Geno Atkins Reflects On Players Being Locked Out

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 21, 2011 1:41 PM EDT in Analysis

With the players dissolving the union through decertification and the league locking out the players, forcing western-style showdowns with a bunch of legal terms we never knew existed, some players are simply forced to sit back and deal with it. And for all of the Millionaire vs. Billionaire responses from observers, like fans and the media, the truth is that there are many players in the NFL are not millionaires. Like Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins.

The Bengals second-year defensive tackle reflects on the lockout.

Imagine going to your job tomorrow and finding the doors locked. You receive notice in the mail that your health Insurance is canceled, you are not to enter the facilities not even to pick up personal belongings. Welcome to my world, I guess this is the part of professional Sports that no one likes. It’s our reality thought and we have to deal with it, in order to protect ourselves, past player and the future for those that will come behind us.

So in the meantime, what does Atkins do to kill time and prepare for an eventual labor resolution? Does Geno extend his Xbox Live Gold subscription and deal mad death to Chad Ochocinco in Black Ops? No (but he should to humble the receiver a little). Does Geno stack defensive measures around the city while the country is invaded by Jersey Shore?

Jeff Reed and Steeler fans love to tell you how many championships they've won

No. None of that. Geno Atkins just trains as if he's a rookie fighting for another spot on the roster. I like it. It's simple.

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Josh...

You pumping out the articles today!!! I don’t agree with eveything you put out but good job and thanks overall!!!

by Dwight Carter on Mar 21, 2011 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

to all the players. its simple!

if you dont like the job the retirement and medical plan or working conditions length or pay of contract….. DONT SIGN THE CONTRACT. work some where else.

by mikel12q on Mar 21, 2011 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

I agree...

…and since the NFL has no real competition—meaning that the players don’t have any other viable options in their chosen profession—the federal government should declare the NFL a monopoly and break it back into two leagues that sometimes face each other. Any other business that tried to pull this crap would have been hammered by now, but the NFL is a sport and has played somewhat nice, until now. Both sides are behaving unethically in this, but the lack of competition/competitors to jump ship to is out-and-out illegal.

by Big Sky Bengal on Mar 21, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Player can jump ship to the AFL or UFL, or Canadian football,

though some may struggle with the metric system. Many become wrestlers, actors, reality show people, coaches or announcers. The NFL pays better than any other option the players have, but that does not mean they don’t have options.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Mar 21, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not the same.

Let’s say you have Generic Business. If your business not only achieved a monopoly, but enforces that monopoly by smacking down attempts at competition (the NFL has used its influence with TV networks to smother rivals in the cradle), that’s considered illegal by US law. Antitrust laws, etc.

It’s not enough for someone to be able to jump from Microsoft to a store on the corner selling computers. When one party is gifted with an antitrust exemption, that means they’re breaking the law, but it’s allowed, due to the unique nature of their situation. But if they start wielding too much power, it’s a different story.

by Big Sky Bengal on Mar 21, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

The players weren't unhappy with the monoploy until they got locked out

Their big complaint seems to be that they can’t continue under the current agreement.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Mar 22, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s not how it works these players/owner fights aren’t in “normal” reality! So let go of your normal everyday thought process with this. I’ll help prove my point name one star from the CFL, UFL or Arena football league off the top of your head. There’s no other game to sign with in actual reality that is viable.

by ashunte23 on Mar 21, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

didnt the players get 4 years of collage FREE.

by mikel12q on Mar 21, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

These comments are everywhere

Everyone must be a boss or business owner. What ever happened to the fight for the little guy. I never agree w owners in these situations. The only argument I may accept is that with players increased value there is no money left over for other workers like beer vendors (my favorite). Oh wait they don’t get paid sh** anyways.

by quickslant on Mar 21, 2011 3:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The NFL's salary structure just seems absurd.

I am largely incompassionate for either side, but the way the NFL has been paying rookies was clearly unsustainable. I can’t blame the players for not wanting to take a paycut, but the same situation is being played out throughout the country. There is only so much money and benefits that can be paid to workers. We are seeing the effects of this through higher taxes to pay for stadiums, and higher prices for tickets and merchanidise, which then leads to more counterfeits.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Mar 21, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Compare NFL to ANY other business

Anti trusts, tv contacts, and such believe me, the league is not hurting. But ickey woods dances for steak sales. Two years of awesomeness an injury and bye bye thank you for your services. You should have planned for retirement on your minimum pay scale. How much money did NFL get because of the Ickey shuffle? In other words … Would the NFL be successful without the icky woods in the world? Ok let’s just replace him w some dude from UFL. This posses me off. Cincy I love ya but screw owners. They are plenty paid

by quickslant on Mar 21, 2011 7:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I could retire on the money made from any drafted rookie contract if it paid out

I can’t help it that NFL players don’t listen in their free college. These player have a better opportunity than anyone has a right to expect. It may be that they don’t have other opportunities due to the anti-trust exemptions and monoply, but they would also not have it as good as they do without that same monopoly. I would argue the monoply has helped the players at least as much as the owners.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Mar 22, 2011 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions