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Vikings Dock Pay of Player at Grandmothers Funeral

HoustonFrog

HoustonFrog

Dallas Frog
Wow, the Vikes are quite a classy team

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3100835

The Minnesota Vikings have docked wide receiver Troy Williamson one game check for missing last Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers to attend the Monday funeral of his maternal grandmother

Based on his 2007 salary of $435,000, the action by the Vikings will cost the three-year veteran $25,588. Williamson has 45 days to appeal Minnesota's decision to withhold his pay, and NFL Players Association sources said he will do so.

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."

Childress cited the cases of two players, Minnesota defensive tackle Pat Williams and Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who appeared in games shortly after the deaths of family members.

Williamson's maternal grandmother, who helped to raise him and with whom he was very close, died last week and he returned to South Carolina, where he played a large role in arranging her funeral. He also had to make travel arrangements for several of his siblings, some of whom are in the armed services. He returned to the team on Wednesday as the Vikings began practicing for this Sunday's game against Green Bay.
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Dang. How can anyone sit down with a guy and say "I realize that your Grandmother just died, but if you go to her funeral, I am docking your pay." That's just cold.
 
Rules are made to be broken.

It's a sad day when a game is supposed to be held in higher regard than family.
 
Honestly, he probably isn't on their good side to begin with. I doubt if AD left for awhile, they would fine him.
 
Contracts are contracts. I don't think any less of the Vikings about this. Same situation if happened to me, I wouldn't hold against anyone if they did it to me.

Life is about choices and it isn't always about money. Furthermore, you shouldn't expect someone to foot the bill if they aren't required.

I think it is great that this guy made a choice that didn't involve money and stuck to it and doesn't appear to be complaining about it all.

My hat is if off to Troy Williamson, do you what you think is right and forget about the money.
 
Double Barrel said:
Rules are made to be broken.

It's a sad day when a game is supposed to be held in higher regard than family.
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DB how much time can you miss from work and still get paid?

When my father died I was allowd one day, two if the funeral was out of town. My sister and I had to make all the calls and all the arrangements. I was 20 years old at the time and in school and working full time. I understand greiving over a loved one and needing time but work will not wait and pay you for not doing your job. The only reason this is a story is because it is professional sports and it is suppose to be only a game.

How much time does the person in accounting of the Minnesota Vikings get? I am sure it is not a full week with pay.
 
i got a week when my dad died. and they called me several times during that week to know when i was coming in.

**** happens in life. your job is part of it.
 
Specnatz said:
DB how much time can you miss from work and still get paid?
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I'm basically self-employed, so no work, no food on the table.

But I'm not a professional football player, which is an ENTERTAINMENT medium first and foremost. It's apples and oranges to compare what these guys do and make to me working paycheck to paycheck.

The Vikings can do whatever they want to do. I have no desire to change the rules. But I don't have to agree with the policy, and voice my opinion accordingly.
 
If I'm him I'm doing three things:

1. Appealing the forfeiture
2. Telling my agent to get me on a WINNING football team.
3. Playing like they have my mamma tied up in a basement if that team ever faces the Vikings. The men in purple would be dead to me.

Your family is more important that your job period. I don't care HOW you try to rationalize it you had a family BEFORE you had a job and you'll have one LONG afterwards. I've never heard occasion where a father called in his son and said:

"Son close the door."

"What is it dad?"

"Well son. Your mother and I have been going over your last few report cards and your last few reports and well...they didn't look good."

"Sorry dad I'll try harder. I'll put in more time at the..."

"Son. I'm sorry. This just isn't working out. I mean you've been a valuable asset to the organization but...we're going to have to let you go."

"Let me go?"

"Son I'm sorry but you're just not cutting the mustard around here. Clean out your desk by the end of the day. Your older sister will escort you out."

I work for a school district. If MY mother passed away I would tell them point blank "My mom passed away. I have to make some arragements and I'll be out for a while trying to get myself together." If they fire me #uck em. I can find another job. You can have a thousand jobs in your life but you're only given ONE family, and I've never heard of a family being either outsourced or laid off.
 
sakebomb said:
Sports are entertainment for us. It's strictly business for the players, coaches, and owners.
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I agree. This is horrendoust PR for the Vikings, and they might reverse their decision because of that, but rules are rules. And its a business for the players & coachs and certainly the owners and their financial backers who have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in their franchises.
And I suspect this also has a lot to do with the players contribution to the team, what his compensation is, and his personal relationship with management (the coaching staff in his case). What, you didn't know that corporations don't treat all employees the same ? Where have you been ?
 
Specnatz said:
DB how much time can you miss from work and still get paid?

When my father died I was allowd one day, two if the funeral was out of town. My sister and I had to make all the calls and all the arrangements. I was 20 years old at the time and in school and working full time. I understand greiving over a loved one and needing time but work will not wait and pay you for not doing your job. The only reason this is a story is because it is professional sports and it is suppose to be only a game.

How much time does the person in accounting of the Minnesota Vikings get? I am sure it is not a full week with pay.
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I got a week with pay when my dad passed away. I also got a week with pay when my daughter was born. The Vikings didn't need Williamson anyway, just hand the ball off to All Day.
 
He must be the guy that consistantly holds up the
gang-bang line during the Vikings' annual sex party boat trip.


Still, that's just wrong.
 
It's not just his granmother dying. I believe his brother was in accident and is still in a coma. I heard that he doesn't have a father and was pretty much the father figure of all his brothers and sisters. I understand that work is work but in the big picture this hurts the Vikings more than it helps them. If the Texans did this to Shaub, Greenwwod, or Turk, etc. I would frown upon it. They could have handled it a better way. Now imagine future Free agents might take this into consideration.
 
raytex said:
It's not just his granmother dying. I believe his brother was in accident and is still in a coma. I heard that he doesn't have a father and was pretty much the father figure of all his brothers and sisters. I understand that work is work but in the big picture this hurts the Vikings more than it helps them. If the Texans did this to Shaub, Greenwwod, or Turk, etc. I would frown upon it. They could have handled it a better way. Now imagine future Free agents might take this into consideration.
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Not only that, but he was raised by his grandmother, so it is like his mother dying.
 
Dread-Head-001 said:
If I'm him I'm doing three things:

1. Appealing the forfeiture
2. Telling my agent to get me on a WINNING football team.
3. Playing like they have my mamma tied up in a basement if that team ever faces the Vikings. The men in purple would be dead to me.

Your family is more important that your job period. I don't care HOW you try to rationalize it you had a family BEFORE you had a job and you'll have one LONG afterwards. I've never heard occasion where a father called in his son and said:

"Son close the door."

"What is it dad?"

"Well son. Your mother and I have been going over your last few report cards and your last few reports and well...they didn't look good."

"Sorry dad I'll try harder. I'll put in more time at the..."

"Son. I'm sorry. This just isn't working out. I mean you've been a valuable asset to the organization but...we're going to have to let you go."

"Let me go?"

"Son I'm sorry but you're just not cutting the mustard around here. Clean out your desk by the end of the day. Your older sister will escort you out."

I work for a school district. If MY mother passed away I would tell them point blank "My mom passed away. I have to make some arragements and I'll be out for a while trying to get myself together." If they fire me #uck em. I can find another job. You can have a thousand jobs in your life but you're only given ONE family, and I've never heard of a family being either outsourced or laid off.
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Epic and very true post man.

Rep'd to hell
 
sakebomb said:
Sports are entertainment for us. It's strictly business for the players, coaches, and owners.
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Had he not missed the actual GAME DAY, he might not have lost a game check. I'm not sure if the CBA allows the Vikes any real choice in this one.

This isn't like a day off for the rest of us working stiffs. Logically, there are 16 "can't miss" days for these guys. They couldn't have the funeral any other day of the week? I applaud him for doing what he felt he owed her, but mandatory=mandatory for certain days.
 
kastofsna said:
i got a week when my dad died. and they called me several times during that week to know when i was coming in.

**** happens in life. your job is part of it.
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Yup. If players want more rights, they need to get "days off" negotiated into their contracts. The crux of your job is showing up on 16 days. Missing on of those is like you or I missing about 23 days of work (weekends included).

But, it's much easier just to dock his pay and move on with it. Doesn't seem "fair," but life isn't "fair." I also don't imagine his kids will be starving from missing this check.
 
Dread-Head-001 said:
If I'm him I'm doing three things:

1. Appealing the forfeiture
2. Telling my agent to get me on a WINNING football team.
3. Playing like they have my mamma tied up in a basement if that team ever faces the Vikings. The men in purple would be dead to me.

Your family is more important that your job period. I don't care HOW you try to rationalize it you had a family BEFORE you had a job and you'll have one LONG afterwards. I've never heard occasion where a father called in his son and said:

"Son close the door."

"What is it dad?"

"Well son. Your mother and I have been going over your last few report cards and your last few reports and well...they didn't look good."

"Sorry dad I'll try harder. I'll put in more time at the..."

"Son. I'm sorry. This just isn't working out. I mean you've been a valuable asset to the organization but...we're going to have to let you go."

"Let me go?"

