Brady & Mankins agree to be plaintiffs/update: lawsuit filed

[GostkowSKI]

In the pending antitrust suit if/when the NFLPA decertifies. So will Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

I'd prefer to discuss more actual football, but this might be the best we have for a while.

 

[FCB02062]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Interesting that two Patriots are lining up against the owners. Is Krafty the epitome of an anti-player owner so the player's union decides to have TWO of Kraft's players in a lawsuit against the owners? I wonder if Kraft will level any sanctions against these players should there be a season....usually players who speak out against ownership get shipped out of town - Mike Vrabel.....

 

[Don Kipines]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Interesting that two Patriots are lining up against the owners. Is Krafty the epitome of an anti-player owner so the player's union decides to have TWO of Kraft's players in a lawsuit against the owners? I wonder if Kraft will level any sanctions against these players should there be a season....usually players who speak out against ownership get shipped out of town - Mike Vrabel.....

I seriously doubt Robert Kraft would send Tom Brady out of town for volunteering to be a marquee name on a player lawsuit. And if he was going to do Logan Mankins, he'd have done him by now, I would think.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

damn that Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady all SB champ QBs representing their union!

 

[PatsDeb]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

I seriously doubt Robert Kraft would send Tom Brady out of town for volunteering to be a marquee name on a player lawsuit. And if he was going to do Logan Mankins, he'd have done him by now, I would think.

I bet they intentionally picked players who are least likely to be retaliated against by management (Brady, Manning and Brees) and those who don't give a damn (Mankins).

 

[patchick]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

I bet they intentionally picked players who are least likely to be retaliated against by management (Brady, Manning and Brees) and those who don't give a damn (Mankins).

Great post. It's totally logical: line up plaintiffs who are taking on the least personal risk.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Interesting that two Patriots are lining up against the owners. Is Krafty the epitome of an anti-player owner so the player's union decides to have TWO of Kraft's players in a lawsuit against the owners? I wonder if Kraft will level any sanctions against these players should there be a season....usually players who speak out against ownership get shipped out of town - Mike Vrabel.....

No - this is actually pretty simple.

Quarterbacks are the leaders of NFL teams.

The three best and best respected quarterbacks in the NFL are going to act as leaders for the entire NFL. Mankins is another perfect case study as he's been caught in limbo given the CBA status and his extra year under contract, now further extended by the tag. (It also makes sense for Brady to take the lead as he's already got his long term contract and thus no fear of retribution - though I think Brady generally embraces the leadership mantle regardless.)

I've got to say, while I support owners like Kraft who invested heavilly in their own teams and organizations, the longer this goes on in general the more I support the players over the owners.

As it becomes better understood that this issue is more about how the owners divide the pie among themselves rather than between the owners and players, the owners are going to lose the support they currently have.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

In the pending antitrust suit if/when the NFLPA decertifies. So will Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

I'd prefer to discuss more actual football, but this might be the best we have for a while.

Phone rings in the Kraft home:

"Mr. Kraft it's Tommy".

"Hi Tommy, what can I do for you? "

"Well Mr Kraft, to show my graditude for that new contract I am going to sue you. Hope you don't mind, but hey, you just gave me a boat load of money so I just don't care about how you feel right now. In a couple of years, when this latest contract is beginning to run out, I will once again be respectful and a good soldier. But until them, screw!"

"Have a good night Bobby!"

Laughter over the phone and then barely heard Tommy says "What a sucker"

CLICK!

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Phone rings in the Kraft home:

"Mr. Kraft it's Tommy".

"Hi Tommy, what can I do for you? "

"Well Mr Kraft, to show my graditude for that new contract I am going to sue you. Hope you don't mind, but hey, you just gave me a boat load of money so I just don't care about how you feel right now. In a couple of years, when this latest contract is beginning to run out, I will once again be respectful and a good soldier. But until them, screw!"

"Have a good night Bobby!"

Laughter over the phone and then barely heard Tommy says "What a sucker"

CLICK!

Wait. Why would he sue Kraft to demonstrate his gratitude?

Oh wait, I get it. You're trying to make some type of disparaging point through one of the most amazingly lame applications of sarcastic fictitious dialogue I've ever seen.

I believe the term the kids use today is "FAIL" - indeed, perhaps "EPIC FAIL" in this case.

Don't feel too bad. We know you gave it your best effort.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Wait. Why would he sue Kraft to demonstrate his gratitude?

