Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

[feltdizz]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

The one big downfall to Peterson & Mendenhall's comments, the one word that will eternally make them wrong, the one word that they simpl cannot argue & makes their 'slavery' comment both laughable & disgusting is this..

you ready?....


CHOICE.

These guys don't have to go to the Combine. They don't have to sign contracts. They don't have to take up their college scholarships & in turn play football well enough to get drafted into the NFL.

They CHOOSE to.

Now, go ask the slaves of yesteryear how much CHOICE they were given.

It's a boneheaded, stupid, moronic analogy & ONLY shows these two men to be uninformed, selfish & glorified moaners.

Both of these guys have earned a lowered opinion in Chadman's eyes.

Mark Ingram anyone?

I think Mendenhall would argue, he isn't saying playing in the NFL is slavery. He is saying that the way the owners go about evaluating talent is culturally insensitive. In light of black people and slavery, the owners should be more sensitive about some parallels between the measurements of black men in the NFL and those with the slave trade.

Only reason I bring it up is because I think it's relevant that we debate what Mendenhall was trying to say rather than the way it came out. And while I get the analogy, I do not agree based on my post above yours. And, one must ask why make the comment in the first place. Is his comments going to change the NFL combine? Did he really feel abused when going through the combine? If so, why didn't he say something then, or bail out of the process? See, the problem here is the fact that he feels strongly enough to say something about it, only during a labor dispute, and after he has gotten his paycheck and participated in the optional combine. Any man feeling this strongly about the combine can bail out of the combine. While it might cost him some money, at least his conscience would be clear. But, instead he chose to participate in something he deems derrogatory to his race...and he did so for extra cash. That in of itself negates the effectiveness of his comments. Not to mention the fact, that he forgot many people who make average wages at jobs they hate, enslaved to debt might take his comments as a slap in the face.

It was poor judgment on Mendenhall's part IMO. Doesn't make me dislike the guy. I realize he just doesn't get the big picture.

The slavery comparison isn't racial IMO. The white players go through it too and Alan Faneca is a prime example of how players feel about management when they feel slighted.

I'm sure Faneca and guys like Shockey feel the same way but won't use the slavery term for racial reasons.

Players are owned by the FO... No one should be shocked by their opinions.

[Shawn]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

It was poor judgment on Mendenhall's part IMO. Doesn't make me dislike the guy. I realize he just doesn't get the big picture.

As a player, he's fine.

But Chadman finds the whole angle that the players are using rather disrespectful to the guys that make them millionaires.


The Fans.

Agreed.

[Shawn]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

The one big downfall to Peterson & Mendenhall's comments, the one word that will eternally make them wrong, the one word that they simpl cannot argue & makes their 'slavery' comment both laughable & disgusting is this..

you ready?....


CHOICE.

These guys don't have to go to the Combine. They don't have to sign contracts. They don't have to take up their college scholarships & in turn play football well enough to get drafted into the NFL.

They CHOOSE to.

Now, go ask the slaves of yesteryear how much CHOICE they were given.

It's a boneheaded, stupid, moronic analogy & ONLY shows these two men to be uninformed, selfish & glorified moaners.

Both of these guys have earned a lowered opinion in Chadman's eyes.

Mark Ingram anyone?

I think Mendenhall would argue, he isn't saying playing in the NFL is slavery. He is saying that the way the owners go about evaluating talent is culturally insensitive. In light of black people and slavery, the owners should be more sensitive about some parallels between the measurements of black men in the NFL and those with the slave trade.

Only reason I bring it up is because I think it's relevant that we debate what Mendenhall was trying to say rather than the way it came out. And while I get the analogy, I do not agree based on my post above yours. And, one must ask why make the comment in the first place. Is his comments going to change the NFL combine? Did he really feel abused when going through the combine? If so, why didn't he say something then, or bail out of the process? See, the problem here is the fact that he feels strongly enough to say something about it, only during a labor dispute, and after he has gotten his paycheck and participated in the optional combine. Any man feeling this strongly about the combine can bail out of the combine. While it might cost him some money, at least his conscience would be clear. But, instead he chose to participate in something he deems derrogatory to his race...and he did so for extra cash. That in of itself negates the effectiveness of his comments. Not to mention the fact, that he forgot many people who make average wages at jobs they hate, enslaved to debt might take his comments as a slap in the face.

