Richard Sherman mocking the NFL

[65fastback2plus2]

The thing that bothers me most is everyone's assumption that "Sherman is smart and knows what he's talking about." Including the media... Screaming a smith called it 'brilliant'.

Because this is flat out dumb.

Who the *** gave Sherman the go ahead to make a statement like this. Criticizing a sponsor that shells out 167 million dollars a year to help pay his and EVERYONE ELSE'S salary is just dumb. Do you want that money to go away? And if you do, did you confer with the rest of the league on that? Are they cool with wages going down?

And for what? To make a point about hypocrisy? Get over it Sherman. Hypocrisy in the work place common everywhere, but we're not making 80 million.

And let's not pretend the nfl is crushing your right to seek endorsements. The official stereo equipment/headphones of the NFL is Bose... You endorse beats by dre. You picked your own sponsor, and you're technically getting paid by both companies. And that's ignoring the fact that the NFL is the only reason you have that opportunity.

Fact is, the NFL is your employer. They have rules just like any other company. Abide by them or take it up with your union.

he has a right to say what he believes regardless of how his employer thinks and acts or what size of the paychecks.

you act like he should just accept it because his paychecks are bigger than yours. hogwash.

 

[Nova]

he has a right to say what he believes regardless of how his employer thinks and acts or what size of the paychecks.

you act like he should just accept it because his paychecks are bigger than yours. hogwash.

I didn't say he doesn't have the right to speak his mind. I'm not saying he has to sit there and accept it. I just think he's being short-sighted and being a bit of a brat. There are ways to go about things and this just isn't the best way. Take it up with union.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

I didn't say he doesn't have the right to speak his mind. I'm not saying he has to sit there and accept it. I just think he's being short-sighted and being a bit of a brat. There are ways to go about things and this just isn't the best way. Take it up with union.

did you consider this was something they did in their personal time as a joke? i wouldnt say the quality and position of the recording and the unrehearsed sounding dialogue show that this was intended to be released.

 

[Nova]

did you consider this was something they did in their personal time as a joke? i wouldnt say the quality and position of the recording and the unrehearsed sounding dialogue show that this was intended to be released.

It was at a weekly press conference, it was meant to be released. It was direct, short-sighted retaliation to the league fining lynch 100k for not speaking at a press conference.

It's failure to understand that meeting with the press is part of the job. Which I have a hard time believing because Sherman and baldwin seem like smart guys, so really it's just petulance.

Edit: I don't think there's a way this could be presented where Sherman went about thugs the right way. Are his points valid? Sure. Just think it was childish.

 

[Rogah]

http://www.foxsports.com/west/story/compton-native-richard-sherman-far-from-a-thug-012914

Ya, that's one of the articles that the scout.com people say got it wrong. Someone somewhere made an erroneous report, then a whole bunch of media outlets picked it up and ran with it.

 

[Sasquatch]

PI flags mysteriously increase for Sherman

 

[65fastback2plus2]

It was at a weekly press conference, it was meant to be released. It was direct, short-sighted retaliation to the league fining lynch 100k for not speaking at a press conference.

It's failure to understand that meeting with the press is part of the job. Which I have a hard time believing because Sherman and baldwin seem like smart guys, so really it's just petulance.

Edit: I don't think there's a way this could be presented where Sherman went about thugs the right way. Are his points valid? Sure. Just think it was childish.

Didn't look like a normal press conference to me...

 

[Nova]

Didn't look like a normal press conference to me...

It was his weekly press conference with actual reporters. If you search for the story several articles will confirm this.

 

[jterrell]

I didn't say he doesn't have the right to speak his mind. I'm not saying he has to sit there and accept it. I just think he's being short-sighted and being a bit of a brat. There are ways to go about things and this just isn't the best way. Take it up with union.

The NFL fined his teammate 100K for "keeping his mouth shut".
So he decided to talk.

The NFL deserved every bit of this criticism.

Dallas playing Sunday night then less than 4 full days later was/is absurd.
That should never happen again.

 

[Nova]

The NFL fined his teammate 100K for "keeping his mouth shut".
So he decided to talk.

The NFL deserved every bit of this criticism.

Dallas playing Sunday night then less than 4 full days later was/is absurd.
That should never happen again.

I don't understand the rebellion in some of you. People just love the "stick it to the man" angle I guess.

Your employer asks you to do or not to do something then you oblige or face consequences. It's just like any other job. It's not like you have to keep working there... You can find another job.

Don't like it? Take it up with your union who negotiated that position in the first place.

