Running Back Adrian Peterson Compares NFL to Slavery

Filed under: Football

The ongoing dispute between NFL team owners and NFL players is bringing out all types of commentary defending both sides. With the players' union deciding to decertify last week, the owners officially locked them out, therefore putting the upcoming NFL season up in the air.

They are fighting over how to split $9.3 billion in revenue, with the owners wanting more money off the top and to extend the season to 18 games. The players want proof that the owners need the money before they agree to taking a pay cut, but the owners refuse to open their books. Everything is at a standstill.

Owners are frustrated, players are angry and fans are irritated.

In an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson spoke his mind on the negotiations and pulled no punches.

"It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too," Peterson told Yahoo!'s Doug Farrar.

"With all the money... the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey -- without us, there's no football.' There are so many different perspectives from different players, and obviously we're not all on the same page -- I don't know. I don't really see this going to where we'll be without football for a long time; there's too much money lost for the owners. Eventually, I feel that we'll get something done.

"But this crazy idea about an 18-game season... I'm sure they want more entertainment and more revenue, but we're not going to see a pinch of that (the increased revenue), and it's just the business we're in."

While Peterson makes valid points in his argument, he probably should have left the slavery comparison out. The players' union is trying to get the public on their side and understand where they're coming from. A lot of fans already see the athletes as rich, spoiled superstars who are greedy, wanting more money. So to compare what some fans may perceive as a lavish lifestyle to slavery is not a good look.

Fans need to remember that athletes are putting their bodies in harm's way for your entertainment. Who wouldn't want to be paid well for a game where there's the potential of suffering a life-altering injury? On top of that, the owners and NFL, after covering their overhead, are making millions on the players, the jerseys, the TV networks, the endorsements and other products every week. Why shouldn't the players get a fair share of the profit?

Let's just leave the slavery thing out of it.