Micheal Wilbon's reaction and what to do now

[CanesSkins26]

Wilbon's a d-bag for applauding what Albert "stands for". Here's my bottom line, if you don't like the rules of the NFL as a player (regarding offseason or anything else for that matter) get the heck out of the NFL than. There's PLENTY of athletes that will abide by the rules just to get an opportunity to play.

@ the newest d-bag

Just because there are other guys that would play doesn't mean that the system isn't broken. I agree with Wilbon that teams have waaaaaay too many offseason mini camps, OTAs, etc. It's not done because teams need to have all of these activities, it's purely to generate more media attention and revenue for the NFL.

[Countertrey]

Soooo... Wilbon is the voice of "reason" for the players now? Don't they have their own agents? Don't they have a Union? They need Wilbon now, because their agents and union aren't representing them?

No. Wilbon is being Wilbon... that is being oppositional makes him more valuable as a commentator. This is about him... not about his concern for the players mission against the man...

He said it himself... he knew nothing about the situation... yet he still commented.

[yupchagee]

I doubt most people will read this article. It'll be highly evident by their post...

That being said, I agree that fans/media are too eager to side with the management side of the NFL. It's a huge double standard in a lot of situations where an organization can screw a player over but when a player attempts to do the same, it's all of a sudden wrong.

It's evident that even management is starting to realize that the off-season is too long but until an owner says it, most people won't agree. Which is Mike's point.

If anything, Mike used the wrong situation to use a vehicle for his message.

Agreed.

[gay4pacman]

keep him. Wilbon is a clown and a hater. It seems like he continues to stick to his guns, even as it becomes more obvious that al is in the wrong, because of ego.

[The Hogster]

Wilbon's article?? Spoken like a true d-bag who has never played football at a competitive level. The offseason in the NFL is necessary - perhaps they could do away with OTA's and some preseason games, but if you think that a team of 22 players can just show up a month before gametime and be ready to play football you're a moron.

Sure, some veterans can do it. But, with the NFL draft happening every year and not every 4 years - you will always have players who NEED the practice. It's non-contact - give it a rest.

Baseball is a longer season. So is the NBA. You hit the ball and run the bases or you make shots and guard the guy in front of you. It's totally a non comparison.

He's been learning from Kornheiser his whole career and this is more of the wannabe Jerry Seinfeld/Chris Berman approach. How long did Korny last on MNF??? Two seconds..because people quickly realized he didn't know what he was talking about and was barely funny. Wilbon is no different.

[CanesSkins26]

Wilbon's article?? Spoken like a true d-bag who has never played football at a competitive level. The offseason in the NFL is necessary - perhaps they could do away with OTA's and some preseason games, but if you think that a team of 22 players can just show up a month before gametime and be ready to play football you're a moron.

They could easily do away with OTA's, the non-mandatory minicamps, and two of the preseason games.

[Countertrey]

Wilbon's article?? Spoken like a true d-bag who has never played football at a competitive level. The offseason in the NFL is necessary - perhaps they could do away with OTA's and some preseason games, but if you think that a team of 22 players can just show up a month before gametime and be ready to play football you're a moron.

They could easily do away with OTA's, the non-mandatory minicamps, and two of the preseason games.

So what? How does ANY of that relate to Haynesworth acting like a 5 year old? Albert IS NOT making an "honorable moral stand" to save the world from unnecessary off season work... no matter how much Wilbon tries to make it so.

[Snout]

After seeing Wilbon's comments, it seems that he was not really speaking to Haynesworth's specific situation at all.

I do not see the offseason issue as being about management vs. the players so much as making sure that all teams are subject to the same limits. Obviously some teams need a longer offseason program, especially teams with a new head coach and/or a new offensive or defensive coordinator (got that, Albert?). Physically the players do not need the offseason, but mentally they do. I think that four preseason games is excessive -- I would like to cut that down to two -- but the offseason minicamps are no problem IMO.

