Comments on: NFL players should be free to decide whether to attend childbirth

By: hor2012

hor2012 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 19:16:48 +0000

I don’t have a problem rather he plays or not. My issue is when he chooses to make that decision. During game week you have to put your game plane togeather for the defense. When you do that they’re coverage issues that you need to address. The problem with him not making a decision right now is that you effect the prep for the game. Now, for the Bears this may not be as big a issue as it is for other teams because the Bears are 90% cover two. But, within thier concepts there may be assignments that are specific to Tillman. The later you go into the week not knowing the more difficult it becomes to finalize you prep. Rather he play or not it should have been something that was decided earlier in the week. And, if he chooses to play then he needs to play the entire game.

By: jm91rs

jm91rs — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:29:09 +0000

I applaud you for re-thinking your opinion on this one, and then admitting how crazy it was. I thought your original post was petty and needless. I heard you get ripped on Mike and Mike, it seemed like a silly thing to try and tell someone else how to handle their personal business.

I’m about 3 weeks away from being a first time dad and there isn’t a damn thing anyone could do to keep me from being there. Glad to hear you admit that you were wrong with your first assessment.

By: lilb360

lilb360 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:37:23 +0000

I have three kids and their births we’re easily the most amazing experiences if my life. To me there is absolutely nothing more important than being there for your wife/girlfriend/one-night stand while she brings into the world, your child. My fiance went into labor with our middle child on the day i was supposed to be in court, i ended up receiving a warrant and went to jail a few days later but there was no way in hell i would miss the birth of my child. A real father is there for his children from birth to death.

By: liltifer

liltifer — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:00:28 +0000

“everything in life cannot be planned……ladies can get pregnant at any time…”

See, that’s where you’re wrong and Todd Akin would be happy to tell you why.

By: Bar None

Bar None — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:56:49 +0000

For all of you who think a player shouldn’t miss a game for the birth of their child, why don’t you ask Pat Neshek why it is important to be there. If Pat hadn’t been at his child’s birth, he never would have been able to hold his child while it was alive. You rip on Cromartie because he can’t remember his kids names and get upset that another guy actually wants to be a part of his kids life, including the birth. Get a grip. If your team misses the playoffs because of one game that you missed, it says a lot about the quality of your team.

By: chicagofan

chicagofan — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:40:35 +0000

Only profession to consider missing a birth is medicine/surgery and then only if no one else can do your job.

By: vltrophy14

vltrophy14 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:44:10 +0000

You can’t tell a player when he & his wife can have a kid. Yes it would be nice to have a baby in the off season as if the Bears lose(let’s hope they do)& Tillman doesn’t play they’ll always wonder “what if.”Family should come first. During the pre-season Finley flew back to be w/his wife for the birth of their child. Yes it was pre-season but he elected to be w/his wife. 1 person doesn’t make a team. He may be a huge part BUT there’s no I in T.E.A.M

By: timlally

timlally — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:55:08 +0000

i think professional sports is different than our jobs. we can adjust our schedule then they can. having four children I can appreciate being there but today birth can be scheduled safely and shouldn’t impact the game.

By: vdogg

vdogg — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:56:22 +0000

As a life long diehard Bears fan, I was not happy when the early reports came out that Peanut may miss the game. That being said, I had no problem with him as a man doing what he was preparing to do. I fully supported his decision, now dont get me wrong, I am ecstatic he is playing but how can you hold something like attending the birth of his child against a man? Ain’t right….

By: pats54

pats54 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:08:37 +0000

There are real heros wearing a uniform all over the world who miss their kids being born all the time. Where’s the outrage for them? Answer: They knew what they were signing up for. It’s no different here.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s between the team and the player. If the team puts it in the contract that barring injury that player must be ready and willing to play or forfeit their entire contract then so be it. The fans need to understand that we are bystanders and are allowed to enjoy it for what it is. Issues like this are not for us to decide.

By: protagoras111

protagoras111 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:05:04 +0000

eaglesw00t says:
Nov 8, 2012 3:33 PM

As a father of 3, I wouldnt have given up those days for anything in the world. I dont care what the public thinks about it. If these guys want to be there for their wives and children, that is their business, and their concern. Not yours, not their coaches, not even the team owners.

+++

Uh. No, there’s where you’re dead wrong. If a player calls in the day of a game and says he’s not making it to the game, you better believe that it’s gonna be the business of the coach, GM and/or owner (if the owner so wishes to get involved). Don’t be so naive.

By: protagoras111

protagoras111 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:01:39 +0000

Unless you play in the NFL, nobody posting here should use the “family is more important than your job” argument. What you say is irrelevant because I’m willing to bet all you guys (with normal jobs) work at least 230 days a year, if not many more.

These guys get paid specifically to play in 16 games. 16 games out of the entire year! If they feel that they’d rather attend the birth of a child than a game, then let them and reduce their salary by 1/16th. If family means more than their job then they’ll be glad to take the pay cut.

By: champs794

champs794 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:45:17 +0000

This again?! Family always comes first, but let’s not jump to conclusions about what that means.

You’d have to be an astronaut to have a better excuse than “sorry, I couldn’t be there because I was playing in the Super Bowl”. My family would WANT me to play.

