The Fujitas - "The game that used and abused them"

saintfan · 03-22-2011, 06:30 PM

I'm sorry. I'm not buying it. Is playing in the NFL tough? Nobody in their right mind would argue otherwise. Is it any more taxing on the body than a guy hauling logs for a living? Is it any more dangerous than crabbing in the Bering Sea? Hell, Strato has probably played some Saturday Night gigs that were more dangerous...

HELL NO IT IS NOT! The Players and their 'former' Union want us to hear about all the injuries and the sob stories, and I'm not being a hard ass to their plight, but GIVE ME AN EFFING BREAK.

More former NFL Players live long, healthy lives after Football than don't, by a LONG shot. It ain't even close. They want us to hear about every nagging little injury such and such player 'suffers' with. Good God my Grandpa suffers worse from driving trucks and building houses his entire 80+ years and counting. Don't buy the hype people. Don't be a victim to clever marketing, and that's all this is. The players clearly have made tons of headway in their attempts to make everyone think playing in the NFL is the most dangerous job in the world.

Bull****.

Climb broadcast towers for a living. Work on a boat. Be a Policeman in Oakland or Detroit. Fight Fires. None of those men and women can even sniff the Cadillac plans the NFL players have, regardless of the CBA being enforced at the time. For heaven's sake they stop playing into Social Security with a percentage of their first check, for the year, even on the lowest NFL player salary. I know a few players and former players too. Kevin Mawae (we called him mowee in school) chief among them. It's crap. It's a ploy. They are playing on your heart strings. Don't be so damned gullible.

Be more like the Honey Badger. He don't give a ****...

neugey · 03-22-2011, 08:51 PM

If the Fujita's feel this way, why doesn't Scott just retire? If you don't like your employer and this worried about health issues, be done. He's a smart guy, could find a nice job.

Beastmode · 03-22-2011, 09:42 PM

The primary issue is money. I don't even know if health concerns were a tertiary issue.

44Champs · 03-23-2011, 09:48 AM

What I don't understand is this: With all the money these players make, they should be able to afford and should INVEST in a good health insurance policy. They don't have to rely on and they SHOULDN'T rely on team doctors to completely trust their bodies to.

ALLSAINTS66 · 03-23-2011, 11:20 AM

I just think it's weird that the players keep getting blamed for this.
From what I understand, there already WAS an agreement, and the
owners opted to back out of it early. Now the players are being
portrayed as greedy because they're not agreeing to a sudden
new deal.

I think of it like I agreed with payments to a car company
for a car, and partway before my loan was up, they opted out
of the contract, locked me out of my car, and told me I have to
give them more money to be able to use it again. I know a job
isn't a car, but still, there WAS already a contract in place!

Fujita's wife aside, my sympathy still falls squarely with the players.

And as for Benson... oh, you mean the Benson that wanted to
move the Saints to Texas when the city was still underwater?
Yeah. I got no sympapthy for that guy. None whatsoever.
If it weren't for the NFL and the Commish, he would have
done it, too. I dont' care HOW hard he had to work to get
where he is. I never forget that if he'd've gotten what he
wanted, they'd be the San Antonio Saints.

I guess I'm just an oldschool bluecollar kinda gal. I side
squarely with the Unions, the players, and the working man.
Owners and management can all go to h#LL in my book.

Danno · 03-23-2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by ALLSAINTS66

I just think it's weird that the players keep getting blamed for this.
From what I understand, there already WAS an agreement, and the
owners opted to back out of it early. Now the players are being
portrayed as greedy because they're not agreeing to a sudden
new deal.

I think of it like I agreed with payments to a car company
for a car, and partway before my loan was up, they opted out
of the contract, locked me out of my car, and told me I have to
give them more money to be able to use it again. I know a job
isn't a car, but still, there WAS already a contract in place!

But that contract said that if either of you were unhappy with the deal, you have the option to re-negotiate another contract at that point.

The owners did NOT back out of a contract, they simply exercised a mutally agreed upon right to renegotiate.

BringTheWood · 03-25-2011, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Danno

But that contract said that if either of you were unhappy with the deal, you have the option to re-negotiate another contract at that point.

The owners did NOT back out of a contract, they simply exercised a mutally agreed upon right to renegotiate.