[FireVinny]

Wilbon is 100% wrong for the exact reason that the NFLPA is 100% right in rejecting any attempt to recoup the bonus. It's in the current bargaining agreement. Wilbon might have a point that these mandatory offseason workouts should be abolished, but given that they are a part of the current collective bargaining agreement his point is entirely irrelevant. And the NFLPA should work to protect Albert's bonus because that's their job and that's what the agreement says they should do.

Yes, Fat Albert has abused the system. Yes, the Skins should make him sit without pay all season unless they can get full value in a trade... but this isn't the NFLPA's fault. They sign a contract to protect ALL of the players, even the douchebags who abuse the system they create.

Internally, however, the NFLPA should be applying severe pressure to get Fat Albert into camp, especially given taht they are currently trying to negotiate a new contract. His misbehavior is a disservice to the entire leage of players in their ability to bargain favorable terms in the next contract.

[Bob 0119]

At my job if you don't show up to work for 3 days it's job abandonment and you're immediately terminated. Why not with AH?

Most likely because you aren't part of a union as powerful as the NFLPU. I suspect AH will be the postswerboy for what's wrong with the current collective bargaining agreement.

[FireVinny]

At my job if you don't show up to work for 3 days it's job abandonment and you're immediately terminated. Why not with AH?

Most likely because you aren't part of a union as powerful as the NFLPU. I suspect AH will be the postswerboy for what's wrong with the current collective bargaining agreement.

Actually, not really. The Redskins can terminate/release him at any point they want, and could do this even before he no-showed. The union can't prevent them from doing so.

What the Skins want to do is re-coup a bonus that's already been paid in exchange for releasing him. If you got a Christmas bonus and then didn't show up at work for the next three days, you would get fired... but your employer couldn't make you give back the bonus, union or no union.

In AH's case it's that the union could prevent him from voluntarily giving up his bonus because they have an interest in protecting other players from having pressure applied to give back their bonuses.

[VetSkinsFan]

Wilbon is 100% wrong for the exact reason that the NFLPA is 100% right in rejecting any attempt to recoup the bonus. It's in the current bargaining agreement. Wilbon might have a point that these mandatory offseason workouts should be abolished, but given that they are a part of the current collective bargaining agreement his point is entirely irrelevant. And the NFLPA should work to protect Albert's bonus because that's their job and that's what the agreement says they should do.

Yes, Fat Albert has abused the system. Yes, the Skins should make him sit without pay all season unless they can get full value in a trade... but this isn't the NFLPA's fault. They sign a contract to protect ALL of the players, even the douchebags who abuse the system they create.

Internally, however, the NFLPA should be applying severe pressure to get Fat Albert into camp, especially given taht they are currently trying to negotiate a new contract. His misbehavior is a disservice to the entire leage of players in their ability to bargain favorable terms in the next contract.

So Shanahan tells him if you can find a place to go, then we'll release you willy nilly. But if you're here at draft time, then you play for us with this big check. And then he takes the big check and then says he wants out? And you're okay with this?

Let me reiterate. Albert, if you take this $21,000,000 check, then you'll play for us. If you find a place to go before you take this check, then we'll happily not stand in your way.

After Albert takes the check, thereby AGREEING to the terms of Shanahan, he wants out. With the payment signifying that he would play for the 'skins.

I don't know how logic works where you are, but that's not how it works here.

[burgngold4life]

I mean... is it me? Or does it seem like majority of the time mostly what comes out of Wilbon's mouth is just pure garbano?

I can't stand this guy.... and never have.

And then his offseason comparisons are just an absolute joke. Being as though I like all 3 major sports he mentioned, with FOOTBALL being my favorite.. Wilbon was basically saying an NFL offseason has more bs in it and what not. I don't care.... football is the most watched sport by Americans.. not Basketball, or Baseball. More faces are glued to the TV for the Super Bowl as opposed to The Finals or The World Series.

