Potential NFL Draftees Put in Unfair Position

On Tuesday, March 29 former Iowa defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn said he will attend the 2011 NFL draft. In a normal year this wouldn't be news, but we all know this isn't a normal year. Not with the labor scuffle that is taking place that could rob fans of the highest level of football in 2011. Clayborn's plans could have a negative impact on him in the future.

Did they tell draftees to skip the draft?: There were reports earlier in March that the former NFLPA had reached out to several potential draftees and told them not to attend the draft. Later the former union said that they just recommended that these guys skip the festivities. Either way it is just a matter of semantics. It is like a neighborhood tough that shakes down local businesses and 'recommends' they pay a protection fee or something bad might happen. It is all a wink wink kind of deal. In reality what they are saying is don't attend the draft because if you do it will come back to bite you in the backside in the near future.

Where do they get off?: What I find comical here is that this union has decertified, so they shouldn't be telling anyone what to do, because they don't exist. Oh wait that is just a bunch of legal loophole garbage. We all know that the union still is active, but can they really have it both ways? If the union has dissolved then the leaders of that union should be not be allowed anywhere near these dealings. DeMaurice Smith and his cronies should hit the bricks and not be heard from on this matter again.

Not union yet: The guys drafted at Radio City Music Hall on April 28-30 haven't signed any contracts yet so they don't belong to the union, that doesn't exist. So why should these players feel bad about experiencing the moment that they have dreamed of for years? They have worked hard to get to where they are and they deserve their moment, just like the guys that came before them got to do.

What do they hope to accomplish?: I don't really understand what the former NFLPA is even trying to accomplish with this boycott. If anything they will come off looking bad because fans want to see the draft with the players holding up the jersey of their new team. Do they think that the NFL will be hurt if these guys aren't there? I think that fans will still watch the draft and just blame the former union for messing with what fans have come to know and love. It is a public relations gaffe that will only bring fans closer to the owners side.

I don't know the intricacies of this labor mess and I am pretty sure I don't want to know them either. I do know that these games that both sides are playing don't fly with fans. There isn't an easy fix, but I know that bullying incoming players into not attending the draft isn't going to help. So I say kudos to Clayborn and any other draftees that will have the guts to go to the draft. Enjoy the moment for it only happens once.

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