# NFL vs. the economy

Apparently some people don't know the current economic state of our counrty. Either that, or Former Texas Tech wide received Michael Crabtree failed economics.  Crabtree was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft when the Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall. Pre-draft talks stating Crabtree was a better receiver than Heyward-Bey, I guess, gave Crabtree the impression that he was worth more than $23.5 million ... guaranteed ... before ever catching a pass in the NFL. Oh yeah, he is willing to sit out the entire 2009 season and re-enter the draft in 2010 if he doesn't get what he wants.  I understand that NFL teams make billions of dollars each year and the players see a mere fraction of it. However, I don't think it is right for a rookie to hold out for more money without ever stepping foot on the field. If it were up to me, all rookies would be given a one-year contract. All first-round draft picks would have the same salary, all second-round draft picks would have the same salary, and so on. At the end of that first year, the players would then be able to negotiate a long-term contract based on their performance, attitude, and contributions to the team both on and off the field.  I know that in any other situation other than professional sports, a person will not have a job if they try to negotiate for more money without ever showing up to work.  On top of that, in a time when every American family is wondering if they are going to have a job when they show up to work each day and how they are going to pay the bills, there is Crabtree and other professional athletes throwing their multi-million dollar contracts in the faces of the fans. Too bad the "Cash For Clunkers" program didn't include football teams, maybe Ford could have traded in the Detroit Lions for a shiny, new, not bankrupt company.  I have an idea, rather than flaunt multi-million dollar contracts and brand new stadiums, why doesn't every NFL team have every person on the payroll -- players, coaches, front office staff, EVERYBODY -- work for minimum wage for one week. Take the savings from that week and donate it to charity or find some other positive use for it. Just think how much money could be saved if Crabtree took minimum wage for a week rather than $23.5 million.  I don't quite agree with your suggestion. Even though he didn't step in the field but he is entitled to go after what he thinks he's worth. He had, at least, shown his value in his college years. Of course, the NFL is different than College but it's still the same game. He got talent and he has the right to ask the kind of money for his talent. The economy is bad but the NFL teams still have the money to pay because people still go to the game and subscribe to see the games on Direct TV. Besides, if the team performs well with his addition, it will get the financial reward in many ways. Lastly, it's natural to be jealous but we shouldn't be judgmental of someone else decision for his/her future. In contrary, we should wish him well and with his sitting out one year, he might get a better contract next year. He may have shown promise in college ... so did Ryan Leaf, Matt Leinart, Akili Smith, Desmond Howard, and Brian Bosworth. The NFL is a very different game than the college ranks. The players are bigger, faster, and stronger. I don't wish him well. I hope he does hold out the whole year and re-enters the draft just so that he can drop even lower in the draft for not having played football in a year. That should be the price you pay for being arrogant. So what if Crabtree is holding out for more money. Can you blame the guy when Matthew Stafford went for 78 million with 41.7 million in his pocket? He is just like Crabtree, he hasn't played in a real game yet. More vets should be upset that they have put in 5 plus, or 10 plus years in the league and can't hold a candle to Stafford. I completely agree. But the difference between Crabtree and Stafford is that Stafford took what they offered, he didn't keep asking for more. I don't agree with a rookie making more than most people in the league, I think it is a slap in the face to the people who have put the time and effort into their team. I know that if I were a 5 year veteran and Stafford came in making 10 million more than me, I would be upset.  It is because of this that I put in the third paragraph about a standardized salary. I'm not trying to single out Crabtree, he is certainly not the only offender. I think the whole situation with Eli Manning when he was drafted was completely uncalled for, but it seems to work out in the end I guess. I also don't mean to say that this problem only exists in football, It happens in all professional athletics. Everybody in the county wants to be paid more for what they do, but if everybody was allowed to sit in the corner and pout about it until they got what they want, this country would fall apart in a matter of days. I totally agree with you on Manning. That was a joke to the whole NFL.  While Crabtree is standing up for what he thinks is right, I do think that he is only going to hurt himself in the end. If he sits out this year, I'm pretty sure that we can expect the same out of him re-entering the draft next year. He will be last years news in next years draft class. It was difficult to decide which blog at the Ft. Scott Tribune to introduce the blog abusers linked herein. After reading many of the Ft. Scott Tribune blogs, it became clear that even the NFL discussion is not as rude and threatening as the TOPIX blog in Yates Center.  Thus, it may be easy to understand my distress where this blog abuse against Eileen M. Smith, M.Arch. ---could be anyone they decide to target with obnoxious insults, threats, slander, libel and berating demanding she leave Yates Center has been ongoing since August 2008. See five pages just under one Poll started by Ms. Smith to discuss the possibility of forming a group to restore the historic town square.  http://www.topix.com/forum/city/yates-ce... If the blog abusers don't want to associate with someone then leave her alone. She has a right to do her work and to live in her hometown.  What would you do ... to discourage their crimes? Maybe the persons perpetuating the threatening and berating comments are pouting about something they cannot communicate clearly --or maybe they are just unstable. It is hard to figure out what the real problem is as they refuse to provide their names... one does not have to register to post blogs on the TOPIX blog from Palo Alto, CA.  Someone suggestted it might be worthwhile to start a contest in SE Kansas to see who can figure out the real names of the various attack bloggers. Local businesses could get kudos for helping to keep blogs clean by contributing prizes for those that come up with the names of the anonymous blog abusers first ---sent via e-mail. When the list is complete and verified, it will then be published in the area newspapers including the Ft. Scott Tribune to warn others who may unknowingly initiate their brash wrath.  See page five of the link provided herein where the abuser who calls itself "FORMYKIDSAKE" likely has children and yet they seem unmoved by the potential impact on youth. They insist that those without children could not possibly understand how well they are taking care of their children by attacking Ms. Smith. Many of their teachers who do not have children may not understand that comment ... Where they are so extreme such blog abusers may be charged with crimes and labeled as 'blog offenders'! It is not only frightening to their target, but it frightens and intimidates anyone who may want to communicate with the target or about the issues the target is disussing. It is like putting armed guards by the poll box . . .  Ms. Smith ran for WO CO Commissioner last fall and although the blog abusers started before she ran for office and continued long after the election, they claim that is why they have a right to stalk and insult her publically.  The blog attack started the week I provided a presentation before the Woodson County Commission on the Kansas Solar Electric Co~operatives, Inc.  www.geocities.com/Solar_Electric_Coopera... I gave my first presentation in Yates Center, my hometown in 1998 when invited by Mayor Burkhart.  I have provide talks and workshops all over the world on the subject of building-integrated photovoltaics [BI-PV]. I completed a book on the subject in 2005 entitled "ElectriCity BEYOND THE CURVE OF DEREGULATION". It is available in the YC Library on CD. You can order your own copy by writing to me at KS_SEC@yahoo.com There are numerous abusive blog entries on various TOPIX categories as I attempted to avoid the ongoing harassment of a few TOPIX blog abusers by going to other venues --many of the Topix blog abusers may be the same person.  It is a bit strange and I think other blog venues should know that this type of blog abuse is going on in SE KS and its potential impact on blogs. Are there any strategic suggestions you or the NFL may have for discouraging such extreme blog abusers? Referrals for help are welcome . . .  
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