Lmao the players have their wives crying for them now.

[Panthro]

If they wanted a safe career they should have stayed in college and got a degree. They're getting paid millions to do what every other man in America would love to do for a living. Stop whining or gtfo out of the league.

Says the guy who can't run a skinny post against Revis

[panfan32]

Speaking for myself here, I’m a disabled vet and a combat veteran. I spent my life doing what many people would never do. I was part of the 82nd Airborne and I spent my days training and jumping from high altitudes for little pay and little reward. The Army treated me very well throughout my career until I was received a severe spinal injury. I’m now no longer in the Army, I deal with the VA Hospital and it’s the worst thing you can imagine.

I’m 38 and I have arthritis in my hips, knees, ruptured disc’s in my spine degenerative disc disorder, Depression, PTSD, I have no retirement since I was medically discharged from the Army do to my injuries.

So for me to understand what she is talking about, I can. I joined the Army at 17. It’s what I wanted to do with my life. I was an outstanding paratrooper until my injuries prevented me from doing my job. Then the Army and my command treated me like a piece of poo.

There are days I can’t walk and dress myself; I miss work a lot due to severe pain in my lower and upper spine. If I need to see a Dr. at the VA hospital, it could take months to do so or I have to go to the VA emergency room just to have the Dr.'s and staff there yell and complain to me why I did not go to my clinic.

So what I’m getting at is. I went in thinking that a country that I loved so much to put my life on the line every single day would take care of me if anything happened. I’m here to tell that has not happened and I’m not the only disabled vet going through this. Some are better off since they have full benefits from retirement. But troopers like me are screwed.

It’s the same thing with the NFL. No one forced me to join the Army and no one forced them to play football. But as I expected the Army to take care of me the way I took care of it, the players expected the NFL to take care of them.

Yes the players can make a lot of money throughout their careers. But then again the average NFL players career last no more than 3 1/2 years. Some play for the league minimum and then that gets the hell taxed out it. Very few players are out there making $10Mil a year. Some are terrible about investing the money for the future (Up brining is at fault here).

I read a post here that it does not cost a lot of money to insure yourself and family. I’m here to tell you it does. If I did not have the job that I a have, It would cost me over $1500 -$2000 a month to ensure myself and my family of 3 due to the physical condition I’m in. I’m a higher risk than the average 38 year man.

Oh and for the hater up there that shows he lack of respect for these players, football players is the generation’s gladiators. They throw all of themselves into a sport that we all here love to watch each and every Sunday. So if you consider yourself a football fan and talk about the players they way you do, you take your ass out there and play a game where a 300lb DT can out run you pick you up and slam you to the ground so hard he break your spine. Play a game with players out there like Harrison from the Steelers who makes it clear that he is not concerned if he injures another player or not. He makes it clear he is trying to hurt the offensive players. To me the men earn every single damn dollar they are paid. MLB players make more money than the NFL players. And there is a third of the risk for fatal injury with them short of a 100mph fastball hitting the in the face.

You remind me of the protestors around Ft. Bragg that protests the soldiers returning home. Or the assholes that protests a fallen soldiers funeral because they don’t believe in why we are fighting this war. Your anger and frustration is directed to the wrong people just like theirs. And you can say what you want about this, but its not you that is out there in a combat zone weather on a football field or in the dessert. It’s not you that has a wife helping you get dressed in the morning or helping you off the toilet because you can’t stand. It’s not you who sees his kids crying because they are worried if their father is going to be ok. It’s not you who has to worry about dying and leaving your family in your 30’s or 40’s. Just like all of our Disabled veterans in the country right now needing the help from the American people the NFL players need the help as well. The greedy ass owners are the ones at fault for this CBA not being passed.

The one thing the Players asked for is full discloser of all 32 teams’ finances. And they have been repeatedly told no. If you think that the owners are not hiding a ton of money then the people supporting the owners in this are just crazy. That’s the main point in the letter that this players wife wrote. The owner only care about the business side of the game and not the people (Players, and fans) that make the game happen.

[panfan32]

not pro sports that is for sure.

have you???

[carolinarolls]

no diatribe necessary....apples and oranges Sir

sincere thanks for your service and I do mean that because it does not sound like you whined and bitched about giving it freely. Comparing the commitment and service you provided to these primmadonnas is the very definition of "a stretch". They are celebrities. 300lbs or not there is a lack of heart and a lack of discipline amongst the NFL and it is ruining the sport slowly but surely.

Nobody here has ever said care should not be given to vets. Nobody here truly believes that is what this labor dispute is about either.

