PA Season Ticket Holder
04-13-2003, 10:05 PM
A league source tells us that players from the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have no desire to trek to Tokyo for a preseason game on August 2.
According to the source, concerns regarding terrorism and the SARS epidemic are making the players very skittish about the prospect of spending time in Japan. Word is that the NFLPA player reps from both teams will be contacting the league office soon in an effort to get the game canceled or moved.
In our view, the chances of the league changing course on this are slim. The owners pressed forward with their plans for the 2003 NFL Europe season, and they surely won't abandon their long-term relationship with Japan simply because the players are worried about their own health and well-being. Put simply, selfish motives aren't acceptable in the NFL -- unless the "self" involved holds the pink slip to a franchise.
SEAU TRADE UNLIKELY BY MONDAY?
The Miami Herald reports that LB Junior Seau likely will not be traded by the Chargers before he becomes eligible for a $2.7 million bonus on Monday.
Agent Marvin Demoff says that Seau refuses to forgo the bonus payment. Coupled with the passing of Chargers G.M. John Butler, the simply won't be enough time to make something happen before the bonus is payable.
It's also possible that the Chargers will keep Seau. The Herald reports that Butler had convinced owner Alex Spanos to part ways with the perennial Pro Bowler. Butler's replacement might feel otherwise about whether Junior should stay.
http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
According to the source, concerns regarding terrorism and the SARS epidemic are making the players very skittish about the prospect of spending time in Japan. Word is that the NFLPA player reps from both teams will be contacting the league office soon in an effort to get the game canceled or moved.
In our view, the chances of the league changing course on this are slim. The owners pressed forward with their plans for the 2003 NFL Europe season, and they surely won't abandon their long-term relationship with Japan simply because the players are worried about their own health and well-being. Put simply, selfish motives aren't acceptable in the NFL -- unless the "self" involved holds the pink slip to a franchise.
SEAU TRADE UNLIKELY BY MONDAY?
The Miami Herald reports that LB Junior Seau likely will not be traded by the Chargers before he becomes eligible for a $2.7 million bonus on Monday.
Agent Marvin Demoff says that Seau refuses to forgo the bonus payment. Coupled with the passing of Chargers G.M. John Butler, the simply won't be enough time to make something happen before the bonus is payable.
It's also possible that the Chargers will keep Seau. The Herald reports that Butler had convinced owner Alex Spanos to part ways with the perennial Pro Bowler. Butler's replacement might feel otherwise about whether Junior should stay.
http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm