I continue to lose faith in humanity, one idiot at a time. You've got to be effing kidding me. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3100835
2 things: 1. someone will pay that fine for him 2. you're absolutely right that this is extremely cruel. the only way this is even remotely justified is if he just didn't show up without notifying anyone.
Holy crap. And since he's a wide receiver, it's not like they'd miss him with Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger at QB.
its not as bad as it seems. they werent punishing him for going to the funeral. the game he missed was on Sunday and the funeral was Monday.
Right, that is what it is mostly about. He still feels that he will not ever ask for permission to be with his family during their time of need. Seems like he is just being hard-headed. I dont see a problem with letting your team know you will be going to be with your family.
When my grandfather dies in March one of the first things I did was call my boss and this was at like 7PM. He said do what you need to do just keep me informed. I flew out the next day to BR and stayed for 5 days (2 weekend days) the three days I missed he paid me for bereavement time even though I wasn't eleigble for it yet. If you keep people informed they will make sure that in your time of need you are taken care and protected to thier ability. Doesn't sound like he did this...
According to the Coach, that's not correct. Coach Brad Childress told Twin Cities-area media following Thursday's practice that the decision was on a "business principle" of the Vikings organization. "He had a family obligation that he had to see to," Childress said. "We sat down and talked on it before he left. ... He had to do what he had to do. Everybody handles that differently. [Williamson] had to do what his family situation called for." Despite the Viking's pointing to other players who played after family deaths, seems Williamson had plenty of extenuating circumstances that should have been considered including having to make travel arrangements for siblings who are in the military. It wasn't a "fine" exactly but a withholding of his check for Sunday's game. The Vikings are sending an incredibly lousy message whether someone else pays Williamson for the game or not. At a time when players like Michael Vick and PacMan are dominating the headlines it makes little sense to "punish" a solid player and obviously decent family guy. I believe they were ticked because he didn't ask permission, but informed them of his intent to miss the game. Still at a time like that, he shouldn't have been made to ask pretty please.
One game without pay is the exact same punishment that the organizers of the infamous Sex Boat Party received.
