NFL Holdouts

I was watching SportsCenter this morning, and there was a huge debate stemming on the Darrelle Revis hold out situation, which has now lasted almost the entire length of training camp as the season is now almost 10 days away. Revis has had to forfeit near $300,000 of his $1 million salary. There's talk he's sitting out for the entire season because he's demanding to be the highest paid player at his position.

This situation feels like it happens every year, and I don't really understand how or why. Some new player sits out and loses more money in order to try to get some. Sometimes, it works, but most of the time, it doesn't. Why is it that the NFL is the only league that seems to have this problem? Sure, every now and then you'll hear about the players who refuse to play for their drafted team (Kobe, JD Drew, Lindros) in other leagues, but it's nowhere near the annual rate that we see in the NFL.

I know the NFL is different from all other leagues in that their contracts are really hurtful to the players - nothing will be guaranteed. Players need to get the most money now because it may not be there later. This is a gift and a curse - you see too many contracts in the NBA where players are literally dead weight because they are given extensive deals based on their performance at age 32, but not accounting for age 36. Then it becomes about trading money to save for more upcoming free agents or being cheap, whatever.

While these players still gotta protect themselves, Revis is really setting up his team to fail. If he were to make the amount of money he wants, the Jets would have a hard time keeping most of their team for upcoming years - a team which has a lot of Super Bowl aspirations. What's more important - winning a Super Bowl, or making the most money? Clearly to Revis, it's about having the most money. It could cost the team all hopes or any serious commitments.

The concept that blows my mind the most if the idea that Revis might sit out this year. How does that help anyone? He'll still make a million dollars, and get a chance to keep proving that he deserves the money. He's going to lose a year of his prime over pride. Situations like this, where you're still making ONE MILLION DOLLARS, because you AGREED to a contract. You can't back out of that now. The Jets made an offer to give you something more deserving than what you are making, and you rejected it. Get over it. You had a shot to make more money. Now you're clinging onto nothing, and look like the fool.

These players are too greedy. They care too much about the money. Even if they are making one million dollars, that's probably 80% more than most of the population's annual salary. They get paid so much yet still act like such babies, it is so unbelievable, yet we continue to look up to them and root for them, and really are the cause for them to think so highly of themselves.

Anyways, who's got the Jets this year? Cause the Eagles look terrible.