I won’t take any credit for noticing this, mainly because I was sick of Taylor Swift, Katrina talk (sorry), Dave Matthews and all that business, but an interesting thing happened before last night’s Viking-Saints game. From Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith:
“Almost every player on both the Vikings and the Saints stepped onto the field and held a finger in the air just before kickoff of Thursday night’s opener, in a sign of solidarity within the players’ union.
But in this video of that gesture at NFL.com, one thing stands out: Vikings quarterback Brett Favre stayed on the sideline with his back turned while his teammates walked on the field.
So after Favre stood apart from his teammates during that gesture, it will be interesting to see whether Favre has anything to say about where he stands on union solidarity.”
From this shot, we can’t judge if Favre has actually “turned his back” on the proceedings, but it is quite clear from watching the video that he made no attempt, as his fellow teammates and co-workers did to join in.
Is it as one commenter wrote in follow up to Smith’s article, “much ado about nothing?” Probably, but with all the controversy that follows Brett, whether he brings it on himself or not, there is bound to be many follow up questions for the future Hall of Fame QB.
The issue that is more on my mind than what Favre chooses to do, or not do, or unknowingly do, is football in 2011.
The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in March and at this point there is some uncertainty on whether or not we will have NFL football in 2011. The owners voted unanimously to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement back in May of 2008. According to an article from just days after the vote on ESPN,
“…clubs [were] obligated by the collective bargaining agreement to spend almost $4.5 billion on player costs in 2008. Players received around 60 percent of league revenues. Growing costs of stadium construction and operations also figured into [the] decision. The owners also want a change in the system to distribute the money more to veterans than to unproven rookies. Their argument is based on a disparity in salaries that leaves them spending far more on unproven rookies than on dependable veterans.”
It’s obviously more complicated that just that, but I am no expert in the situation. All I can do is follow along helplessly and hope that the two groups meet in the middle and that I can watch the Bears on Sunday’s next year. Last night the players showed that they are going to stick together and if the owners remain tough in their stance, their is a possibility of that the NFL may see a work stoppage.
I have provided two interesting articles below that will help you learn more about the complicated nature of this, and am curious to know what the everyday fan thinks.
For better insight into the situation check out these articles: The NFL’s Win-Win Labor Agreement and Fans’ Guide to NFL labor battle.
Follow me on Twitter: @RexJaybels
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