4 days between games bother you as a player? Take it up with the union, collectively bargain better next time. Bother you as a consumer? Don't watch Thursday games.

Unhappy that you can't have an alcohol endorsement? Quit the NFL and see if they still want you as a spokesperson. Angry that it's hypocritical of the NFL because they have a 1.2 billion dollar deal with Anheuser- Busch ? Cool, I guess you won't mind that you and the rest of your player brethren won't be receiving 45% of that. I'm sure you checked, right Richard?

There are ways to get things done and this is not the best way to do it.

 

[jterrell]

I don't understand the rebellion in some of you. People just love the "stick it to the man" angle I guess.

Your employer asks you to do or not to do something then you oblige or face consequences. It's just like any other job. It's not like you have to keep working there... You can find another job.

Don't like it? Take it up with your union who negotiated that position in the first place.

4 days between games bother you as a player? Take it up with the union, collectively bargain better next time. Bother you as a consumer? Don't watch Thursday games.

Unhappy that you can't have an alcohol endorsement? Quit the NFL and see if they still want you as a spokesperson. Angry that it's hypocritical of the NFL because they have a 1.2 billion dollar deal with Anheuser- Busch ? Cool, I guess you won't mind that you and the rest of your player brethren won't be receiving 45% of that. I'm sure you checked, right Richard?

There are ways to get things done and this is not the best way to do it.

1) Being an employee does not mean slave. You are fully entitled to thoughts and opinions and to share those thoughts and opinions.
If the employer doesn't like it, fire them.

2) Sherman has a contract with the Seattle Seahawks and last I checked he didn't criticize them.
He criticized a league. And VERY deservedly so.
Others like Babe have done the same for the same reason.
It is stupid and dangerous.

3) If you do not like something you speak up and help effect change.
You don't sit quietly hoping it changes in 5 years when you'd be retired anyway.

4) The NFL got free agency and many of the perks they have now because players complained openly,. loudly and even took cases to the courts.

5) There are literally millions of people who complain about leagues of which they are a part.
That's the beauty of being an American.
We have free speech.
Perhaps you'd prefer to live under Kim Jong rule?

 

[65fastback2plus2]

I don't understand the rebellion in some of you.

You dont? Rebellion against crap is the American way. Its what makes one an American. John Adams and John Hancock, etc. decided screw the english and their stupidity and rebelled.

And today we now have the USA because of it.

 

[Rogah]

Didn't look like a normal press conference to me...

It did to me. Well, except for the cardboard cutout but I mean as far as the media placement is concerned and... well.... you know... the little fact that they actually used the media room....

 

[khiladi]

My original point is that he profits very very well from this "double standard". No job is perfect nor are many near'ly as lucrative. I have a problem with him choosing a public avenue to mock his employer, while he's cashing astronomical sized checks that these sponsors funds support. If he has a problem, he should work through his union and advocate for change.

It's a mutually beneficial agreement, not a one-sided relationship where the NFL owes these other industries. Sherman gets paid, because he's a great player in the NFL and is highly-visible. Sponsors wouldn't use him if he wasn't.

 

[Rogah]

1) Being an employee does not mean slave. You are fully entitled to thoughts and opinions and to share those thoughts and opinions.
If the employer doesn't like it, fire them.

2) Sherman has a contract with the Seattle Seahawks and last I checked he didn't criticize them.
He criticized a league. And VERY deservedly so.

He also has a contract with the league by way of the fact that he belongs to the NFLPA and they represent him while negotiating and signing a Collectively Bargained Agreement regarding the "rules" by which each the players and the league must abide.

3) If you do not like something you speak up and help effect change.
You don't sit quietly hoping it changes in 5 years when you'd be retired anyway.

He should complain to his union if he really is so unhappy. If players are so adamant about not wanting to do press conferences, then make it a bargaining point for the next CBA - but fact is the majority of players really have no problem with press conferences and dealing with the media at required times so good luck getting anywhere with that.

5) There are literally millions of people who complain about leagues of which they are a part.
That's the beauty of being an American.
We have free speech.
Perhaps you'd prefer to live under Kim Jong rule?

No offense but that's a pretty ridiculous statement. You sound like Adrian Peterson when he called himself a slave.

Yes, we all have free speech but if you sign a contract, you are beholden to the terms of the contract. Sherman signed a contract of his own free will and volition. He was represented by legal counsel (i.e. his agent, which is a lawyer) and he was represented by a professional union. No one forced him to play pro football. He could have done anything he wanted (subject to his own abilities and aptitudes). If he wanted to promote beer, he should have entered another profession (or course, it goes without saying that Richard Sherman, tax accountant, wouldn't be someone the beer companies would want in their commercials).

