Adrian Peterson says NFL is like modern day slavery

**jsmith86** · 03-15-2011, 07:18 PM

Vikings' Adrian Peterson compares NFL to 'modern-day slavery' - TwinCities.com

Really Mr. Peterson? When did slaves ever earn a $10.72 million base salary with the option of leaving pretty much whenever they wanted? Perhaps certain NFL players should think about what they say sometimes before they say it.

**Drive4cy** · 03-15-2011, 07:20 PM

I get what he's saying but yeah, slavery is/was no joke. Poor choice of words on his part.

I do think NFL players are slightly underpaid overall.

**madcityCY** · 03-15-2011, 07:21 PM

facepalm??

**Cyched** · 03-15-2011, 07:25 PM

**dtclones** · 03-15-2011, 07:29 PM

I'm kind of disappointed in AP for saying that. I never thought of him as one of the NFL Prima Donnas but he sure sounds like one after this comment.

**Clones33** · 03-15-2011, 07:31 PM

While his comment is ludicrous, everything else he says in the article is pretty good. The writer even came out today and said he wishes he would have left the 'slavery' quote out of the story. That said, the 'slavery' quote is what is generating readers for his story, so I bet he doesn't regret it too much.

**BuzzBuzzBuzz** · 03-15-2011, 07:43 PM

This is pathetic. Adrian needs a little education on slavery... I'm embarrassed for him.

**Rhoadhoused** · 03-15-2011, 07:50 PM

Read the whole statement before you pass judgement. Incredibly stupid of him to say slavery, but the only thing wrong with what he says is using the word slavery. Everything else he says has nothing to do with slavery and his description of his opinion in no way describes slavery.

**xboxfever** · 03-15-2011, 07:51 PM

He needs to get a taste of the real world. Not a world making millions of dollars, doing what you love, living however you want to live, having the hottest woman drooling all of you, oh, and did I mention having millions of dollars doing what you love?

**Mr Janny** · 03-15-2011, 07:57 PM

Don't be silly, Adrian Peterson.

**besserheimerphat** · 03-15-2011, 08:02 PM

Adrian Peterson's experience is not the common experience in the NFL. There are a TON of guys making significantly less money who do have to worry about whether or not they'll have a job the next week. Sure there are guys making multiple millions per year, but there are far more who put in the same effort and have the same problems with friends and family looking for "investors" but aren't famous and make just more than the league minimum. And their money may not be guaranteed - no play, no pay. For the non-superstars who comprise the majority of the league, I imagine it would be very stressful. Add to that there is a significant chance that they'll have major health issues later in life even if they don't suffer a career ending injury, and the average career is only three years anyway.

EDIT: I agree that comparing it to slavery was not a good idea, but I think I can understand what he means.

**bellzisu** · 03-15-2011, 08:08 PM

The average player makes $800,000 a year and the average length of time in the league is 3 years.

I think with an EDUCATION and a plan for the future that I could make that money last. I would love to start life in my early 20's with that kind of money. So excuse me if I'm not feeling sorry for this BS, not making enough money crap.

I think EDUCATION might be the key word. It got lost somewhere along the way. You give stupid people money and they do stupid things and get stupid things.

**abcguyks** · 03-15-2011, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

Adrian Peterson's experience is not the common experience in the NFL. There are a TON of guys making significantly less money who do have to worry about whether or not they'll have a job the next week. Sure there are guys making multiple millions per year, but there are far more who put in the same effort and have the same problems with friends and family looking for "investors" but aren't famous and make just more than the league minimum. And their money may not be guaranteed - no play, no pay. For the non-superstars who comprise the majority of the league, I imagine it would be very stressful. Add to that there is a significant chance that they'll have major health issues later in life even if they don't suffer a career ending injury, and the average career is only three years anyway.

EDIT: I agree that comparing it to slavery was not a good idea, but I think I can understand what he means.

NO ONE is forcing AP or any of the others to play football. If they don't like it, get a real job!

**jbhtexas** · 03-15-2011, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

Adrian Peterson's experience is not the common experience in the NFL. There are a TON of guys making significantly less money who do have to worry about whether or not they'll have a job the next week. Sure there are guys making multiple millions per year, but there are far more who put in the same effort and have the same problems with friends and family looking for "investors" but aren't famous and make just more than the league minimum.

Which in 2010 was $320,000. Nobody is forcing anybody to play in the NFL. Supposedly most of the players get a college education. If you don't like the working conditions of your present job, do what everybody else who doesn't play professional sports does: put up with it and shut up, or if the employer won't accomodate your desires, find a different job.