Srgt. Hulka

Players 'getting robbed,' Viking says in interview
By Jeremy Fowler
jfowler@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 03/15/2011 11:50:17 PM CDT





Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared NFL owners' treatment of players to "modern-day slavery," according to an online interview published Tuesday by Yahoo! Sports.

Yahoo's Doug Farrar, who conducted the interview Friday with Peterson, removed that comment from the story later Tuesday, explaining on Twitter that he wants to give Peterson the chance to provide context.

Peterson, who is known to be thoughtful when speaking with the local media in Minnesota, is in Africa with other NFL players on a goodwill trip and unavailable for immediate comment.
NFL owners and players couldn't agree on a new collective bargaining agreement last week after more than two weeks of federal mediation. Shortly before the players union decertified, Peterson spoke to Yahoo to promote a recent appearance on the online reality show "Double Take." The NFL declared a lockout when the CBA expired.

"The players are getting robbed. They are," Peterson told Yahoo. "The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that."

When discussing other players feeling the same way, Peterson said: "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money. ... The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey, without us, there's no football.' "

Peterson is set to make $10.72 million in base salary in 2011.


Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compares NFL owners' treatment of players to 'modern-day slavery' in an online interview - TwinCities.com

It must be tough AP, being a $10,720,000 a year slave. Boo Hoo. Here's a quarter, call someone who frikkin cares. You don't like the way you're being treated, get another job. That's what I have to do.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, ...