S.E.M.A.N.T.I.C.S.

Regardless of how you choose to interpret the specifics of the contract, which I'm fairly sure you don't know 100% and haven't read yourself, the fact remains that the owners caused the contract to CEASE. In doing so they started this whole mess. Add in the fact that there was an obvious act of collusion that also included the commissioner of the NFL, and the owners have lost just about any credibility that they may have had; At least with anyone who isn't a complete moron, or Ronald Reagan.

If you absolutely must have it viewed from your particular wording, however, then I would argue that the players are simply exercising a mutually agreed upon right renegotiate also.

The owners opened this can of worms, just accept it. I applaud the players for not backing down, and while it pisses me off to no end that we may not see football for a good while, I refuse to misguide my rage towards them for exercising their right to be taken seriously. Just open the books owners, and this all goes away.

That letter is admittedly bad though. It is overly obvious that it's either an act of lunacy, or a half-hearted attempt at securing pity.

I loved Scott as a player when he was a Saint, and regardless of the recent social potholes, he remains to me a classy and sincere guy. No one is perfect, and he's just riding the wave. His wife however... He should pull a Peoples Republic of China and censor her.

saintfan · 03-23-2011, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by ALLSAINTS66

I just think it's weird that the players keep getting blamed for this.
From what I understand, there already WAS an agreement, and the
owners opted to back out of it early. Now the players are being
portrayed as greedy because they're not agreeing to a sudden
new deal.

I think of it like I agreed with payments to a car company
for a car, and partway before my loan was up, they opted out
of the contract, locked me out of my car, and told me I have to
give them more money to be able to use it again. I know a job
isn't a car, but still, there WAS already a contract in place!

Fujita's wife aside, my sympathy still falls squarely with the players.

And as for Benson... oh, you mean the Benson that wanted to
move the Saints to Texas when the city was still underwater?
Yeah. I got no sympapthy for that guy. None whatsoever.
If it weren't for the NFL and the Commish, he would have
done it, too. I dont' care HOW hard he had to work to get
where he is. I never forget that if he'd've gotten what he
wanted, they'd be the San Antonio Saints.

I guess I'm just an oldschool bluecollar kinda gal. I side
squarely with the Unions, the players, and the working man.
Owners and management can all go to h#LL in my book.

You mean when a player signs a contract he should honor that contract? No more holding out for more money? No more *****ing to the media about how he needs more dime?

I'm with you. When you agree with someone on something you stick to it. As Danno stated, the owners aren't doing anything that wasn't provided them in the contract. And I'm for old school Unions too, which is, sadly, not what most unions are today.

Oh and Benson didn't want to move the team. He's one savvy old man. He got precisely what he wanted at the end of the day. Let's not forget his involvement in keeping the team in New Orleans to begin with.

I'm old school too. There is right and there is wrong on both sides of this or any disagreement, but you can't simply disregard what Fujita's wife is saying. It's part of the ploy. It's part of the marketing. It's part of the effort by the players to make us think they go through hell and that they are not fairly compensated. They are MORE than fairly compensated even if you add two more games to their season (something I'm against by the way).

At the end of the day, the owners own and the players play. I don't get to ask my boss to see the books. Neither do you. We'd both of us be out of a job if we did.

Memnoch_TP · 03-24-2011, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by saintfan

You mean when a player signs a contract he should honor that contract? No more holding out for more money? No more *****ing to the media about how he needs more dime?

I would agree with your point if the contracts that they are cornered into signing weren't so one sided. If the owners were obligated to honor a contract as well, I would agree more. As it is, 4 years is 4 years for the players, but the owners can sign that contract and then cut you before the ink dries.

And there are more specific cases I can't fault the players for either. Like Vincent Jackson. The best WR his team has had in years, hugely talented, highly successful, one of the most productive players on the team... But he had no star power when he signed his contract, and got a scrub contract and then played like an all-pro. I don't blame him for finally saying "Screw this, the kicker makes 3 times more money than I do, my 3rd string backup makes twice the money I do, pay me!".

Originally Posted by saintfan

And I'm for old school Unions too, which is, sadly, not what most unions are today.

I'm totally with you there. When the unions were created they were sorely needed. Now they are a big part of what is hindering this country. Naturally, there are still unions that are exceptions to this, but for the most part...

