NFLPA starting to get annoying

By Jeff

I wrote in a previous post that it's hard to feel bad for the owners or the players in the ongoing NFL labor dispute. That's still true, but the NFLPA is starting to get on my nerves.

NFLPA Executive Director Demaurice Smith made a very emotional and dramatic speech Friday, basically praising the players and calling the league a bunch of liars. In the statement, Smith uttered the line, "... Players who risk everything, every day, for the game they love."

When Smith said this, my dad just happened to walk in the room and say, "Talk about a drama queen. They (NFL players) don't risk everything, every day. Soldiers in Afghanistan risk everything, every day."

This is coming from a man who is not a fan of the greedy owners.

I completely agreed with my dad. The players are acting like they are tragic victims in this ordeal. In actuality, they are arguring over what to do with $1 billion. That's what it all comes down to. I don't believe for a second that the 18-game schedule and the future health coverage is nearly as big of a problem in negotiations as that $1 billion.

The NFLPA has every right to bargain. That's not what's annoying. The problem is every day we hear a player or NFLPA executive acting like the players are victims. They're not. They are making a great deal of money. NFL players face more health risks than most, but it's hard to feel bad for people who vuluntarily take those risks. While I do want the game to be safer for all involved, feeling bad for NFL players is like saying I feel bad for the guys from "Jackass". Getting beat up for others is in their job description. If they don't want to do it, they don't have to.

Now the NFLPA is trying to encourage draft prospects to not show up at Radio City Music Hall for the draft in April. Take that, NFL! They are proposing that the top college players attend the NFLPA's separate shindig that would be equally fun.

Really?

I don't get it. Is that a way to stick it to the NFL? People will still watch and pay attention to Roger Goodell announcing the names. Viewers will probably prefer not seeing 17-20 guys walk up to the podium and get a jersey and hat. Hell, Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn probably wish players didn't show up the years they were drafted.

Of course, the NFLPA (and the owners) claim that they feel sorry for the fans. What a load of crap. If the fans were the players' and owners' priority, we wouldn't be in this situation.

The Eagles - Lying' Eyes