NFL Holdouts....Your thoughts?

[jledou]

Once upon a time there were players that would play the game with barely enough to live on just so they could play the game...

There are a lot of people who would love to make that kind of measly living for playing a game sitting on the sideline called real life....

And not all hold outs live up to the hype once they get a new contract ... see Larry Johnson ....

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by jledou

Once upon a time there were players that would play the game with barely enough to live on just so they could play the game...

And they were getting screwed by collective bargaining agreements and owners who were making tons of money back then too. Unfortunately society has embraced football as its go-to spectator sport making owners tons of money and making the NFL a multi-billion dollar business over the past few decades. Baseball players once played for peanuts too, but now there are players making +$20 million per season on guaranteed contracts with nothing to stop them from collecting the money, including retirement. The NFL has failed to keep up with similar (read: ANY) guaranteed money despite having the shortest careers and highest injuries.

[jonumberone]

Originally Posted by jledou

Once upon a time there were players that would play the game with barely enough to live on just so they could play the game...
.

This is a fairytale. No one ever played professional ball for less money because they loved it so.

In MLB players were trapped with teams who could pay them what they wanted due to the reserve clause.
Did players play for far less money than they do now? Yes
Were they offered huge sums of $ and turn it down for love of the game? NO

They played ball for less money because it payed more than the other options they had.