Poll: Ok anyone else think this is BS?

[Lilani]

watched the game looked like he was adjusting his cup at the time. As far as him being required to be available to the media that's colossal bullshit the guy doesn't like talking to the media, he consistently gives non answers, and they keep harassing him! Take a fucking hint he DOES NOT LIKE YOU! and I don't blame him the way they misquote him and other players if it was me id of sued their asses for slander if not beat them into the ground.

The media doesn't care if the players like them or not, and the players are perfectly aware of that fact. It's how it works. When signing for a team in the NFL, they aren't just signing up to play football. They're signing up to be public figures who represent the NFL and their team. Their actions influence how the NFL looks, and the media's job is to look at everything that's going on. It's all marketing--the media makes money from reporting what people want to see. People want to see football games and all the drama surrounding them. The NFL puts on football games, which inevitably generate drama. It's a symbiotic relationship--the NFL wouldn't make any money without the media, and sports media wouldn't make money without the NFL. This is why the NFL requires players to answer to the media, and why the media in turn does all it can to spot everything that goes on. And the fact that he doesn't seem to like the media only makes him a tastier target to them--hell, his behavior could be a strategy to get him MORE media attention, and thus more money for all. If it is, it's clearly working.

I don't quite understand why you're so outraged on the behalf of the players. They could leave at any time and still be multi-millionaires. They have people who coach them night and day on what they should say to the media and when. And they signed on knowing it would make them a public figure expected to answer questions. Yes the media harasses him, but that's what the media does. And unlike people like viral video stars, their decision to become public figures was completely theirs to make. So I have zero sympathy for sports players getting lost in the media circus. Perhaps someone like an artist whose work doesn't necessarily depend on their PR skills I can pity, but these days dealing with the media is as much a part of national sports as actually playing the game.

 

[Secondhand Revenant]

At first I was agreeing until I saw someone mention the money. Yeah... if someone wants to make that much they don't get to be picky

 

[ecoho]

watched the game looked like he was adjusting his cup at the time. As far as him being required to be available to the media that's colossal bullshit the guy doesn't like talking to the media, he consistently gives non answers, and they keep harassing him! Take a fucking hint he DOES NOT LIKE YOU! and I don't blame him the way they misquote him and other players if it was me id of sued their asses for slander if not beat them into the ground.

The media doesn't care if the players like them or not, and the players are perfectly aware of that fact. It's how it works. When signing for a team in the NFL, they aren't just signing up to play football. They're signing up to be public figures who represent the NFL and their team. Their actions influence how the NFL looks, and the media's job is to look at everything that's going on. It's all marketing--the media makes money from reporting what people want to see. People want to see football games and all the drama surrounding them. The NFL puts on football games, which inevitably generate drama. It's a symbiotic relationship--the NFL wouldn't make any money without the media, and sports media wouldn't make money without the NFL. This is why the NFL requires players to answer to the media, and why the media in turn does all it can to spot everything that goes on. And the fact that he doesn't seem to like the media only makes him a tastier target to them--hell, his behavior could be a strategy to get him MORE media attention, and thus more money for all. If it is, it's clearly working.

I don't quite understand why you're so outraged on the behalf of the players. They could leave at any time and still be multi-millionaires. They have people who coach them night and day on what they should say to the media and when. And they signed on knowing it would make them a public figure expected to answer questions. Yes the media harasses him, but that's what the media does. And unlike people like viral video stars, their decision to become public figures was completely theirs to make. So I have zero sympathy for sports players getting lost in the media circus. Perhaps someone like an artist whose work doesn't necessarily depend on their PR skills I can pity, but these days dealing with the media is as much a part of national sports as actually playing the game.

