WTF is up with the Vikings?

[freakray]

One of you football fans, explain why a player is being penalised for attending a family funeral:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7...PHCP&GT1=10637

I hope the Vikings lose the rest of the season!

[VR43000GT]

It is actually "penalized".

Yeah, that's messed up. But I hope they lose too. I am a Packers fan.

[sickcallawayc12]

Being a Minnesota native, I think the Vikings became a lost cause when Dennis Green left. They're the new Lions if you ask me. This "business" move will probably keep any good talent from going to Minneapolis now. For pete's sake he went to a funeral, not a strip club.

[speediva]

Originally Posted by SL3000gt

It is actually "penalized".

Yeah, that's messed up. But I hope they lose too. I am a Packers fan.

Actually, Ray is right... he's a Saffie.


Anyhoo, that is hardcore messed up. Family always comes first - I don't care if you are a football star, a neurosurgeon, a retail worker or a custodian.

[00accord44]

I think the decision was made in the name of business precedent. If it was a team superstar I think it may not have happened this way, but playing devil's advocate, I would say they did this to prevent the reasonable bounds for reasons to miss team events. Perhaps if he had only missed one practice they would have let it go, but since he missed an entire week of team events incuding a game they docked him for the work that he didn't perform. There's no such thing as paid time off in professional sports.

I agree its a bit deplorable to punish a man for mourning his grandmother, and they certainly did not have to take this course of action. But I also think they were within their rights as an organization to withhold pay for services not rendered. There just comes a point where business principle should give way to good judgement and human decency.


I also want the Vikings to lose the rest of their games... but I'm biased

[speediva]

It was put very eloquently just now on The NFL Today. If someone needs to mourn, you let them mourn. He is going to resent having to come back early, and if his mind isn't clear, who's to say that he's going to be able to put in his best effort????

Also, there aren't "paid days off" in professional sports, but just like a player can't help getting hurt and being unable to play, a player can't help a death in the family. Both require some healing time before the player is back to his prime.

Anyhoo, I think it's very respectful that since he got that check back that he chose to donate it to charity.

[VR43000GT]

Hahaha who saw this last game coming? Vikings handed the Giants their ass on a silver platter lol. This is too good too because last night I got in a 15 minute agrument with a guy at work who told me that the Giants were the second best team in the NFL. ROFL! I can not wait to go back to work and ask him how is Giants are doing lol.

[sickcallawayc12]

Vikings were quite a surprise in all the unexpected areas. The most terrible pass defense in the league with, what, 4 picks? And Chester Taylor did not have a monster game like last week, but a decent effort. And Tarvaris Jackson throwing a 60 yard + pass for a touchdown? They certainly will be pumped for their home game against the Lions next week.