Malcolm Jenkins: "Football is a nonessential business and so we don't need to do it" (1 Viewer)

I have a problem with the idea that he's positioning himself to speak on behalf of a lot of people who would probably think the activity were essential to their own interests. I understand pro ball is centered around a game, but it's also an industry and a LOT of people rely on it for their well-being.

I work in what might be considered a non essential industry, though legally it was defined as essential. When weighing the risks of returning to work, I decided it was essential to do so for the well-being of my family's interests. Everyone else in the building made the same calculations for themselves. No one was forced either way. It seems fairly inconsiderate for a multi millionaire who is set for life with future gigs in political/social commentary to make these statements. It just seems incredibly narcissistic.

You think it's narcissistic for a grown man to express his opinion that until there's some system in place to assure the safety of fans, players and staff that he wouldn't feel comfortable playing?

Really?

I think it's being a good father and husband and realistic human being. For some reason, it seems like there are a whole lot of people who think their opinions about what's essential, safe or what level of risk is tolerable for another man to take is more important than that of the man himself.

And the economic needs of those who work at the games would never make me take a risk I'm uncomfortable taking when the risk is a death or illness that leaves me incapable of protecting and providing for my family.
 
You think it's narcissistic for a grown man to express his opinion that until there's some system in place to assure the safety of fans, players and staff that he wouldn't feel comfortable playing?

Really?

I think it's being a good father and husband and realistic human being. For some reason, it seems like there are a whole lot of people who think their opinions about what's essential, safe or what level of risk is tolerable for another man to take is more important than that of the man himself.

And the economic needs of those who work at the games would never make me take a risk I'm uncomfortable taking when the risk is a death or illness that leaves me incapable of protecting and providing for my family.

I've already explained that that is not what I'm saying so I'm not sure why distinctions are still not being made.

He can take whatever risk he would like...or not. But he is not simply expressing the opinion that he would not like to play. He is seemingly 'using his platform' to suggest that there shouldn't be football at all, thereby expressing the desire that no one should be able to make a decision otherwise. That comes across as self centered to me.

Maybe it's not. Maybe he's been asked to express this view by other players. And in fairness to Malcom, he does make a short qualification at the end of the clip. Regardless, there can be a little more care taken to understand the weight of that sort of statement on the livelihoods of others. It comes across as failing to recognize that people make the same decision every day for much less than the millions at stake for his teammates.

For example, I know business owners who are personally at risk with comorbitities to Covid. They've lost family members themselves. But they've opened their businesses for the sake of their employees who need to pay their bills and care for their families.

It's like this...many livelihoods are affected by whether there are NFL games in New Orleans. I'd like there to be a little more consideration out of the mouths of multimillionaires who have little to lose if there's no games. I can empathize with risks involved in being exposed to Covid as I've had to answer that question for myself. I'd just like a little more empathy going the other direction.
 
I've already explained that that is not what I'm saying so I'm not sure why distinctions are still not being made.

He can take whatever risk he would like...or not. But he is not simply expressing the opinion that he would not like to play. He is seemingly 'using his platform' to suggest that there shouldn't be football at all, thereby expressing the desire that no one should be able to make a decision otherwise. That comes across as self centered to me.

Maybe it's not. Maybe he's been asked to express this view by other players. And in fairness to Malcom, he does make a short qualification at the end of the clip. Regardless, there can be a little more care taken to understand the weight of that sort of statement on the livelihoods of others. It comes across as failing to recognize that people make the same decision every day for much less than the millions at stake for his teammates.

For example, I know business owners who are personally at risk with comorbitities to Covid. They've lost family members themselves. But they've opened their businesses for the sake of their employees who need to pay their bills and care for their families.

It's like this...many livelihoods are affected by whether there are NFL games in New Orleans. I'd like there to be a little more consideration out of the mouths of multimillionaires who have little to lose if there's no games. I can empathize with risks involved in being exposed to Covid as I've had to answer that question for myself. I'd just like a little more empathy going the other direction.

There's nothing keeping the billionaire owner from providing funds for these employees as the health crisis continues.
 
