a year to work for thousands of hours a year. I don't think he meant actual chains and cotton picking slavery though.
T
trelvis tha thrilla
Guest
Shut up.
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qftw thrilla
im not you
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Just like clockwork.
sirius lee handsome
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I understand what he's trying to say, but it's a very poor word choice.
D
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this is what i said inside my thread when this was brought up:
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I could think of thousands of jobs that are worse then the NFL.. the way AP interpreted this was just awful