So no wonder there is a tougher OFFseason by NFL standards because every team wants to reach perfection in order to get to the big dance. The NFL is the more attractive sport.... at least to me it is. NO WONDER!!!.... The NFL is the giant in American sports these days. Alot more work needs to be put in in the offseason in order to make it where you need to go.. the Super Bowl. The most watched sporting event in the USA and even some places outside of it. Duh.

I hate Wilbon. Some of you should understand my point here..... I tried my best to get it across.

[CanesSkins26]

Wilbon's article?? Spoken like a true d-bag who has never played football at a competitive level. The offseason in the NFL is necessary - perhaps they could do away with OTA's and some preseason games, but if you think that a team of 22 players can just show up a month before gametime and be ready to play football you're a moron.

They could easily do away with OTA's, the non-mandatory minicamps, and two of the preseason games.

So what? How does ANY of that relate to Haynesworth acting like a 5 year old? Albert IS NOT making an "honorable moral stand" to save the world from unnecessary off season work... no matter how much Wilbon tries to make it so.

Wilbon isn't defending Haynesworth's actions, though. All he's saying is that he wants the current offseason system changed and that he's happy about any situation, even if the player is at fault, that could bring about change. He is specifically quoted as saying that Big Al should be in attendance honoring his contract.

[Countertrey]

Wilbon's article?? Spoken like a true d-bag who has never played football at a competitive level. The offseason in the NFL is necessary - perhaps they could do away with OTA's and some preseason games, but if you think that a team of 22 players can just show up a month before gametime and be ready to play football you're a moron.

They could easily do away with OTA's, the non-mandatory minicamps, and two of the preseason games.

So what? How does ANY of that relate to Haynesworth acting like a 5 year old? Albert IS NOT making an "honorable moral stand" to save the world from unnecessary off season work... no matter how much Wilbon tries to make it so.

Wilbon isn't defending Haynesworth's actions, though. All he's saying is that he wants the current offseason system changed and that he's happy about any situation, even if the player is at fault, that could bring about change. He is specifically quoted as saying that Big Al should be in attendance honoring his contract.

Except that Haynesworth's behavior has nothing, whatsoever (by any method or contortion of facts or evidence), to do with off season team activities... in addition, it's not his job to tell the players what they want... they do have, as I noted earlier, more than adequate individual (agents) and collective (union) representation to defend their own cause... they don't need a sports writer to pick it for them... and he is doing them no favors by attempting to make Haynesworth a champion in this cause.

This is a purely self serving position on his part. He is taking the contrarian stand, which increases demand for his "opinion"... regardless it's clearly (in my opinion) egocentric motivation. Consider... dozens of sports writers have tossed their opinion into this topic. Who's opinion are WE discussing, however?

[The Hogster]

Wilbon's article?? Spoken like a true d-bag who has never played football at a competitive level. The offseason in the NFL is necessary - perhaps they could do away with OTA's and some preseason games, but if you think that a team of 22 players can just show up a month before gametime and be ready to play football you're a moron.

They could easily do away with OTA's, the non-mandatory minicamps, and two of the preseason games.

OTA's and non-mandatory minicamps are Voluntary. Why would you abolish something that you don't have to even do??? Sure, coaches want players there, but for every solidified starter who can afford to miss it, there are 5 guys who are trying their guts out to make the team, to make an impression, to make a career.

When mandatory mini-camps and TC opens, those players have little reps or opportunities to prove their worth. So why tell people who want to get better that they can't come to a voluntary OTA or minicamp???

Its like eradicating Overtime for regular workers just because the highest paid officers think its a waste. There are plenty of lower wage workers who need it.

As for preseason, they can get rid of 2 of the games, or make them regular season games. But, if they make then reg season games, they will need to adjust the 53 man roster limit upward. Which means you'll be keeping players on your team that you could have taken a closer look at in those OTA's and voluntary minicamps.