Originally Posted by saintfan

At the end of the day, the owners own and the players play. I don't get to ask my boss to see the books. Neither do you. We'd both of us be out of a job if we did.

What you or I get to do is totally irrelevant. It should not, and does not, have any bearing on the NFL players and owners because neither your nor I are as indispensable to our bosses as the NFL players are to the NFL.

SAINT_MICHAEL · 03-24-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by Memnoch_TP

What you or I get to do is totally irrelevant. It should not, and does not, have any bearing on the NFL players and owners because neither your nor I are as indispensable to our bosses as the NFL players are to the NFL.

When the players and their families try to play the sympathy card and make themselves out to be simple down home-folks who sacrifice their blood, sweat, and tears to play a game they love without being properly compensated for, then it is relevant. They are blatantly and unashamedly shopping for public support with this letter, so if they are going to try and paint themselves as of the common fan, then the common fan has the right to make these comparisons.

I also disagree that the players are not indispensable. This is the same egotistical stance that the players are taking and thereby making the mistake of thinking they are bigger than the game. Let's face it, we don't follow the Saints because of Drew Brees, we follow them because they are the New Orleans Saints

The fact is that football is bigger than it ever has been. In college, TV ratings are good for even lesser ranked schools and through the roof for top ten programs. People are dying to watch football these days.

If the owners could somehow "wipe the slate clean" and cancel all the contracts for current players, then they cold hold open try-outs to all the Arena League, UFL, and CFL players. I would bet this "new" league would be viable and people would watch it if there was no NFL to fall back on. I’d even bet that if given the choice between sticking by the current NFL players and thereby not being able to play professional football for a living or being the first stars of a “new” NFL system that the current college players would join as well.

The college players joining might be a dream, but my point is the NFL and the teams they include are much more historically important to the fans than the individual players who have worn the uniforms. Players come and go, but the colors never change (unless you are the Tampa Bay Bucs).

03-22-2011, 06:30 PM	#1
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	I'm sorry. I'm not buying it. Is playing in the NFL tough? Nobody in their right mind would argue otherwise. Is it any more taxing on the body than a guy hauling logs for a living? Is it any more dangerous than crabbing in the Bering Sea? Hell, Strato has probably played some Saturday Night gigs that were more dangerous... HELL NO IT IS NOT! The Players and their 'former' Union want us to hear about all the injuries and the sob stories, and I'm not being a hard ass to their plight, but GIVE ME AN EFFING BREAK. More former NFL Players live long, healthy lives after Football than don't, by a LONG shot. It ain't even close. They want us to hear about every nagging little injury such and such player 'suffers' with. Good God my Grandpa suffers worse from driving trucks and building houses his entire 80+ years and counting. Don't buy the hype people. Don't be a victim to clever marketing, and that's all this is. The players clearly have made tons of headway in their attempts to make everyone think playing in the NFL is the most dangerous job in the world. Bull**. Climb broadcast towers for a living. Work on a boat. Be a Policeman in Oakland or Detroit. Fight Fires. None of those men and women can even sniff the Cadillac plans the NFL players have, regardless of the CBA being enforced at the time. For heaven's sake they stop playing into Social Security with a percentage of their first check, for the year, even on the lowest NFL player salary. I know a few players and former players too. Kevin Mawae (we called him mowee in school) chief among them. It's crap. It's a ploy. They are playing on your heart strings. Don't be so damned gullible. Be more like the Honey Badger. He don't give a **...
	C'mon Man... Last edited by saintfan; 03-22-2011 at 06:39 PM..

03-22-2011, 09:42 PM	#3
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	The primary issue is money. I don't even know if health concerns were a tertiary issue.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

03-23-2011, 09:48 AM	#4
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	What I don't understand is this: With all the money these players make, they should be able to afford and should INVEST in a good health insurance policy. They don't have to rely on and they SHOULDN'T rely on team doctors to completely trust their bodies to.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

