Seattle Seahawks players mock NFL media policy in a skit.

[DinahMoeHum]

The transcript here:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11938662/richard-sherman-doug-baldwin-use-parody-spoof-criticize-nfl-fine-seattle-seahawks-teammate-marshawn-lynch


Well played fellas, well played (and I'm not even a Seahawks fan)

[joeybee12]

1. Too bad I'm blocked at work...any NFL policy

should be mocked.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. I Have To Disagree

It's in the standard contract. That's life. Sherman's little show does not change the fact that the source of his big new contract is because the NFL makes big money from the networks covering them and the CBA requires players to be available to the media.

Don't like it, make it a negotiation point for the next CBA. In the meantime, his bit was just silly.

[Auggie]

3. I agree with you

Wouldn't kill him to be a bit more accessible.

[Scurrilous]

4. The NFL probably also makes a ton of $$ off the ads in the background (in this instance Boeing).

Turn on ESPN after a game and get 30 seconds of highlights and 10 minutes of inane interviews with some advertiser's name prominently displayed behind the interviewee.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Believe You Missed My Point

My point is that that revenue is how the salaries of the big stars get so high. (Yeah, doesn't apply to the 6th offensive lineman, but definitely to the stars.)

If you watched his bit, you notice he made a big deal about the Beats vs. Bose headphone thing. That is just silly.

That advertising is a big part of the revenue stream that allows the salaries to be 20x what they were in the mid-70's. <30 years and 20x salary growth is good for both sides, i would think.

The ad money is what you said and i agree. Same with the big network money that comes in for telecasts and broadcasts. But, with that big revenue comes the need to be available to the networks and the rest of media.

It's part of the contract every one of those guys sign.

If they don't like that, they should collectively bargain it away. (Unlikely as it may be.) If it's in the CBA, they have to honor it. That requirement is there because it makes everyone money. Don't want to do it, expect it to cost you either in fines or reduced revenue (long run) which hurts the players too.

Nobody wins when players take a stand like this. It's fake martyrdom in search of a valid cause.