Shut up and Play
I'm pretty sure your argument can go the other direction also. Now, I'm not one to claim to know all about the lockout, owners, players, or anything really, but.....
In part a) of your post, it may be a little misleading to say that they have "never been requested to take an actual pay cut".
Because, technically, players were collectively asked to take a billion dollar a year pay cut. I'm not exact on this, but the way I saw this thing as it was brought up previously was;
Players make contract money, AND profit sharing from the NFL. ( didn't know about the 50+% thing until all this started)
So.....
NFL makes 9 billion.
NFL keeps 1 billion off the top, before paying out percentages of profit to the players. Leaving 8 billion to split as they agreed.
NFL now wants to keep 2 billion off the top before profit sharing, leaving only 7 billion to split.
7 billion is less than 8 billion, ergo, paycut.
I'm not going to say that I agree with either party on this, I still think they should just agree to a 50-50 split and get back to work, but that's the way I understood a part of this problem to work.
I am getting to the point where I am almost saying "screw it"(ALMOST) lets not have a season.
Lets have all of these players WASTE 1/3 OF THEIR LIFETIME EARNINGS. How stupid would they all look when:
a) the have never been requested to take an actual pay cut. Salary cap numbers would increase every year in the owners last proposal. Honestly you pro-players, how do you stand behind "Yes you are giving us GUARANTEED yearly raises, but THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. I DEMAND MY INCOME BE TIED TO YOUR BUSINESS' REVENUE STREAM!
b) The players have put their entire lives work in the hands of one arrogant egomaniac and have followed him blindly.
c) 90% of them do not have college degrees and honestly have no way to make a decent living without the CHILD'S GAME they are playing.
ENTITLEMENT - ITS WHATS FOR BREAKFAST IN AMERICA!