http://www.twincities.com
Players 'getting robbed,' Viking says in interview
Updated: 03/16/2011 09:24:58 AM CDT
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared NFL owners' treatment of players to "modern-day slavery," according to an online interview published Tuesday by Yahoo! Sports.
Yahoo's Doug Farrar, who conducted the interview Friday with Peterson, removed that comment from the story later Tuesday, explaining on Twitter that he wants to give Peterson the chance to provide context.
Peterson, who is known to be thoughtful when speaking with the local media in Minnesota, is in Africa with other NFL players on a goodwill trip and unavailable for immediate comment.
NFL owners and players couldn't agree on a new collective bargaining agreement last week after more than two weeks of federal mediation. Shortly before the players union
decertified, Peterson spoke to Yahoo to promote a recent appearance on the online reality show "Double Take." The NFL declared a lockout when the CBA expired.
"The players are getting robbed. They are," Peterson told Yahoo. "The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that."
When discussing other players feeling the same way, Peterson said: "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money. ... The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey, without us, there's no football.' "
Peterson is set to make $10.72 million in base salary in 2011.
The Vikings declined to comment. Peterson's agent, Ben Dogra, supported his client in a statement Tuesday night.
"I think anybody that knows Adrian knows that Adrian is a very strong-willed and passionate individual," Dogra said. "The game means an awful lot to him. People should not just take his statements per se word by word. It's a difficult time. He would love to play.
"I'm sure that everybody would love to see football continue in the NFL, and I'm sure at some point it will get resolved. But Adrian, that's what makes him great. He's soft-spoken, but if he has something on his mind he'll speak it. But I think nobody should really look at those words and take them out of context."
Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant took exception to Peterson's comment, writing on Twitter: "Their is unfortunately actually still slavery existing in our world. Literal modern day slavery. That was a very misinformed statement."
Added Grant: "But I understand what point he was trying to make. I just feel like he should have been advised a little differently."
Saints fullback Heath Evans said he agrees with most of the Twitter responses about Peterson, which have been mostly negative.
"We are all blessed to even strap a helmet on in this league!" Evans tweeted.
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