But Roethlisberger has probably played 100 games like the one he almost missed. I’d skip one to see my child born, too.

By: eaglesw00t

eaglesw00t — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:35:56 +0000

htowntexan says:
Nov 8, 2012 2:40 PM
disagree completely. if your team misses the playoffs because you were out with your wife at child birth, you are costing the team a ton of money and more importantly costing the fans that experience. this isn’t rocket science–it takes nine months to have a kid. plan to have one during the off season. you are paid way too much to not think about the team/fans first
—————

Think of the fans first? What are you, 12? Get a grip on reality. Seriously.

By: eaglesw00t

eaglesw00t — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:33:48 +0000

No father should be away from their wife/SO while their child is being born. Unless they choose to, that is.

Most players play 16 games a year for 6-8 years.

Most people have 1-4 children. Thats 4 days out of life. Take them, and enjoy them, and to hell with what everyone and anyone thinks of you.

Good luck Mr Tillman. Be there for your children

By: tim3711

tim3711 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:30:04 +0000

Tom Brady basically made it clear he would miss a game if he had to when his wife gives birth to his daughter sometime this month (weei interview mon 11/5/12) and Aaron Hernandez just missed practice due to his daughter birth. I believe it’s no question they should be free to decide if they want to be there. Family is always first. Football is only a game. However the thought of Ryan Mallett starting a game in place of Brady makes me cringe.

By: blackandbluedivision

blackandbluedivision — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:26:08 +0000

You must not be married or have kids.

By: baloneyjohn

baloneyjohn — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:05:21 +0000

Different between guys with regular jobs.
Unless its in the contract, dock the players a game’s paycheck and give it to a charity.

By: dukemarc

dukemarc — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:55:38 +0000

htowntexan says:
Nov 8, 2012 2:40 PM
disagree completely. if your team misses the playoffs because you were out with your wife at child birth, you are costing the team a ton of money and more importantly costing the fans that experience. this isn’t rocket science–it takes nine months to have a kid. plan to have one during the off season. you are paid way too much to not think about the team/fans first.
————————

That’s laughable – you could pay me all the money in the world and my family is always going to be put in front of my employer and customers.

By: dayumyou

dayumyou — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:50:18 +0000

um what???

everything in life cannot be planned……ladies can get pregnant at any time…..u need to get out more…..SERIOUSLY!!!

By: protagoras111

protagoras111 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:50:01 +0000

I feel strongly that an NFL player should have the right to miss a game to attend the birth of his child as long as he is fine with his salary being docked accordingly. They don’t live in the real world. They get paid ridiculous sums of money to be ready and willing at least 16 time a year. If something is more important in his life than the NFL at any given moment, then no problem at all…. he should be able to excuse himself. He just shouldn’t expect to get paid for it.

By: htowntexan

htowntexan — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:40:19 +0000

disagree completely. if your team misses the playoffs because you were out with your wife at child birth, you are costing the team a ton of money and more importantly costing the fans that experience. this isn’t rocket science–it takes nine months to have a kid. plan to have one during the off season. you are paid way too much to not think about the team/fans first.

By: wayne1693

wayne1693 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:34:06 +0000

A key starter missing an important game?! Remember this is football, with a very limited number of games…not basketball. Just watch the thing via video at half-time!

By: pickney1

pickney1 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:31:20 +0000

This should not even be a topic, their is no greater joy than being there when someone child is born, for this to even be a topic as to whether or not a player should miss a game is ridiculous.

Granted these are men who have the opportunity to be paid o play a sport everyone would desire to play, their are men first and the opportunity to be there when their child is born should be separated from which team they may play for.

Where are we as people when a man or woman is vilified for choosing a life long gift over a sport that they will temporally play.

By: sportsmeccabi

sportsmeccabi — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:24:56 +0000

Am I the only one that had “Cats in the Cradle” going through my head as I was reading this?

By: guppies66

guppies66 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:22:46 +0000

I would absolutely be there for the birth of my kids.

But I wonder what the public, especially in the hometown market, would say if Dan Marino decided to skip the Super Bowl to attend one of his kids’ birth, in his final season before retirement?

By: dennisatunity

dennisatunity — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:12:47 +0000

I was thinking about the headline of this piece–that NFL players should be free to decide whether to attend childbirth. They are free to decide. We are all free to decide exactly what we want to do. Just don’t blame your decision on somebody else. We are all free to decide our lives, every moment of everyday.

By: lionsfan54

lionsfan54 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:06:56 +0000

Did you play CB? Your back pedal is very good!

By: bigredgoog

bigredgoog — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:05:40 +0000

This is a player’s choice. The team should not pay him for the game he chooses to miss. When there is sentiment to make the team pay him and he is not there, that isn’t right.

Can you imagine not being there during the birth and something goes wrong? You have to be there during the critical portions.

Now, I reserve the right to think poorly of a player if he skips a Sunday game when his child was born the prior Friday and everyone is O.K.

By: mavajo

mavajo — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:02:08 +0000

Um…duh? I don’t think anyone was pushing for any legislation or rule which would prevent players from attending the birth of their child.

Fans will comment on whether we like it or not, but just as it’s the player’s right to do it, it’s our right as fans to comment.