All he is doing is signing a contract, taking the money, taking the fame, taking the glory and then whining like a little girl about having to honor his end of the bargain.

 

[Nova]

He also has a contract with the league by way of the fact that he belongs to the NFLPA and they represent him while negotiating and signing a Collectively Bargained Agreement regarding the "rules" by which each the players and the league must abide.
He should complain to his union if he really is so unhappy. If players are so adamant about not wanting to do press conferences, then make it a bargaining point for the next CBA - but fact is the majority of players really have no problem with press conferences and dealing with the media at required times so good luck getting anywhere with that.
No offense but that's a pretty ridiculous statement. You sound like Adrian Peterson when he called himself a slave.

Yes, we all have free speech but if you sign a contract, you are beholden to the terms of the contract. Sherman signed a contract of his own free will and volition. He was represented by legal counsel (i.e. his agent, which is a lawyer) and he was represented by a professional union. No one forced him to play pro football. He could have done anything he wanted (subject to his own abilities and aptitudes). If he wanted to promote beer, he should have entered another profession (or course, it goes without saying that Richard Sherman, tax accountant, wouldn't be someone the beer companies would want in their commercials).

All he is doing is signing a contract, taking the money, taking the fame, taking the glory and then whining like a little girl about having to honor his end of the bargain.

Saved me a lot of typing. Thanks

 

[Nova]

You dont? Rebellion against crap is the American way. Its what makes one an American. John Adams and John Hancock, etc. decided screw the english and their stupidity and rebelled.

And today we now have the USA because of it.

Rebellion to oppression is legitimate. No one is stupid enough to think otherwise. But NFL players are not being oppressed.

 

[Nova]

5) There are literally millions of people who complain about leagues of which they are a part.
That's the beauty of being an American.
We have free speech.
Perhaps you'd prefer to live under Kim Jong rule?

Wow. Really going off in a different direction here. This has nothing to do with what I said.

Freedom of speech is a public matter. This is a private one. These political zingers should be kept out of business discussions.

 

[jterrell]

Wow. Really going off in a different direction here. This has nothing to do with what I said.

Freedom of speech is a public matter. This is a private one. These political zingers should be kept out of business discussions.

you are a complete dolt if you don't think telling someone what they can and can not say is a violation of free speech.

there is absolutely nothing in the CBA that says you must never criticize the schedule.
if there is please feel free to post that section for us.

there's a hundred million married people complaining about marriage.
being a participant is a REQUIREMENT to complain not a valid reason not to.

If the NFL is going to force guys to conduct media responsibilities they are going to say things the NFL doesn't like.
that is really unavoidable.

richard sherman was 100% correct in his statements
he questioned NFL hypocrisy which is absurdly over the top.
the NFL tells players they may not sponsor alcoholic products but claims Budweiser as a major league sponsor.
he correctly notes the League argues how serious it is including creating rules for player safety yet asks guy to play two games within 4 days....

Even the Hawks biggest rivals are supporting those statements.

To be very clear, the NFL wouldn't exist without these players.
It is not only their right but their duty to make statements and bring about change.
And your CBA nonsense is just that, nonsense.
Players are required to sign off on that the same way anyone is beholden to an employer.
But it never means they can not complain about those statutes or ask they be changed.
Employer behavior is not off limits nor above reproach.
And saying you don't like contract terms isn't breaking a contract.

If Richard Sherman started his own league he'd be in the wrong.
But he is perfectly within his right to complain, Lord know every American complains plenty!
Including your crying here about his complaining.

 

[Rogah]

you are a complete dolt if you don't think telling someone what they can and can not say is a violation of free speech.

I don't think you know what "free speech" means. "Free speech" means you can say anything you want and the government won't punish you (obviously there are exceptions for things like threatening people or creating a dangerous situation but that isn't what we're talking about here). "Free speech" does not mean you can say anything you want with absolutely zero consequences whatsoever.

The government has absolutely nothing to do with what we're talking about here so you can spare us the comparisons to North Korea. Nobody is saying Sherman should go to jail.

There can definitely be consequences from an organization you belong to (or work for) based on things you say. If you don't believe me, just ask Donald Sterling. All he was doing was exercising his free speech, right? So maybe you should go into work and start throwing around racial slurs at everyone. Then when they fire you, get back here and tell us all how your rights to free speech were violated.