It was poor judgment on Mendenhall's part IMO. Doesn't make me dislike the guy. I realize he just doesn't get the big picture.

The slavery comparison isn't racial IMO. The white players go through it too and Alan Faneca is a prime example of how players feel about management when they feel slighted.

I'm sure Faneca and guys like Shockey feel the same way but won't use the slavery term for racial reasons.

Players are owned by the FO... No one should be shocked by their opinions.

I could see that. The thing is this...it's not just an NFL thing. It's a life thing. Very few of us get to experience true freedom. I have responsibilities per contract. I can be sued for not heeding the contract. I think many people feel "owned" or trapped in jobs they do not want. I love what I do but there are times I would like to do less of it. But, unfortunately not only does the company I work for have rights to my time, but the banks do to.

Off subject a bit, but it's why I do not want to go into debt for any more material nonsense. And it is indeed nonsense...pride and little else. As long as your family is healthy, happy and provided for what more can you ask? For me? More time with my family and freedom from those who currently own my time.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

from Dale Lolley's blog:


THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Slaves? Hardly

Earlier this week, Adrian Peterson likened NFL players to slaves. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall then backed Peterson's comment later this week.

That is hardly the case and is demeaning to the people who actually were slaves.

Slaves were forced to work in their job with no say in what they were doing or how they were doing it. They also received no monetary compensation.

NFL players choose to work in the NFL. There's nothing written anywhere that says college football players MUST play in the NFL.

But they do so because they either enjoy playing the game or enjoy the compensation that comes with being an NFL player.

Yes, they cannot readily change jobs. But that is because they sign a contract to work for a certain team.

Do they have to join the team that drafts them? Nope.

There have been instances where a player has forced a trade rather than play for a team prior to ever playing a down for that club - John Elway being the most famous.

And players hold out in an effort to force their trade or release all the time.

But they are compensated well.

Is it a perfect system? Nope.

But to say that NFL players are slaves borders on the ridiculous.

[url="http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/"]http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

But to say that NFL players are slaves borders on the ridiculous.

It's not bordering on the ridiculous. It's the definition of ridiculous.

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

We wouldn't have this problem if Republican President Abe Lincoln didn't screw up slavery.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Mendenhall backs Adrian Peterson's 'slave' comment

Mendenhall's remarks don't bother Tomlin

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, March 23, 2011


NEW ORLEANS — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin defended running back Rashard Mendenhall in more ways than one Monday.

Tomlin said he is not concerned that Mendenhall has fumbling issues after the latter lost two during the postseason, including a costly one in Super Bowl XLV. Tomlin also shrugged off Mendenhall supporting Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who recently compared the NFL to modern-day slavery.

Mendenhall wrote on his Twitter account last week that Peterson had made some good points.

"It didn't surprise me," Tomlin said of the Mendenhall tweets. "Rashard is a deep, philosophical guy. I think all he confirmed were parallels. That's opinion-oriented, and I don't care about those things."

Tomlin said he is not worried about Mendenhall's fumble at the beginning of the fourth quarter in the Super Bowl. He said Mendenhall only lost three fumbles last season — four, actually — despite almost 400 carries, with postseason games included.

Mendenhall rushed 324 times for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010. That was the fifth-most carries by a Steelers running back during the regular season, and Tomlin didn't give any indication that he is considering lessening Mendenhall's workload.

"He's got some unique talents, and we're going to try to build our run game around those talents," Tomlin said of a player who doesn't turn 24 until June. "We're pleased with where he is, but we think he's still a guy in development."

SEPULVEDA ON THE MEND

While coaches are not allowed to contact players during the lockout, Tomlin said punter Daniel Sepulveda, who missed the final seven games of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, appears to be on track for a full recovery.

"Based on the information we have right now, (the Steelers are) real comfortable with his progress," Tomlin said.

Tomlin said Sepulveda, who has torn the ACL in his right knee two times since joining the Steelers, and Jeremy Kapinos, his replacement last December, are options at punter next season.

The Steelers, Tomlin said, have not ruled out drafting a punter next month.

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_728667.html#ixzz1HSlYtPHx"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1HSlYtPHx[/url]