I've already explained that that is not what I'm saying so I'm not sure why distinctions are still not being made.

He can take whatever risk he would like...or not. But he is not simply expressing the opinion that he would not like to play. He is seemingly 'using his platform' to suggest that there shouldn't be football at all, thereby expressing the desire that no one should be able to make a decision otherwise. That comes across as self centered to me.

Maybe it's not. Maybe he's been asked to express this view by other players. And in fairness to Malcom, he does make a short qualification at the end of the clip. Regardless, there can be a little more care taken to understand the weight of that sort of statement on the livelihoods of others. It comes across as failing to recognize that people make the same decision every day for much less than the millions at stake for his teammates.

For example, I know business owners who are personally at risk with comorbitities to Covid. They've lost family members themselves. But they've opened their businesses for the sake of their employees who need to pay their bills and care for their families.

It's like this...many livelihoods are affected by whether there are NFL games in New Orleans. I'd like there to be a little more consideration out of the mouths of multimillionaires who have little to lose if there's no games. I can empathize with risks involved in being exposed to Covid as I've had to answer that question for myself. I'd just like a little more empathy going the other direction.
I pretty much see it the same way.
There's nothing keeping the billionaire owner from providing funds for these employees as the health crisis continues.
You do realize that a "billionaire" owner wouldn't be a billionaire for very long without the source of that wealth, right? You do realize that it's not just players at stake here, right?
NFL teams employ around 4000 people on average per team, not including the NFL league office and not including all of the businesses that rely on the NFL in order to exist.

I'm pretty certain that there aren't any NFL owners rich enough to financially support roughly 4000 employees for very long without a season to support that income.
 
You do realize that a "billionaire" owner wouldn't be a billionaire for very long without the source of that wealth, right? You do realize that it's not just players at stake here, right?
NFL teams employ around 4000 people on average per team, not including the NFL league office and not including all of the businesses that rely on the NFL in order to exist.

I'm pretty certain that there aren't any NFL owners rich enough to financially support roughly 4000 employees for very long without a season to support that income.

I'm not talking about the players. I'm talking about those who work the games. The NFL has enough money itself to provide for those employees who will suffer. There is enough, there's just no will to use it.
 
I'm pretty certain that there aren't any NFL owners rich enough to financially support roughly 4000 employees for very long without a season to support that income.

They could easily support 4,000 mostly part-time and low-wage employees purely off of their merch cut, even without football being played. Easily.
 
I'm not talking about the players. I'm talking about those who work the games. The NFL has enough money itself to provide for those employees who will suffer. There is enough, there's just no will to use it.
If I'm not mistaken, a lot of teams are already doing that, but that won't be sustainable for very long without a season.
 
It'd be sustainable for at least one season. I'm not certain you understand just how much the NFL owners have.
And I think you're estimating based on assumptions without having any real notion of how the finances of an NFL team are managed. Not saying that I do either, but i don't think it's a easy or financially viable as simply the billionaire owner loosening his pocketbook. But, then again, I doubt Malcom Jenkins does either and that's just the point. His vocalization of opinion affects much more than just him and the influence he has carries much weight with both public opinion and the NFLPA. If he wants to make a statement that he doesn't want to or won't play until he feels that it's safe, fine. But as a player, to imply that the NFL shouldn't play affects more than just him.
 
And I think you're estimating based on assumptions without having any real notion of how the finances of an NFL team are managed. Not saying that I do either, but i don't think it's a easy or financially viable as simply the billionaire owner loosening his pocketbook. But, then again, I doubt Malcom Jenkins does either and that's just the point. His vocalization of opinion affects much more than just him and the influence he has carries much weight with both public opinion and the NFLPA. If he wants to make a statement that he doesn't want to or won't play until he feels that it's safe, fine. But as a player, to imply that the NFL shouldn't play affects more than just him.

I'm not talking merely about team finances. I'm talking personal finances, too.
 
I don't think it's Malcolm Jenkins' responsibility to consider the financial implications to everyone involved in NFL operations before he decides whether or not he's going to play football in the midst of a pandemic. He's not required to consider anyone's financial hardships and exchange them in return for risks to his health.