03-23-2011, 11:20 AM	#5
ALLSAINTS66 Bless You Boys! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In mah hause. Posts: 319	I just think it's weird that the players keep getting blamed for this. From what I understand, there already WAS an agreement, and the owners opted to back out of it early. Now the players are being portrayed as greedy because they're not agreeing to a sudden new deal. I think of it like I agreed with payments to a car company for a car, and partway before my loan was up, they opted out of the contract, locked me out of my car, and told me I have to give them more money to be able to use it again. I know a job isn't a car, but still, there WAS already a contract in place! Fujita's wife aside, my sympathy still falls squarely with the players. And as for Benson... oh, you mean the Benson that wanted to move the Saints to Texas when the city was still underwater? Yeah. I got no sympapthy for that guy. None whatsoever. If it weren't for the NFL and the Commish, he would have done it, too. I dont' care HOW hard he had to work to get where he is. I never forget that if he'd've gotten what he wanted, they'd be the San Antonio Saints. I guess I'm just an oldschool bluecollar kinda gal. I side squarely with the Unions, the players, and the working man. Owners and management can all go to h#LL in my book.
	Last edited by strato; 03-23-2011 at 03:14 PM..

03-23-2011, 03:44 PM	#6
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,758	Originally Posted by ALLSAINTS66 I just think it's weird that the players keep getting blamed for this. From what I understand, there already WAS an agreement, and the owners opted to back out of it early. Now the players are being portrayed as greedy because they're not agreeing to a sudden new deal. I think of it like I agreed with payments to a car company for a car, and partway before my loan was up, they opted out of the contract, locked me out of my car, and told me I have to give them more money to be able to use it again. I know a job isn't a car, but still, there WAS already a contract in place! But that contract said that if either of you were unhappy with the deal, you have the option to re-negotiate another contract at that point. The owners did NOT back out of a contract, they simply exercised a mutally agreed upon right to renegotiate.

03-22-2011, 08:51 PM	#2
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,876 Blog Entries: 13	If the Fujita's feel this way, why doesn't Scott just retire? If you don't like your employer and this worried about health issues, be done. He's a smart guy, could find a nice job.

03-25-2011, 12:47 AM	#7
BringTheWood 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 165	Originally Posted by Danno But that contract said that if either of you were unhappy with the deal, you have the option to re-negotiate another contract at that point. The owners did NOT back out of a contract, they simply exercised a mutally agreed upon right to renegotiate. S.E.M.A.N.T.I.C.S. Regardless of how you choose to interpret the specifics of the contract, which I'm fairly sure you don't know 100% and haven't read yourself, the fact remains that the owners caused the contract to CEASE. In doing so they started this whole mess. Add in the fact that there was an obvious act of collusion that also included the commissioner of the NFL, and the owners have lost just about any credibility that they may have had; At least with anyone who isn't a complete moron, or Ronald Reagan. If you absolutely must have it viewed from your particular wording, however, then I would argue that the players are simply exercising a mutually agreed upon right renegotiate also. The owners opened this can of worms, just accept it. I applaud the players for not backing down, and while it pisses me off to no end that we may not see football for a good while, I refuse to misguide my rage towards them for exercising their right to be taken seriously. Just open the books owners, and this all goes away. That letter is admittedly bad though. It is overly obvious that it's either an act of lunacy, or a half-hearted attempt at securing pity. I loved Scott as a player when he was a Saint, and regardless of the recent social potholes, he remains to me a classy and sincere guy. No one is perfect, and he's just riding the wave. His wife however... He should pull a Peoples Republic of China and censor her.
BringTheWood 100th Post Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 165

