I'm not sure whether or not I agree or disagree with the uniform rules which limit players from wearing the whacky cleats they wear in pregames. Regardless, Odell Beckham Jr. has accumulated $102,848 in fines this year alone for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, excessive celebrations, profanity towards an official and now uniform violations. Was it really worth nearly $20,000 to wear cleats with a message tonight, despite the fact it was a good message in honoring Craig Sager? The guy isn't even that rich. He's earned $1.8 million, and only slightly over $2 million last season and $2.8 million this season. He's obviously earned endorsement money as well, but still. I used to feel bad for players going broke, in particular young 18 year old NBA stars that came from nothing and get drafted out of high school with their entire crews and family having their hands out. Fucking ridiculous. $102,848. /end rant.
These mammoth fines for piddling nonsense are ridiculous, of course, and only the NFL feels that it's necessary to do this. Having said that, I firmly believe that Beckham is doing all of these things for one reason, and one reason only, and that is that he can't stand to not have the spotlight on him at all times. Whether it is overtly deliberate, or psychological problems he can't control, I can't say, but he is the underlying cause of all of his problems, not the NFL, the referees, or other players.
Rules are rules, players know they have to follow etc. (and screw OBJ tbh), but seriously I have to wonder why the league started this BS, why they keep it up despite the negative media, player, and fan reaction, and why the fuck the NFLPA puts up with it. Next CBA I'd walk into the negotiations with a list of all these uniform/celebration rules, and light them on fire.
the celebration penalties are dumb and senseless, the uniform penalties are to protect marketing and licensing fees. nike is not going to pay top dollar if the nfl is going to let the players wear what ever they want.
Then make it so the players can wear their socks/shoes/whatever however they want in whatever color/style they want, with whatever special tributes they want, so long as it doesn't obscure the sponsors' logos. I dunno, IANAL and I have no idea how easy/hard it would be to alter the uniform rules (do other leagues even care?), but I feel like there's got to be a middle ground.
True enough. I'm firmly against the fines for celebrations. It's ridiculous and a money making scheme for the league. These guys destroy their bodies and future health and while they make a lot of money can they let the damn guys dance after a touchdown for christs sake? Loved this celebration below mocking the NFL. That's how they want players to act after making a big play for their teams.
its all complete bullshit, money money money, thats all that any of it is all about. everything the league does is to protect itself and keep the money flowing in. the only problem is when you do this stuff enough people get frustrated and say fuck it im not spending my money on this bullshit anymore. thats where i am at with the nfl. fuck them.
Goodell is what is wrong with the NFL and , frankly, what is keeping me away from the game this year and possibly going forward.
The idiotic part is that Nike is missing on phenomenal marketing opportunity: allow players to wear what they want, but mandate Nike must be the manufacturer. Then sit back and make $$ on "OBJ's Thursday specials" or "Dak's Divisional '16" sneakers. No marketing, no advertising, pure profit.
He WAS going to auction the cleats off for charity. As for him not being that rich, short of dying or becoming crippled, he's going to get at LEAST $10m a year once he's off his rookie contract. $15m wouldn't surprise me.
he probably will, he is an absolute game changer. there are lots of really good wrs out there, he is in a different class at this point. and only he will stop himself.
