UPDATE: Brad Childress has to backtrack, pay Williamson

[Fixit]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

If I read the article correctly, the funeral was on a Sunday -- why did it have to be scheduled on Sunday? I've never heard of a funeral occurring on a Sunday.

I've been to several funerals on a Sunday, but I like your point: "Hey, schedule her funeral around the NFL schedule."

The point is this: I can practically guarantee that the Vikes would give a front office employee paid bereavement leave. Williamson is just another employee, despite the peculiarities of the NFL season. Also, he's paid to practice, report to off-season camps, hit the film room, show up to team/charity functions, represent the organization at all times, etc...not just play on game days. Even a player who doesn't get in on a single play gets paid.

In a league that is increasingly full of thugs, a guy who wants to take responsibility to get his whole family together for his grandmother's funeral should be given a pat on the back and condolences, not a $25K fine. The money is practically irrelevant to the player, and certainly to the organization, but it makes the Vikes look like the petty joke we all knew them to be anyway.

 

[desi-patsfan]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

So let me get this striaght....people are actually on the side of the Vikings?

 

[Seacoast Fan]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

A lot of businesses, though, don't have the strict weekly deadlines that NFL teams have.

For most businesses an employee who misses time can make it up either by working extra time or extra hard or by delivering the same result a bit later. NFL teams have no such option. Does a player who's not ready to go in October but is ready to go in March get paid? No.


I assure you, to me and my clients, our deadlines are just as strict and important as anything in the NFL.
The point isn't, can someone else make up the work, or is someone benefitting unfairly by not doing work and getting paid. In the case of a funeral, the only point is: allowing the employee time to cope with a huge loss, without worrying about whether his or her rent check will bounce. If you can't understand this point, I can only say, I hope you aren't an employer.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

I dont understand what is so bad about this.
He was allowed to not play in the game.
He is paid to play in games. Why would you pay him to not play?

Maybe I am missing something, but I do not understand how an employer who grants an employee permission to leave their job is wrong to not pay them for the work they didn't do.

I get paid for work I don't do or when I don't show up. It's called sick leave. Or bereavement leave. You get paid as per the contract.

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

I've been to several funerals on a Sunday, but I like your point: "Hey, schedule her funeral around the NFL schedule."

The point is this: I can practically guarantee that the Vikes would give a front office employee paid bereavement leave. Williamson is just another employee, despite the peculiarities of the NFL season. Also, he's paid to practice, report to off-season camps, hit the film room, show up to team/charity functions, represent the organization at all times, etc...not just play on game days. Even a player who doesn't get in on a single play gets paid.

In a league that is increasingly full of thugs, a guy who wants to take responsibility to get his whole family together for his grandmother's funeral should be given a pat on the back and condolences, not a $25K fine. The money is practically irrelevant to the player, and certainly to the organization, but it makes the Vikes look like the petty joke we all knew them to be anyway.

Is my point really all that cold and outrageous? I don't think so. Tell me what you'd think if this was Tom Brady and a playoff game. Fact is, the player's absence on game day rather uniquely affects others' livelihoods as well.

 

[Joker]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization [merged]

I'm my own boss...if I take a sick day I get sick when the bills come due

 

[cartmen]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization [merged]

I will play the role of Nostrodomus here, there is no way in hell this guy is re-signing with the Vikings when his rookie contract is up

 

[Fixit]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

Tell me what you'd think if this was Tom Brady and a playoff game.

I'd say that it's only a football game, not life-and-death.

Death? Pretty permanent.

 

[Tommysgirl]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

Is my point really all that cold and outrageous? I don't think so. Tell me what you'd think if this was Tom Brady and a playoff game. Fact is, the player's absence on game day rather uniquely affects others' livelihoods as well.

I would feel very badly for Tom and remember football is just a game, this is real life.

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

I'd say that it's only a football game, not life-and-death.

Death? Pretty permanent.