That's not how governments work. They're not issuing policies that financially benefit the masses. How often do they tell the 1% to suck it up, "Think about the livelihoods of your less fortunate brothers and sisters." :smilielol:

That's not how organizations do business. When they're paying you minimum wage they don't give a damn about your ability to maintain a livelihood.

The NFL doesn't make sacrifices in an attempt to keep money in the fans pockets. I guarantee that when the idea of a cancelled season crept in, their first, second and third thought was NOT about the bank accounts of employees that lay turf or sell game day trinkets.

That's not how this society works. On a good day. When physical health isn't even on the line.

Yet, when it comes to Malcolm Jenkins saying he doesn't want to contract a virus, he needs to watch his mouth and think of everyone else's pocketbook before he speaks.

The nerve of you people.
 
I don't think it's Malcolm Jenkins' responsibility to consider the financial implications to everyone involved in NFL operations before he decides whether or not he's going to play football in the midst of a pandemic. He's not required to consider anyone's financial hardships and exchange them in return for risks to his health.

That's not how governments work. They're not issuing policies that financially benefit the masses. How often do they tell the 1% to suck it up, "Think about the livelihoods of your less fortunate brothers and sisters." :smilielol:

That's not how organizations do business. When they're paying you minimum wage they don't give a damn about your ability to maintain a livelihood.

The NFL doesn't make sacrifices in an attempt to keep money in the fans pockets. I guarantee that when the idea of a cancelled season crept in, their first, second and third thought was NOT about the bank accounts of employees that lay turf or sell game day trinkets.

That's not how this society works. On a good day. When physical health isn't even on the line.

Yet, when it comes to Malcolm Jenkins saying he doesn't want to contract a virus, he needs to watch his mouth and think of everyone else's pocketbook before he speaks.

The nerve of you people.
I hate to think this way, but there is a prevailing thought in America that rich BLACK athletes should just SHUT UP and "dribble" (play ball). We don't buy tickets for you to think or be socially conscious, we buy tickets for you to entertain us and know your place.

It's sickening.
 
I hate to think this way, but there is a prevailing thought in America that rich BLACK athletes should just SHUT UP and "dribble" (play ball). We don't buy tickets for you to think or be socially conscious, we buy tickets for you to entertain us and know your place.

It's sickening.
I'm going to start off this post in defense, but I hope you hear me out until the end.

I think you're wrong and moreso I think you're wrong to imply that's what's going on in this thread. I think, for the most part, the people replying negatively to Jenkins comments are most definitely not because they want the "black man to shut up and dribble." I wouldn't even say that everyone that's saying he should shut up and play are doing so because he is black. There many people who just get sick of hearing stars opinions of any sort, color, creed or sex.

That said, I was wrong as well. I watched the video when it was first posted and got the impression that he was saying that the NFL should not have a season until it was deemed safe. That's what my opinions have been based on. Not because he's black, not because he's outspoken and not because I worry over his focus on matters that affect the team. I was wrong. I rewatched the video and now realize he was specifically talking about himself and I'm certain that when you reread my posts that you will see that I wasn't making that distinction.
 
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I'm going to start off this post in defense, but I hope you hear me out until the end.

I think you're wrong and moreso I think you're wrong to imply that's what's going on in this thread. I think, for the most part, the people replying negatively to Jenkins comments are most definitely not because they want the "black man to shut up and dribble." I wouldn't even say that everyone that's saying he should shut up and play are doing so because he is black. There many people who just get sick of hearing stars opinions of any sort, color, creed or sex.
do you imagine Chris Long gets the same pushback that Jenkins et al get?

That said, I was wrong as well. I watched the video when it was first posted and got the impression that he was saying that the NFL should not have a season until it was deemed safe. That's what my opinions have been based on. Not because he's black, not because he's outspoken and not because I worry over his focus on matters that affect the team. I was wrong. I rewatched the video and now realize he was specifically talking about himself and I'm certain that when you reread my posts that you will see that I wasn't making that distinction.
well said
 

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