To NFL Players "Gettin' Paid": Help the Country Out

's website (conducted by twigs.com) concluded that 79 percent of America believes NFL players can and should afford pay cuts for the good of the nation.

As I researched sport players taking pay cuts, I found that even Greg Norman, a professional golf player, has suggested taking a wage decrease; he has spoken out, stating that

"There’s got to be a lot of sensitivity shown. If I was PGA Commissioner, that's what I would be recommending...I think golfers need to take a pay cut as the global economic crisis bites."

 

We've seen athletes willing to get less paper so that a key player can be signed to their team. Larry Fitzgerald stated that he was willing to restructure his deal to make room for Anquan Boldin to get a new deal.

Unfortunately, just because he is willing to "restructure" his contract doesn’t mean any of that money will go back into the local economy. What’s sad about this is, players are willing to take less to make their teams better, but they are not willing to earn fewer greenbacks to create jobs aor stimulate small business.

 

Furloughs are becoming necessary due to our crisis. And not even government employees are exempt from these forced, unpaid periods off. CBS News stated that California is requiring state employees to take temporary leaves of absence, and more workers nationwide are facing unpaid time off, from teachers to local government workers in almost every state. Even the post office is considering cutbacks and is asking Congress to let it cut its service from six to five days a week in an effort to save money and jobs.

When our federal and state administrations are seeking ways to mend the current economic infrastructure, it seems irresponsible that an embodiment of recreation, like a pro sports league, should be excluded from providing any economic relief.

Let’s look at it this way: If NFL players continue to get paid all this money and the American dollar continues to dip under the Mendoza line, even their ridiculous quantities of cash won't be worth a damn. Sooner or later, NFL players will come to their senses and make a change for the better.

But if it doesn't happen soon, their league will cease to exist. Children in history class will read about a sport that would not bend to the current economic situation and was forced to disappear like the XFL.

Show some compassion and patriotism.

 

Resources

• Many different articles from espn.com
• Many different articles from nfl.com
• “Midwest CEO to take 40 percent salary cut; other employees see pay reduced,” http://www.bizjournals.com, July 2008
• “Company news: U.S. Airways Pilots Offer to take pay cut,” http://query.nytimes.com, June 2002
• “Dollar remains firm around 91 yen line in mixed Tokyo trading,” http://www.breitbart.com, February 2009
• “Goodell takes $2 million-plus pay cut, league trims 169 jobs,”  http://www.cbssports.com, February 2009
• “Fitzgerald willing to redo deal to keep Boldin from boltin',” http://www.profootballtalk.com, January 2009
• “Pay Cuts Spreading As Economy Worsens,”                                 http://www.cbsnews.com, February 2009
• “Same job, less pay,”  http://money.cnn.com, January 2009
• Many different articles from washingtonpost.com    
• “Greg Norman suggests a pay cut for golfers,”  http://www.golf.com, March 2009

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