Hall of Famer Jerry Rice does not want to see another lockout – NFL news
Jerry Rice was in the National Football League the last time there was a lockout and he does not want to see the same thing happen again in the 2011 NFL season.
Rice told a local newspaper that he hopes that the NFL Players Union and the League can work out a deal and avoid another industry strike.
The Hall of Famer was part of the San Francisco 49ers when the 1987 players strike occurred and the star wide receiver sat out three games. The thing that bothered him the most was that he could not do what he loved, even though he had the most touchdown
receptions in the NFL history that season with 22.
“It was very frustrating, because you want to get out there, play football, and you can’t,” said Rice. “You have to support the union and come to terms.”
In 1987, players went on strike to fight for free agency and Rice is amazed that this year, a lockout is only a week away because the League cannot figure out how to split a tremendous amount of money.
“I want football, the fans want football, and I find it amazing that you’re looking at $9 billion and there’s a big disagreement going on,” Rice said.
Rice was also shocked that the League and players were talking about extending the regular season to 18 games when there are also major issues going on right now about the health of players. The players union downright declined to play in 18 games because
of health concerns.
Similarly, former players have been diagnosed with various conditions. Recently, former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson committed suicide so that his brain would be donated to the Boston University School of Medicine to study conditions brought on by years
of helmet-to-helmet collisions, which can cause brain damage.
Duerson’s case is one of the many that the NFL Players Union is using to lobby against an 18-game regular season. They are also using this case to win benefits for retired players and to further protect themselves from injuries on the field.
Rice fully agrees with the players union, saying, “We talk about protecting players, then they want to add two games? Players are getting bigger and faster. We need to take care of guys that made football what it is today.”
Rice made 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards and 208 touchdowns in his 20 seasons in the NFL. He was ranked as the number one greatest player in NFL history by NFL Network and was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times. He also won three Super Bowls with the Niners.
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