NFL Union Backs 3 Year Rule

[MrRant 0]

WASHINGTON -- Gene Upshaw, executive director of the players' union, said Wednesday that the next labor contract with the NFL will specifically bar players from entering the league until three years after high school.

 

In a meeting with editors and reporters at The Washington Post, Upshaw confirmed that changes will be made to he next collective bargaining agreement as first reported by ESPN.com two months ago. "The rule has to be clear. You knew that eventually someone was going to challenge the rule. It did happen. Whatever we have in the CBA now, in this next extension we will tighten it up even more."

 

Currently, the rule is not written into the collective bargaining agreement, but the NFL maintains that it is in effect because it came about through the collective bargaining process and the union did not object.

 

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit agrees. On Monday, the panel reversed a February ruling by U.S. District Court judge Shira A. Scheindlin that allowed Maurice Clarett into the NFL draft, leaving the Ohio State tailback and Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams ineligible for the NFL until 2005.

 

In their ruling, the Post reports, the judges agreed with the NFL's position that its draft-eligibility rule is exempt from antitrust scrutiny because it resulted from collective bargaining.

 

The league and union have started negotiations to extend the current labor agreement, which runs through the 2007 season, likely for four more years, according to Upshaw.

 

The union boss told the Post he sympathizes with Clarett and Williams but that he supports the league's draft-eligibility rule, saying that Scheindlin's decision was "just so out of whack that you knew it was going to get overturned."

[Guest Choken One]

I Wish Stern would grow a set and mandate at least a ONE year rule.

 

It didn't hurt Carmelo to play one season did it? Nope.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise. I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity. What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway? There's no point to it. If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

They can go play in the Canadian, Arena or NFL Europe league. The NFL has every right to demand a certain experience level to enter.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise. I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity. What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway? There's no point to it. If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

and have the kid's parents sue the NFL for smearing him on the field?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise.  I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity.  What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway?  There's no point to it.  If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

and have the kid's parents sue the NFL for smearing him on the field?

Where the hell would that come from?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise.  I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity.  What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway?  There's no point to it.  If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

and have the kid's parents sue the NFL for smearing him on the field?

Where the hell would that come from?

You said let a prima donna get his ass handed to him by the pros....

 

 

You're basically saying, "Let a 19 year old wide receiver get drilled by a 31 year old, 265 lbs linebacker with 10 year experience".... which would definitely lead to the kid having serious injuries.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise.  I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity.  What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway?  There's no point to it.  If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

and have the kid's parents sue the NFL for smearing him on the field?

Where the hell would that come from?

You said let a prima donna get his ass handed to him by the pros....

 

 

You're basically saying, "Let a 19 year old wide receiver get drilled by a 31 year old, 265 lbs linebacker with 10 year experience".... which would definitely lead to the kid having serious injuries.

Not necessarily, as I would assume if the kid is there, he's big and talented enough. I'm referring to the lawsuit comment, which to my knowledge has never happened in professional ball, at least under game play.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise.  I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity.  What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway?  There's no point to it.  If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

and have the kid's parents sue the NFL for smearing him on the field?

Where the hell would that come from?

You said let a prima donna get his ass handed to him by the pros....

 

 

You're basically saying, "Let a 19 year old wide receiver get drilled by a 31 year old, 265 lbs linebacker with 10 year experience".... which would definitely lead to the kid having serious injuries.

Not necessarily, as I would assume if the kid is there, he's big and talented enough. I'm referring to the lawsuit comment, which to my knowledge has never happened in professional ball, at least under game play.

Korey Stringer's widow sued for his death.

[Guest Choken One]

Sports are a competitive enterprise.  I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity.  What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway?  There's no point to it.  If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

and have the kid's parents sue the NFL for smearing him on the field?

Where the hell would that come from?

You said let a prima donna get his ass handed to him by the pros....

 

 

You're basically saying, "Let a 19 year old wide receiver get drilled by a 31 year old, 265 lbs linebacker with 10 year experience".... which would definitely lead to the kid having serious injuries.

Not necessarily, as I would assume if the kid is there, he's big and talented enough. I'm referring to the lawsuit comment, which to my knowledge has never happened in professional ball, at least under game play.

Korey Stringer's widow sued for his death.

That has NOTHING to do with this topic.

 

 

However, I believe the inital joke was referecing to our current Liberal PC soceity where someone else is to blame no matter what...

 

 

Thus when Ray Lewis drills poor Tommy Youngboy(fake name) after he makes his first NFL catch and scrambles his brain cells and forces him to be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life...Tommy's Mommy can sue Mr. Lewis.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

And that's NEVER happened in pro sports. Which makes that reference invalid.

 

We're excepting of course acts of assault and battery, ala Marty McSorley's hit, or Ben Christensen beaning Anthony Molina in the on-deck circle.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

However, I believe the inital joke was referecing to our current Liberal PC soceity where someone else is to blame no matter what...

 

 

Thus when Ray Lewis drills poor Tommy Youngboy(fake name) after he makes his first NFL catch and scrambles his brain cells and forces him to be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life...Tommy's Mommy can sue Mr. Lewis.

Yes that was the joke I was going for. Thanks Choken One for clearing it up.

