From: billms@eecs.umich.edu (William Mangione-Smith)
Subject: Re: Cowboy Holdouts
Organization: University of Michigan
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 13:16:20 GMT

In article <1992Aug29.191612.9592@abode.ttank.com> eric@abode.ttank.com (Eric C. Bennett) writes:

   To the Michael Irvins, Jay Novaceks and Mark Stepnowskis of the world I have
   only one thing to say and that is F**K YOU!! I have been listening to the
   radio and reading the paper everyday to find out if any of you had signed and
   none of you had. What is the problem? I can't imagine that the management is
   being totally unfair. 

The Dallas Management is on the record, according to the Chicago Tribune
recently, as saying to the other NFL teams that they will take the lead in
holding down salaries, and show the rest of the League how it should be done.
Why do you find it so hard to imagine that the players might be right and the
management can't be wrong?  Unless you take part in the negotiations, I can't
see how you can possibly have enough information.  It sounds like you are
just really pissed off that key players are missing from your favorite team.
Fine.  I'm dissappointed that Bennie Blades missed so much time.  But when
the negotiations involve two parties, you can't automatically make the player
the fall guy because his loss will hurt team performance.

   Mark Stepnowski: I am not sure what they offered you, but you should just sign
   it and play.

Now this one makes sence.  Hey Mark!  Here's a cheezeburger.  Yep, thats
right, one of these babies a week!  And all you have to do is line up and
play ball.

   In closing, is sitting out and not getting paid better than what they are
   offering? I really doubt it.

Those are three key players.  If the Cowboy's start off in a rut because they
are missing, pressure will mount for managment to make some movement.  Then
the players will be closer to winning the monetary battle.  So maybe, in
their eyes (and they are negotiating for themselfs (as is the team), and not
for the fans interests) they will end up better off.

   P.S. I am a really a big Cowboy fan and this is about the only bashing I have
   done since I have become a fan about 14 years ago. But the fact that these
   guys are really hurting the team. 

Thats not at all the point.  These guys get beat up each year.  They make
sacrafices for a job that makes guys like Jerry Jones very rich men (I know,
he was rich before he bought the team).  They have every right to watch out
for the financial stability of their families, and in fact they have a
responsibility to do this.  I'd think a lot less of players who caved in when
they really believe that they are on the side of right (i.e. completely and
clearly entitled to the salaries that they are asking for).

   Even if they sign this week they won't be a
   big force in the Cowboy/Redskin game. I say that Cowboy management do the same
   thing the Redskins do. Give them a file offer and subtract 1/16th of it every
   week until they sign.

Thats a good one.  I thought that the Skins caved in last week.  Wasn't their
deadline the 19'th, with an *increased* offer to Howard early last week?

Bill
--
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	Bill Mangione-Smith
	billms@eecs.umich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro