I don't understand the NFL for this

[JackPMiller]

It would be similar if your team is playing in the AFC Title game and the league says Tom Brady can't play because he needs to be at an NFL mandated picture taking ceremony that same day in another city thousands of miles away.

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=6533505

Union, Management Play Hardball with Brandon Jackson
May 17, 2007 07:39 PM EDT

One of the reasons Brett Favre changed his mind about attending minicamp this weekend was to meet some of the new players, but he'll have to wait to meet one of the possible replacements for Ahman Green.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson will not be at camp this weekend, but not by choice. As a first-day draftee at a skill position, Jackson was invited to attend a rookie weekend in Los Angeles, which includes meeting sponsors and a trading card photo shoot.

Jackson and his agent told the Players Association and the league's management council about the conflict, and said Jackson wanted to skip the weekend festivities so he could attend camp. They said no, he had to go, and if he didn't he would be locked out of the Packers facilities.

Agent Gary Wichard told Action 2 Sports that he's been involved with the league for over 30 years and this is the first time this ever happened to one of his clients.

 

[zippo59]

The NFL is all about marketing, merchandise, and making money.

They make more money from selling these cards than they do from a rookie attending a mini camp.

I agree it is stupid but really I think the Packers (and all other teams) should just hold their mini camps on a different weekend to avoid the whole thing.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Agent Gary Wichard told Action 2 Sports that he's been involved with the league for over 30 years and this is the first time this ever happened to one of his clients.

As PFT wrote, maybe the Packers and Colts should have checked the NFL schedule (sponsors pay the bills for the most part) before scheduling their minicamps as the other 30 teams did to avoid a conflict.....

 

[Seymour93]

The NFL probably feels they could push around Mike McCarthy and the Packers FO. I have a feeling that they would not demand the same of a Patriots player if the same situation were to occur.

 

[QuiGon]

It would be similar if your team is playing in the AFC Title game and the league says Tom Brady can't play because he needs to be at an NFL mandated picture taking ceremony that same day in another city thousands of miles away.

Actually, no, that would not be even remotely similar. You're comparing missing mini-camp to missing the AFCCG...? Very poor analogy.

Fact is the NFL caters to their licensees - as well they should because the licensees pay the piper. Reebok and Nike and Upper Deck and Topps all want to have the nice pretty pictures of players in uniform so they can release the posters and bubble gum cards before the season begins. The teams could have and should have known about this event and scheduled their camps accordingly. The NFL doesn't want it to become an issue where half the rookies aren't bothering to attend.

 

[alamo]

Actually, no, that would not be even remotely similar. You're comparing missing mini-camp to missing the AFCCG...? Very poor analogy.

Absolutely. Also, the teams individually set the date of their camps. If they were paying attention, and/or if they actually care, GB could have avoided the problem by making the camp in the moddle of this week or next week instead of this weekend.

 

[JackPMiller]

Absolutely. Also, the teams individually set the date of their camps. If they were paying attention, and/or if they actually care, GB could have avoided the problem by making the camp in the moddle of this week or next week instead of this weekend.

Maybe they were only able to get the field at that period due to that city the Packers have their camps, had other events going on. So it is possle the Packers were stuck to do it this weekend only.

Also, my feeling on this is that, stuff like this so-called Reebok bash should be done during the week after the draft. Meaning after the draft is done on Sunday, then a few days later, say that Friday, have that so-called Reebok bash thing. That way, it won't interfere any of the NFL teams mandatory minicamps. I hope I said all that right.

 

[tailgater]

I think it's embarrassing to the teams that failed to schedule their camps around the event. They knew the date, and they know most offensive rookies drafted will be invited, so why pretend it's the league's fault?

Tony Dungy is also 'critical' of the decision. I know he's a godly man, but he purposely scheduled his teams minicamp this weekend instead of last weekend because of Mothers Day. Now their 1st rd pick, Gonzalez, won't practice with the full team until mid-June, because he needs to finish up school to get his degree.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think it's embarrassing to the teams that failed to schedule their camps around the event. They knew the date, and they know most offensive rookies drafted will be invited, so why pretend it's the league's fault?

Tony Dungy is also 'critical' of the decision. I know he's a godly man, but he purposely scheduled his teams minicamp this weekend instead of last weekend because of Mothers Day. Now their 1st rd pick, Gonzalez, won't practice with the full team until mid-June, because he needs to finish up school to get his degree.

Are you sure they knew the date of the event? I have to agree with JackPMiller on this. This event should have been scheduled during the week immediately following the draft.

Its poor planning on the part of the NFL and on the part of the teams.