[The Czech Republic 0]

We're excepting of course acts of assault and battery, ala Marty McSorley's light tap, or Ben Christensen beaning Anthony Molina in the on-deck circle.

corrected for goddamn accuracy

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I share Al's viewpoint on the topic. If they're deemed capable of playing pro ball right out of high school, let 'em. They'll either wind up successful, unsuccessful, or in jail, just like the rest of society. Would it matter if he had that general studies degree to fall back on?

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise. I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity. What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway? There's no point to it. If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

Because generally speaking, they aren't. They get drafted early for their future potential, then shoved out on the courts early for marketing reasons and the quality of games suffered. Usually it takes 2 to 3 years for them to be playing at the level where they should be. Lebron is an exception because he could actually play out of gates. Most aren't like that.

 

And in the NFL, especially where you have guys like Ray Lewis just waiting to beat up on somebody like Clarett, it is a terrible idea.

 

It isn't just limited to HS players either. There is no way Eli Manning should be starting right away either. Too many people get playing time because of who they are, rather than how good they are at this particular time. Play them when they are ready to play. Not before. Teams are too stupid to manage themselves, because with a few exceptions they care more about selling tickets than winning.

[AlwaysPissedOff 0]

I'd like to see a valid argument that states how Mike Williams isn't ready for the NFL yet. I really, REALLY would...

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I'd like to see a valid argument that states how Mike Williams isn't ready for the NFL yet. I really, REALLY would...

The thing that separates Williams from Clarett was that Williams is more responsible. Instead of whining and bitching his way through life, Williams just goes out there and gets the job done. He is ready for the NFL. While I agree with the rule, I feel it should be more applied collegiately. As in, "You must have at least been in college 2 years" or something, Clarett played one season and pissed it away the next.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I'd like to see a valid argument that states how Mike Williams isn't ready for the NFL yet. I really, REALLY would...

He might not be, but there are a hell of a lot more Clarretts in the world. It would open a floodgate that couldn't be closed again. Williams waiting another year is a small price to pay to prevent the problems that would result elsewhere.

[Guest Flyboy]

I'd like to see a valid argument that states how Mike Williams isn't ready for the NFL yet. I really, REALLY would...

*whispers* There isn't one.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

He might not be, but there are a hell of a lot more Clarretts in the world. It would open a floodgate that couldn't be closed again. Williams waiting another year is a small price to pay to prevent the problems that would result elsewhere.

 

What problems? Miserable people play sports regardless of whether they attended college or not.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'd like to see a valid argument that states how Mike Williams isn't ready for the NFL yet. I really, REALLY would...

What does that mean exactly? Of course Williams is ready for the NFL. However, he has flaws in his game. His overall speed isn't great, and neither is his ability to pull away from defenders.

[Guest MikeSC]

I'd like to see a valid argument that states how Mike Williams isn't ready for the NFL yet. I really, REALLY would...

In the NFL's defense --- they don't have to prove a guy is not ready for the NFL. They have a rule and it, thankfully, appears to be on the verge of being respected as such by a court.

 

You can't make rules based on flukes. Williams is a fluke prodigy. Clarett is, well, the usual moron freshman football player who bought his hype.

-=Mike

[Ripper 0]

Sports are a competitive enterprise.  I feel if you're good enough to play professionally, you should have that opportunity.  What good is it to clog our colleges with imbeciles anyway?  There's no point to it.  If a kid is too young, or too prima-donnaish, let him get his ass handed to him by the pros.

Because generally speaking, they aren't. They get drafted early for their future potential, then shoved out on the courts early for marketing reasons and the quality of games suffered. Usually it takes 2 to 3 years for them to be playing at the level where they should be. Lebron is an exception because he could actually play out of gates. Most aren't like that.

 

And in the NFL, especially where you have guys like Ray Lewis just waiting to beat up on somebody like Clarett, it is a terrible idea.

 

It isn't just limited to HS players either. There is no way Eli Manning should be starting right away either. Too many people get playing time because of who they are, rather than how good they are at this particular time. Play them when they are ready to play. Not before. Teams are too stupid to manage themselves, because with a few exceptions they care more about selling tickets than winning.

College players coming in need 2-3 years of experience to get good in the pros.

 

NFL...I understand. Guys need more physical development to not end up cripples. But seriously, you can't make the same argument for other sports like Basketball, or Baseball.

 

If you have the ability you have the ability.

[Guest MikeSC]

College players coming in need 2-3 years of experience to get good in the pros.

 

NFL...I understand. Guys need more physical development to not end up cripples. But seriously, you can't make the same argument for other sports like Basketball, or Baseball.

 

If you have the ability you have the ability.

Well, if you look at how bad the NBA is now --- an age limit might work wonders for them.

-=Mike

[Ripper 0]

Yet the best players didn't play college ball or only a year.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Maybe one day the NFL and NBA will actually have to *gasp* spend some money on a developmental system like MLB and the NHL.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

A minor league will never work for the NFL because several positions, such as running back, have such a short lifespan that no one's going to want to waste prospects for a few years in the minors.

[Ced 0]

What exactly is NFL Europe then? I watched it on Sunday and got confused since all of their jerseys had a different NFL team logo.

[KingPK 0]

It's kind of like a summer league for the NFL. Teams send the players they believe could use some seasoning over to Europe to get their feet wet and see how they perform. I GUESS you could think of it as a developmental league. It's helped some players along; Adam Vinatieri and Jake Delhomme both spent time overseas.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

It's really more of a reject league than a developmental league. The point is mostly to give failed players another kick at the can (Lawrence Phillips types), or sometimes to develop long-term projects.