(12-17-2019, 01:18 PM)rfc17 Wrote:

(12-17-2019, 12:09 PM)Cleatwood Wrote: Wait.... So players wanting to train outside of the facility makes them soft?

This is your classic "Well back in my day the NFL was tougher!"

The players today play at such a higher speed that if they hit people like they did back in the 70s, players would probably die. If Butkus and his 5.7 40 time hits a RB, it's not as bad as a LB with 4.4 speed hitting a WR running at 4.4 speed. The game is different now and that's not a bad thing no matter how many times people want to claim that the players are "softer".

Fowler was a high priced first round pick coming off a major injury.  The idea that the team wanted his rehab to be done onsite with team doctors is the most logical, sane, common sense approach any team could have.  That isn't some egregious demand or request.  It's just not allowed because of the NFLPA agreement. These players are only required to be with the team for 5 months of the year Aug-Dec.  The idea that the team would want all their players to show up for a few days during the 7 month offseason for voluntary camp isn't some egregious demand or request.  It's just not allowed because of the NFLPA agreement.  Tom yells at Jalen in the locker room for throwing a temper tantrum after not getting his way and Jalen acts like a baby about it.  

I think we need to differentiate between what a team is legally allowed to do based on the agreement with the NFLPA and expectations that are too demanding of players.  Rehabbing on site, showing up a few days during the 7 month offseason, getting yelled at for disobeying coaches, etc.... are all extremely reasonable actions and requests by the team.  Yet players complaining about how hard and unfair and mean Coughlin is.  It's weak.  Or soft, whatever you want to call it.  Players get paid far more money, have far fewer demands imposed on them in the past, and significantly better medical care.  Their life in the NFL is significantly easier than players from prior periods.  It just is.  

The real problem is Coughlin won't adhere to the rules set forth by the NFL and NFLPA's agreement.

I don't have a issue with any of that. TC broke the rules and we have to pay the price. I don't fault the NFLPA or Fowler in any way for that. My issues is with the letter sent out by the NFLPA that begins by being an announcement of the outcome of a grievance case filed by a player against a club. This same announcement changes tones in the last paragraph and turns into almost a hit piece against our organization that doesn't actually add anything to initial point. Removing the last part doesn't take anything away from the ability to inform the players about the initial point. But what is does do is potentially damage the clubs image in a way that could make it less attractive to Free Agents in the league.

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