If you've ever been part of a team for a few years you know leaving is not really an option as you would be letting your team your friends down.(not insinuating that you've never been part of a team) as for all these comments on "its in his contract" that was not the question. the question is should any professional player of a game be fined for talking to the media, whether or not its in his contract is mute if the fact that it is in his contract is BS to begin with.
also good to note that while professional athletes are paid a lot of money that money does not in anyway make them any less human or have any less of a right to not be harassed then you or me.
another thing to consider and why I think im rather pissed about this clause is the amounts of which hes being fined VS other violations which someone else was nice enough to post

The fine is also astronomical for what it is: James Harrison made illegal hits to the head and committed horsecollar tackles constantly but was never fined more than 25,000 at once. Lynch is getting fined 50,000 twice for not talking to the media.

 

[RandV80]

...thats just so much worse WTF were they thinking?!

that said thank you for digging deeper I prefer when all the facts are present and like to know when im misinformed

As a guess? I'd say they were thinking about all the money this requirement would net them on individual contracts.

But then again, maybe I'm too cynical.

I'm an NHL fan so don't really know the ins & out of the NFL, but from what I understand they're the most downtrodden union of the big 4 in North American leagues. These guys don't even get guaranteed contracts, having a requirement to talk the media is hardly something worth fighting over. The NFL already gets what it wants in these agreements so the media clause which to the league becomes part of their massive production value is hardly something the players would have the will to fight over.

So end result is while it seems stupid it's part of their CBA. Technically the players don't have to talk to the media, they just get dinged with a fine if they don't. If the player in question is a star then it's a fine he can easily afford.

 

[TechNoFear]

No.

Would you expect to get paid by your boss for work you refused to do, after telling you boss you would do it?

This guy made US$120,000 per week in 2014, and will make US$163,000 per week in 2015, that is a minimum US$250,000 per game.
Part of that salary is a per diem (like a bonus) he gets paid per game from the US$5 billion / year the NFL charges the networks for broadcast rights.

So US$50k equates to only a few days wages, not exactly a huge loss for someone who has earned over US$37 million in the last 8 years.

No one enjoys every single part of their jobs but they still do those tasks, as not performing those tasks would get them fired.

If he hates talking to the media then he should get that clause removed from his contract or find another job.

Either way he should grow some responsibility....

salary source [http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/marshawn-lynch/].

 

[Abomination]

I'd talk to the media all the time for half of the pay he gets.

Yes, he should be fined as it's against his contract. If he doesn't want that in his contract he needs to negotiate.

Frankly $50,000 considering what he's being paid is chump change.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

There is a similar thing is done in football (the proper one ). The FA will fine managers that refuse to speak post match to the media. There was a phase where some managers where not interviewing or sending the assistant coach out to face the tough questions after a poor result or in the case one manager boycotting a particular media outlet for a certain TV programme it aired. The fine is mainly enforce because as part of the coverage of the games the media outlets expect interviews with managers and players, plus the interviews could be considered a service for fans who likely be very interested in post match thoughts of the manager. So snubbing an interview could be considered a snub of the fans and/or public.

The fine itself is a drop in the ocean in footballing terms (about £1000 per no show) so it is nothing more than a token slap on the risk. Though I think it only applies to managers. I've never heard of a player being fined for refusing an interview, usually they get fined for dumb things they say on twitter.

50k does sound excessive mind. Although if he is contractually obliged to give interviews then he can't have too many complaints. He is a professional player, part of that is dealing with the press and a professional attitude in all his obligations should be expected. Mind you when it comes to sports the concepts of professional conduct and contractual obligations tend to be a bit "fluid" from my experience.

 

[ecoho]

ok to everyone saying "its in his contract so yeah he should be fined";

1. he did not sign the contract his union did, which he is required to join in order to play.(which is rather BS too but a whole other can of worms.)

2. the fact that its a clause in his contract is BULLSHIT and it should be removed.

on an unrelated matter I find it rather funny the NFL can fine him for something and then sell photos of what he did for profit and have no problem with it.http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-selling-picture-of-crotch-grab-that-cost-marshawn-lynch-dollar20k/ar-AA8zNmd?ocid=HPCDHP