Oh wait, I get it. You're trying to make some type of disparaging point through one of the most amazingly lame applications of sarcastic fictitious dialogue I've ever seen.

I believe the term the kids use today is "FAIL" - indeed, perhaps "EPIC FAIL" in this case.

Don't feel too bad. We know you gave it your best effort.

Remind me to make sure you never have my back.

 

[shmessy]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Interesting that two Patriots are lining up against the owners. ....

That's ONE Patriot.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Remind me to make sure you never have my back.

Yeah. Sorry. That was a bit harsh. Not sure what point you're trying to make though. I certainly don't expect that Kraft will take offense that Brady's siding with the players any more than Brady would be upset about Kraft siding with the owners.

 

[SNHU0311]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Tom Brady, Logan Mankins to Be Plaintiffs in NFL Lawsuit Patriots Plus - Very interesting...Why Mankins? Isn't he the random guy in this with Manning, Brees, and TB?

 

[E Belichick Unum]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Yeah. Sorry. That was a bit harsh. Not sure what point you're trying to make though. I certainly don't expect that Kraft will take offense that Brady's siding with the players any more than Brady would be upset about Kraft siding with the owners.

I have always been a loyalty guy. And Brady has been treated very well by the Patriots. I understand the pressure Brady must feel from the union, but this is like stabbing the Patriots in the back.

Sorry, allowing himself to be used after the Patriots made him the highest paid player in the league seems a little ungrateful to me. I know that he wouldn't be making as much money without the union, but he would probably be teaching Jr High School without the Patriots.

 

[memento]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Kraft seems to be one of the owners that would take less money to avoid a lockout. But he also hates lawyers. Interesting article:

"We have the greatest product going now,'' he said. "The American public and sponsors want it. If we don't conclude a deal by March 4, that will be criminal.''
-Robert Kraft


Patriots' Bob Kraft: It will be 'criminal' if lockout occurs - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Kraft seems to be one of the owners that would take less money to avoid a lockout. But he also hates lawyers. Interesting article:

"We have the greatest product going now,'' he said. "The American public and sponsors want it. If we don't conclude a deal by March 4, that will be criminal.''
-Robert Kraft


Patriots' Bob Kraft: It will be 'criminal' if lockout occurs - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com

Whoa! Mandatory jail time for Bob coming up?

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

I saw the full list of named plaintiffs that the Player's Union has lined up to file suit against the NFL.

Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Logan Mankins, Ben Leber, Mike Vrabel, Vincent Jackson, Brian Robison, and Von Miller.

Now, does anyone see anything interesting about this list? This is what I saw.

1) Brady, Manning, Brees are the 3 top QBs in the league and they are the leagues best marketing tools currently.

2) Mankins and Jackson are two players who recently have had to "endure" the franchise tag.

3) Brian Robison is a player who is having to "endure" restricted free agency.

4) Vrabel seems to represent the "veterans" of the league.

5) Von Miller isn't even part of the Union, yet is already showing to be a Union lackey. Clearly, his suit is going to be about the draft.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

I saw the full list of named plaintiffs that the Player's Union has lined up to file suit against the NFL.

Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Logan Mankins, Ben Leber, Mike Vrabel, Vincent Jackson, Brian Robison, and Von Miller.

Now, does anyone see anything interesting about this list? This is what I saw.

1) Brady, Manning, Brees are the 3 top QBs in the league and they are the leagues best marketing tools currently.

2) Mankins and Jackson are two players who recently have had to "endure" the franchise tag.

3) Brian Robison is a player who is having to "endure" restricted free agency.

4) Vrabel seems to represent the "veterans" of the league.

5) Von Miller isn't even part of the Union, yet is already showing to be a Union lackey. Clearly, his suit is going to be about the draft.

More accurately, as far as (2) and (3) go, it would be something along the lines of the mismatch between saying "nobody can sign anyone," while simultaneously saying "teams still hold your rights." I don't know that it's a great argument, but it's not something to reject out of hand.

 

[townes]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Good for them, the top players have to stand up for the players. The owners are the problem, the players simply want to maintain the deal agreed upon several years ago.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

Re: Brady & Mankins agreed to be plaintiffs

Good for them, the top players have to stand up for the players. The owners are the problem, the players simply want to maintain the deal agreed upon several years ago.

Since the collective bargaining agreement stated that either side could opt out, seems to me that the owners have lived up to their part of the bargain also. That is why it is called "collective", in theory it is supposed to support both sides of the table. In practice, this one only supported the players, hence we are where we are today.