03-23-2011, 04:04 PM	#8
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Originally Posted by ALLSAINTS66 I just think it's weird that the players keep getting blamed for this. From what I understand, there already WAS an agreement, and the owners opted to back out of it early. Now the players are being portrayed as greedy because they're not agreeing to a sudden new deal. I think of it like I agreed with payments to a car company for a car, and partway before my loan was up, they opted out of the contract, locked me out of my car, and told me I have to give them more money to be able to use it again. I know a job isn't a car, but still, there WAS already a contract in place! Fujita's wife aside, my sympathy still falls squarely with the players. And as for Benson... oh, you mean the Benson that wanted to move the Saints to Texas when the city was still underwater? Yeah. I got no sympapthy for that guy. None whatsoever. If it weren't for the NFL and the Commish, he would have done it, too. I dont' care HOW hard he had to work to get where he is. I never forget that if he'd've gotten what he wanted, they'd be the San Antonio Saints. I guess I'm just an oldschool bluecollar kinda gal. I side squarely with the Unions, the players, and the working man. Owners and management can all go to h#LL in my book. You mean when a player signs a contract he should honor that contract? No more holding out for more money? No more *****ing to the media about how he needs more dime? I'm with you. When you agree with someone on something you stick to it. As Danno stated, the owners aren't doing anything that wasn't provided them in the contract. And I'm for old school Unions too, which is, sadly, not what most unions are today. Oh and Benson didn't want to move the team. He's one savvy old man. He got precisely what he wanted at the end of the day. Let's not forget his involvement in keeping the team in New Orleans to begin with. I'm old school too. There is right and there is wrong on both sides of this or any disagreement, but you can't simply disregard what Fujita's wife is saying. It's part of the ploy. It's part of the marketing. It's part of the effort by the players to make us think they go through hell and that they are not fairly compensated. They are MORE than fairly compensated even if you add two more games to their season (something I'm against by the way). At the end of the day, the owners own and the players play. I don't get to ask my boss to see the books. Neither do you. We'd both of us be out of a job if we did.
	C'mon Man...

03-24-2011, 08:46 AM	#9
Memnoch_TP Logic Troll Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern Louisiana Posts: 565	Originally Posted by saintfan You mean when a player signs a contract he should honor that contract? No more holding out for more money? No more ***ing to the media about how he needs more dime? I would agree with your point if the contracts that they are cornered into signing weren't so one sided. If the owners were obligated to honor a contract as well, I would agree more. As it is, 4 years is 4 years for the players, but the owners can sign that contract and then cut you before the ink dries. And there are more specific cases I can't fault the players for either. Like Vincent Jackson. The best WR his team has had in years, hugely talented, highly successful, one of the most productive players on the team... But he had no star power when he signed his contract, and got a scrub contract and then played like an all-pro. I don't blame him for finally saying "Screw this, the kicker makes 3 times more money than I do, my 3rd string backup makes twice the money I do, pay me!". Originally Posted by saintfan And I'm for old school Unions too, which is, sadly, not what most unions are today. I'm totally with you there. When the unions were created they were sorely needed. Now they are a big part of what is hindering this country. Naturally, there are still unions that are exceptions to this, but for the most part... Originally Posted by saintfan** At the end of the day, the owners own and the players play. I don't get to ask my boss to see the books. Neither do you. We'd both of us be out of a job if we did. What you or I get to do is totally irrelevant. It should not, and does not, have any bearing on the NFL players and owners because neither your nor I are as indispensable to our bosses as the NFL players are to the NFL.
	"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so." -- Douglas Adams.

03-24-2011, 11:36 AM	#10
SAINT_MICHAEL 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 446	Originally Posted by Memnoch_TP What you or I get to do is totally irrelevant. It should not, and does not, have any bearing on the NFL players and owners because neither your nor I are as indispensable to our bosses as the NFL players are to the NFL. When the players and their families try to play the sympathy card and make themselves out to be simple down home-folks who sacrifice their blood, sweat, and tears to play a game they love without being properly compensated for, then it is relevant. They are blatantly and unashamedly shopping for public support with this letter, so if they are going to try and paint themselves as of the common fan, then the common fan has the right to make these comparisons. I also disagree that the players are not indispensable. This is the same egotistical stance that the players are taking and thereby making the mistake of thinking they are bigger than the game. Let's face it, we don't follow the Saints because of Drew Brees, we follow them because they are the New Orleans Saints The fact is that football is bigger than it ever has been. In college, TV ratings are good for even lesser ranked schools and through the roof for top ten programs. People are dying to watch football these days. If the owners could somehow "wipe the slate clean" and cancel all the contracts for current players, then they cold hold open try-outs to all the Arena League, UFL, and CFL players. I would bet this "new" league would be viable and people would watch it if there was no NFL to fall back on. I’d even bet that if given the choice between sticking by the current NFL players and thereby not being able to play professional football for a living or being the first stars of a “new” NFL system that the current college players would join as well. The college players joining might be a dream, but my point is the NFL and the teams they include are much more historically important to the fans than the individual players who have worn the uniforms. Players come and go, but the colors never change (unless you are the Tampa Bay Bucs).
SAINT_MICHAEL 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 446