[panfan32]

no diatribe necessary....apples and oranges Sir

sincere thanks for your service and I do mean that because it does not sound like you whined and bitched about giving it freely. Comparing the commitment and service you provided to these primmadonnas is the very definition of "a stretch". They are celebrities. 300lbs or not there is a lack of heart and a lack of discipline amongst the NFL and it is ruining the sport slowly but surely.

Nobody here has ever said care should not be given to vets. Nobody here truly believes that is what this labor dispute is about either.

Just to let you know, this was not a hit on anyone in this community about being negative to vets. But I think the comparison between the ways we are treated after the Army is done with us is similar to how these players are feeling after the sport is done with them.

As far as the primma donnas, I agree with you. There are too many players out there like Ochocinco that to me are slowly ruining the game.

I use to coach Pee wee and Midget football before my injuries became too severe. The first rule my players learned is this is a "TEAM SPORT" and the no one likes the show boat players.

I had one great kid who someday "If he keeps his head on straight" could very well make it to the NFL. In one game he did some crazy ass dance in the end zone after a score and then ran up and taunted the other team.

I benched his butt for two games of a 8 game season. Made him do a formal apology to his teammates, as well as the other team when we played them again. I think the NFL should crack down on "some" of these players. But I still feel that the main issue here is the owners being greedy as hell. $9 billion a year not including playoffs, that’s a lot of money. It also boils down to the parents of these players. Coaching Pee and Midget football let me see firsthand the parents of players and how they affect these kids at such a young age. They try to contradict what the coach is teaching the kids they talk crap to the other players right in front of the players. And I’m talking about players on their own kids teams. The last season I coached I had to ban 4 parents from game and practices because of their behavior. Parents of start player at a young age have one thing on their minds and that “my kids going to the NFL and will make me rich” It all starts with the parent s and how you raise the player and young men to act.

My youngest son is 10 and he’s the start LB and WR in this city (Not bragging). He leads the league is sacks, tackles and forced fumbles every season. Plus on the offensive side of the ball he make about 20 catches each season and well we don’t really track yardage at this age much. Anyways he is one of the most respected and wanted players out there. He has all 6 coaches in the midgets this year fighting over draft position to make sure they get him. He asked me one day why all these coaches keep asking me to return to coaching and help out on the other coach’s teams. I told him “son it because those coaches really want you to play on their team because they feel that you’re that good”. All he said to me in return is oh that nice and ran off to the back yard. He never cares about being the best. He just goes out and plays the game with his heart. That’s the way I raised him and the way I coached him and all of my players.

This game we all love is about heart. Sam Mills was told all his life he was not big enough to play this game. But he played it with heart and became one of my favorite players. Both my boys look up to him and my youngest wants to be like him someday. I think he was a perfect role model for our youth today, in regards to an NFL player.

[ThPantherFan]

Speaking for myself here, I’m a disabled vet and a combat veteran. I spent my life doing what many people would never do. I was part of the 82nd Airborne and I spent my days training and jumping from high altitudes for little pay and little reward. The Army treated me very well throughout my career until I was received a severe spinal injury. I’m now no longer in the Army, I deal with the VA Hospital and it’s the worst thing you can imagine.

I would like to reply to this post, but I cut most of it out so it wouldn't take up space. I may not agree 100 percent with what you stated about the players but I do understand the comparison. I applaud you for making the statements. The only disagreement I have is the players continue to sign up knowing what they are getting. Yes, you re-enlisted also knowing the job. What the NFL needs to do is make sure the players understand that there is a life after the NFL and they need to plan for that.

I too am a veteran and relate very much to your concerns about the VA. I left their care and have given orders to my wife that she does not have me taken to the VA if I can't make the choice myself. Isn't that shameful that our Government treats us that way. Thank you for giving all you can to all of your endeavors after your service.

[BBQ&Beer]

not pro sports that is for sure.

Why not? Please be specific.

[Carolina Husker]

I want a QB I can be proud of, I want someone my son can look up to. I want someone who commands the respect of their teammates, someone who can be trusted in and off the field. I want a QB who does NOT have a history of terrible and criminal decision making.

Didn't you just say the other day that what's wrong with our society is that we look up to football players and not soldiers? Obviously we have different life perspectives, but I don't really care what children think of my team's QB.

Also, what is this "history of terrible and criminal decision making" you're referring to? He got in minor trouble for buying a stolen laptop in college, not raping orphans and setting up Ponzi schemes for Japanese tsunami victims.

[blackcat]

Dear Mrs. Fujiata,

The NFL is a business, not a charity organization for people who like sunshine, rainbows, ponies, and ice cream. Your husband has made more money in his career than most Americans will make in their lifetime. Please stfu. Thank you.