If it were me, I’d take a Joe Thomas style fishing trip with my dad, and when I learned the news that I had been drafted, say a few short but gracious comments for the fans, tell them I look forward to playing for them someday, then take no further questions.

Then maybe I’d go line up some work selling insurance or something. I’d carry on as if none of this ever happened, and get a job.

Every so often a player sits longer than expected, which leads to chatter like, “Who is that smokin hot babe with Brady Quinn?” and “Why is she with Brady Quinn?”

It also leads to cool moments like when Joe Thomas was drafted and he was out fishing with his dad, and waved at the camera.

Personally I couldn’t care less, I don’t watch the Draft.

Nope. As far as I know, I’m the fourth generation of my family to be self-employed. But the gene may go back even further. I walked away from working for others (except the clients I take by choice) at the first opportunity.

What I can’t understand is why an employee like you would be so behind the bosses. We’re not talking about small-business owners here. These are corporate types, and you have to be at least a little ruthless to get to their level. I like and respect some of the owners and believe they try to do right by their players. But that’s not the case with most of these men. And as a whole, they’ve been playing a nasty game of chicken in these negotiations for months.

They started illegally squirreling away money for a lockout two years ago. Weeks ago, they turned down a good proposal from the players that didn’t involve opening their books. Dan Rooney said weeks ago that he didn’t like the way this was being handled. Look at what Jones said about teaching them a lesson. I’m not saying the players are angels or that unions are always right. But I don’t think some of these owners were negotiating in good faith. If the players had let it go down to the wire, they wouldn’t have had a play to make. Maybe they jumped the gun, but I can understand why.

You were on the site before all this happened, so I know you’re not shilling for the owners. But you wouldn’t believe how many people putting up pro-owner posts have registered in the last four days. That’s not a coincidence. Just keep your mind open to the possibility that the owners are not the good guys in this.

watching these players feel so damn sorry for themselves when they don’t get picked right away. this is when the camera gets a good close up of the athlete. poor guy. he has to wait an extra hour before he signs his guaranteed multi million dollar contract. what a warrior. kings among men.

then he FINALLY gets picked. poor kid had to wait until the late twenties to get picked??? forget nelson mendel being freed from prison. this kid just sat through the baton death march! the fortitude and valor this kid has shown is unprecedented.

then we can watch the guy develop an irrational bitterness towards the teams that passed on him. how dare those teams question a 21 year olds devotion! he’s 21! he has proven himself enough. then he plays an entire career devoted on one short afternoon.

i’m going to miss that. where will the drama be?

the vikings can pick up that slack.

If my bosses tell me they found someone to do my job who is less skilled and willing to take less money then I will know they are refering to you.

Pretty sure that was a Barbershop reference.
Pretty sure you are awesome.

PEOPLE…FELLOW FANS….QUIT BEING LAMBS!! Think for yourselves!

You’re right. The draft did survive for eons without inviting college hopefuls. The only problem with your argument is that those past non-hopeful attended drafts were UN-televised. If the hopefuls don’t attend this draft, there is similarly no reason to broadcast it. Especially if the NFLPA broadcasts a counter-draft on another channel complete with hopefuls.

manderson – what’s your point?

The start of the season can go on without the players? Either you’re talking about a televised version of Madden or you’re talking about scabs … which is no surprise given the lack of moral principle in your posts. Maybe before the start of the season, your bosses will tell you they’ve found someone less skilled who’s willing to do your job for less money. I’d find poetic justice in that.

You like Goodell and think he represents the fans interest all the time????

ROFL … You must be a company shill. Or the spider that bit you had acid in its venom and you’re on one funky trip

Idiot. Collectively bargained wage scales are not violations of anti-trust laws. That was decided in Brown v. Pro Football, Inc in 1997 and also affirmed in multiple suits against the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

I’m not lawyer and I know that…

Are you 12 or something? College players being invited to the draft only started happening relatively recently compared to the start of the draft in 1936 ago… Heck, even are recently in the early 80′s, when the draft was first televised it was nothing but a business meeting with no fanfare and the coverage was a few guys (and Mel Kiper’s hair) at table sitting on crappy metal chairs talking about prospects.

No glamor. No glitz. Nothing. The sum total pre-draft ‘draftnik’ information was a multi-week insert by The Sporting News and one publication by Profootball Weekly…

Unless you could stay home from work, you didn’t even know, until the next day, who was drafted and by whom…

This whole “lack of respect” thing with players these days has gone way over the top.
Learn to deal with life and quit crying like idolized spoiled kids that can do no wrong……oops

Nevermind

I think it’s stupid that they call a league a monopoly in the first place. How can you have a sports league with teams that play by different rules? As a fan, though, I will never be a player or owner… I just want to see a game. At least the college students won’t go on strike.

He is attempting to argue in court that the NFLPA has decertified and is no longer a union. And then proceeds to try to sway future NFL players to not associate with the Owners and to be part of the union activity instead. Genius.

If I’m Goodell, I would tell MEmaurice to send me a propasal and if I like it I will get back to you. If I don’t like it then your players will be sitting on ice awhile longer.
Once October comes and there still is no CBA, I am very very sure Mr. MEmaurice will be ready to agree to just about anything.
I’m also curious, when October comes and Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees have missed 4 paychecks, will they still be flapping their mouths? Or will they be crawling and whining like lil b!atches and wanting to rejoin the team so they can get paid?

It really is a ‘letdown’ under the current circumstances, but hey, by April 28th it could be finished, or it could be more of the same….

There he goes again.
Acting like he gives a crap about the fans…