Howard Bryant: Upshaw and Union leave Vick to the dogs

Interesting point of view. If you accept the notion that every single act must be defended, that there indeed 2 sides to every story (slavery, holocaust, pedophilia) then Bryant is right. But that puts aside there is common ground, common humanity and a shared sense of morality. That rational people who recognize the crossed boundary must still fight the irrational side that wants a defense of the indefensible. And that you, journalists and media have an obligation to cover irrationality as a legitimate point of view.

Does Vick deserve a legal defense, ABSOLUTELY. Does Vick deserve that his union abandon civility, humanity and rationality to defend him? No Fucking Way. There are things that are right and wrong, moral and immoral. Bryant argues that the Union is to defend Vick, and all members, without regard to substance, just knee jerk defense. Defending immorality just cheapens the defense of the gray areas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=2986420

 

where's the buffoon who said Bryant wouldn't be writing at ESPN?

 

To call the NFL Player's Association a "union" is an affront to every union member, past and present.

Upshaw is about as effective as a eunuch at a gang bang.

 

You Mean Uncle Gene?, the house bitch? He's getting rich, he's making money, that's what he's all about.

 

Hey, the dog's aren't paying Gene's salary.

But honesty, I think a union's duty to protect an employee ends at the workplace. There are plenty of places to play football in the U.S. and its not like I have "a right" to work for the New York Times or FOX.

 

Think of all the unions in America. How many would vigorously support the alleged rights of a soon-to-be-convicted felon? For those of you in a guild, would your union vigorously defend you if you were facing a federal prison term?

I'm not a member of a union and have never been. So I'm asking for informational and rhetorical purposes.

 

What member of any profession would be welcome back after a conviction of a sadistic crime?

 

If plagiarism is a sadistic crime, the Newspaper Guild...

 

If the union's job is to provide the best working conditions possible for its employees, Upshaw has done a hell of a job. Compare players' salaries today vs. when he took over and then try to argue he's doing a bad job.

 

This is a ridiculous article. Gene Upshaw's duty is to all of the members of the union, not an individual. What a union does is provide the worker with individual counsel if the worker decides to submit a grievance (which Vick has the right to and I'm sure the NFLPA offered to provide him with counsel for such a grievance.)

A union president does not owe a duty to advocate for every single member who has a claim against his employer. That's what the grievance lawyer is for.

Marvin Miller, held out by Bryant as a shining beacon, did not personally advocate for Curt Flood nor was he his lawyer. Miller's greatness lies in his bargaining for working conditions that all players enjoyed, not just one.

Gene Upshaw may have some faults but the working conditions have improved dramatically since he took over. If you want to see how not to do it, look no farther than Gary Bettman. Upshaw has not let his constituents down by not rallying to Vick's side, in fact he may have improved the NFLPA's perception by not tarnishing its image by making Vick a rallying cry. (I bet that he or Aiello had a private discussion with Vick and that Vick lied to them also.)

Upshaw needs to worry about the 2nd teamers and special teamers, those who will provide him with a majority vote, not a superstar who only provides one vote and who admits he did what he's accused of.

 

Yeah, because those non-guaranteed contracts are a sure sign of his leadership.

Salaries in the NFL have to do with TV contracts, nothing to do with Upshaw. He's the owners' lapdog.

And comparing Upshaw to Bettman is apples and oranges.

And ask all those retired players with ongoing concussion problems how Upshaw improved working conditions.

And once again, it's not a union, either by name or definition.

 

Tell that to all the former players struggling with NFL benefits. Upshaw won't give in to them because it would mean less money for the current players and, of course, him.