[Bette]

It would seem that Steven Jackson is not acting in his best interests. He's a holdout under contract and is racking up fines of $15000 per day.
Right?
Maybe not. Think back to November 11, 2007 when the helmet of Packers CB Al Harris met the knee of stud rookie tailback Adrian Peterson. In that instant, the rookie's career was hanging in the balance, just 2 months after it had begun. Peterson was lucky; he suffered a partial tear of PCL and missed only 2 games.
But on every offensive play, the running back is at risk for an injury that could easily be of far greater consequence than a 2 game absence. Even if there is never one single incident that could end his career, the years of endless tackles and bad falls on hard field surfaces adds up and after 30, the guy's tank begins to run on empty.
So doesn't it make sense for the more talented running backs to make as much money possible before the time comes that they are no longer able to play the game??

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What is your take on this? Remember, the RB's career could be over in the blink of an eye.

[Gillette Young Gun]

From a business standpoint, yeah it makes sense.

But it's stuff like this that is ruining the NFL for me. I mean a large number of those fans in the stands that shelled out a lot of money to see these guys play could barely afford it. Yet they complain that these multi-million dollar contracts with big signing bonuses and large sums of garunteed money are not good enough. But I guess these guys are gonna do what they're gonna do, and there's nothing an average joe fan can say about it.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Gillette Young Gun

From a business standpoint, yeah it makes sense.

But it's stuff like this that is ruining the NFL for me. I mean a large number of those fans in the stands that shelled out a lot of money to see these guys play could barely afford it. Yet they complain that these multi-million dollar contracts with big signing bonuses and large sums of garunteed money are not good enough. But I guess these guys are gonna do what they're gonna do, and there's nothing an average joe fan can say about it.

I agree 100% In sports the fan always ends up with the sh** end of the stick unfortunately.

[Gillette Young Gun]

^Yeah, and the NFL is the least fan-friendly of any pro league in my opinion.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Until the NFL has guaranteed contracts, you'll see holdouts no matter what the contract terms might say!

Here's how this deal works: a team signs a young player to a 5 or 6-year contract and there's a "signing bonus" that goes with the salary which is negotiated but separate from the yearly terms. Now, that player is obviously contractually obligated to that team for the term of the contract but since these contracts are NOT guaranteed - it means that if the player gets released from the team before the contract expires, they don't owe him a red cent! I know it's strange but that's just how it goes in the NFL. It's been this way forever!

[2418jk]

Nobody IMO should be able to Hold out ever. It irritates me to see a player that is getting paid 2 million a year hold out to get a contract worth 7 million a year. Awe only 2 million a year? boo hoo. Get over it. Players are making more a year than most people will in a life time.