NFL player representatives want more say in fines
According to a recent report from The Associated Press, NFL players are purportedly upset with the recent fines that the league has been doling out for what it deems to be violent and/or illegal hits. And although the league has already dished out
a $75,000 fine and three additional $50,000 penalties since cracking down on its stance regarding unnecessary collisions last month, it’s not the amount that is the issue.
Apparently, athletes around the league are unhappy with the fact that only a handful of NFL executives, the chief amongst them being Commissioner Roger Goodell, consult to consider which hits should be fined and what the subsequent price tag attached to those
penalties will be.
That has a lot of players, including Matt Light, up in arms. “You’ve got to make sure that these things are fair, that they’re measurable, that you can judge them, that it’s not just one person’s opinion,” said the New England Patriots tackle, who also serves
as the team’s player representative.
Although every questionable play is reviewed by a number of individuals at the NFL’s officiating and operations offices, some player reps are arguing that they’d like to see current NFLers afforded the opportunity to offer their insight and opinions.
“I do think the issue’s screwed up,” said Bengals tackle, and player representative, Andrew Whitworth.
“They say former players are the ones that review it, but they’re also former players who are being paid by the NFL. So a lot of times, I feel if Goodell or some of those guys would sit in on those meetings and hear how it goes, you’d know that it’s not
a fair conversation.”
Clearly, this sentiment seems to resonate throughout the league, as defensive end Vonnie Holliday offered his outlook. “I just think that to arbitrarily go in and set a fine and say that this is the rule is just not the way that it should be done,” the Washington
Redskins’ player rep said.
“It should be more of a democratic approach to things. And for the union to be a part of that, or to go out and get some outside council or someone to be a part of that process, I think it’s very important and something that should be looked into.”
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