Well, considering that death lasts forever, perhaps the dead can wait a day. But seriously, I doubt you or anyone else here would feel just fine about excusing Brady from a playoff game to attend a funeral, even his own.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

Childress is a bum. He locked out Culpepper from their facility then had some nice choice words for him. This is ridiculous.

Um, if I am not mistaken, the Fish treated Culpepper the same way.

Unless you consider being escorted off the field by security and having them stand there while you packed your bags dignified!

 

[Fixit]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

But seriously, I doubt you or anyone else here would feel just fine about excusing Brady from a playoff game to attend a funeral, even his own.

But seriously, and I'm only speaking for myself, you'd be wrong.

Would it suck? Absolutely. But I wouldn't hold it against him.

Again, it's only football.

 

[Tommysgirl]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

Well, considering that death lasts forever, perhaps the dead can wait a day. But seriously, I doubt you or anyone else here would feel just fine about excusing Brady from a playoff game to attend a funeral, even his own.

I've buried my mother, I know how it feels, no way I would not understand.

 

[Fencer]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

Are you serious ? Maybe he WANTED to make the arrangements for the woman that helped raise him. He took care of his grandmother in her final journey.

In that case, we're into a situation where unpaid leave is appropriate.

That said, while he probably wanted to help make the FUNERAL arrangements himself, I doubt he cared much about whether he personally made travel arrangements for his military family members.

 

[Fencer]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization [merged]

I think a lot of people are forgetting something here.

The Vikings aren't saying he behaved badly in leaving the team. They're just saying it should be unpaid rather than paid leave. Now, from a PR and employee relations standpoint, it might have been better to make it paid leave. But morally -- given that he can afford the money -- they have a good point in saying it should be unpaid.

And I stand by my other point -- whether the leave is paid or unpaid, the Vikings screwed up by not putting the resources of the organization behind him.

 

[Seacoast Fan]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization [merged]

I think a lot of people are forgetting something here.

The Vikings aren't saying he behaved badly in leaving the team. They're just saying it should be unpaid rather than paid leave. Now, from a PR and employee relations standpoint, it might have been better to make it paid leave. But morally -- given that he can afford the money -- they have a good point in saying it should be unpaid.

And I stand by my other point -- whether the leave is paid or unpaid, the Vikings screwed up by not putting the resources of the organization behind him.

what you mean to say is "legally", the Vikings can do whatever they want in terms of paying or not paying.
"Morally"...they lose. Who can afford the 25k better, the player or the team? who has already suffered a loss, the player or the team?

 

[patchick]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization [merged]

Update: sounds like it was totally Childress's call, and Zygi Wilf chewed him out and made him reverse course!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-11-10-2379167406_x.htm

 

[Bella*chick]

I don't remember the exact circumstances (such as if he missed a game or not) but a couple of years ago Kevin Faulk had to miss time for a family tragedy (I cannot remember who died, but I want to say grandmother?). I distinctly remember reading in an article that Kevin was so appreciative of the way the team handled it he said something like 'That's why this organization is all class'. Not an exact quote, but close.

I can't remember the circumstances or find the article, but I'd be very interested in comparing the two situations.

 

[Bannoman]

Quote:

"Williamson thanked those who spoke up for him and offered support to his family during a trying time. He said he'll donate the returned check of more than $25,000 to charity in honor of his grandmother, Celestine."

Pretty easy to see which side won the moral and class victory.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Brad Childress and The Vikings: One Compassionate Organization

Well, considering that death lasts forever, perhaps the dead can wait a day. But seriously, I doubt you or anyone else here would feel just fine about excusing Brady from a playoff game to attend a funeral, even his own.

The difference between Williamson and Brady is even bigger than the difference between regular season and postseason. Miles apart in terms of significance. The more apt question would be to ask how we'd feel about Donte Stallworth missing a regular season game. I wouldn't be thrilled, but I wouldn't hold it against him by any stretch.