"Son I'm sorry but you're just not cutting the mustard around here. Clean out your desk by the end of the day. Your older sister will escort you out."

I work for a school district. If MY mother passed away I would tell them point blank "My mom passed away. I have to make some arragements and I'll be out for a while trying to get myself together." If they fire me #uck em. I can find another job. You can have a thousand jobs in your life but you're only given ONE family, and I've never heard of a family being either outsourced or laid off.
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I'm with you on this one.

Those of you saying "Tough luck. That's how it works," well...I disagree with your viewpoint. Maybe it's how you were raised, maybe it's how you view your job vs. your family. I dunno what it is. But there seems to be a reasonable grieving period to be allowed, IMO.

Is it more than a full 7 days, as it relates to your job? I don't think so. And I don't see Troy Williamson asking to be gone indefinitely. That'd be different. But the guy was asking for a week. Right? Just sayin'....

BTW, The Vikings have just announced they have reversed their decision and are going to give him his paycheck back. Seems someone has a heart, after all. This was a P.R. disaster.

Vikings change mind, give Williamson paycheck back
 
Yankee_In_TX said:
Yup. If players want more rights, they need to get "days off" negotiated into their contracts. The crux of your job is showing up on 16 days. Missing on of those is like you or I missing about 23 days of work (weekends included).

But, it's much easier just to dock his pay and move on with it. Doesn't seem "fair," but life isn't "fair." I also don't imagine his kids will be starving from missing this check.
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Such decisions can rest on the employer. I wonder if the Colts docked Tony Dungy's pay when he took funeral and family leave after the death of his son.
 
When my dad passes, I don't think I'm taking 3 days off and then just bee-bopping back to work on the fourth day as if I'm ready to go and all's well.

And if it costs me my job, so be it.

I'll need at least a week, and the hurt won't stop for a long long time. Couldn't even imagine how I'd be able to get up each day and work if I lost my wife or one of our daughters. Don't even want to think about it. How would I function, going to work withot one of them to be there when I got home?
 
That is good news. It isn't like the Vikings missed him on Sunday anyway.

I am glad they changed their minds, because they were looking like some fools.
 
GP said:
When my dad passes, I don't think I'm taking 3 days off and then just bee-bopping back to work on the fourth day as if I'm ready to go and all's well.

And if it costs me my job, so be it.

I'll need at least a week, and the hurt won't stop for a long long time. Couldn't even imagine how I'd be able to get up each day and work if I lost my wife or one of our daughters. Don't even want to think about it. How would I function, going to work withot one of them to be there when I got home?
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You're also not paid as much as NFL players. Think, if Peyton Manning's father died on Wednesday, let's say they have a MUST win game (make or break playoffs), you think he shouldn't be fined for taking a week off and missing the game?

I'm glad they reversed the fine, but business is business. And when you sign on the dotted line to get that fat paycheck, you agree to certain things. Can't have your cake and eat it, too.
 
Anyone else thinking this situation would've been easily avoided had there been a "death in the family" policy set in place?

I mean, you'd think there would already be one.
 
Specnatz said:
DB how much time can you miss from work and still get paid?

When my father died I was allowd one day, two if the funeral was out of town. My sister and I had to make all the calls and all the arrangements. I was 20 years old at the time and in school and working full time. I understand greiving over a loved one and needing time but work will not wait and pay you for not doing your job. The only reason this is a story is because it is professional sports and it is suppose to be only a game.

How much time does the person in accounting of the Minnesota Vikings get? I am sure it is not a full week with pay.
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quoted for truth
 
Williamson needed to realize that the day of the game is basically mandatory. have the funeral any day besides Sunday. maybe there was a reason he had to make it on Sunday but he needed to try whatever he could to make sure he was available on Sunday.
 
StarStruck said:
Such decisions can rest on the employer. I wonder if the Colts docked Tony Dungy's pay when he took funeral and family leave after the death of his son.
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I don't think Dungy missed a game. I remember something along the lines of the Colts offering Dungy time off and he rejected that offer.

I could be wrong but I seem to really remember this. I remember thinking... "Wow he rejected the time off? He and his son must have not treally gotten along."

Can someone confirm?
 
The Oilers did the same thing when David Williams missed a game when his son was born. Classless, but a reminder that business is business.
 
TD said:
The Oilers did the same thing when David Williams missed a game when his son was born. Classless, but a reminder that business is business.
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If I recall correctly the issue with Williams wasn't the birth of his son, rather telling the Oilers he would be at the birth and catch a later flight, then called in the morning of the game and said that he couldn't get a flight out of Houston.
 
StarStruck said:
If I recall correctly the issue with Williams wasn't the birth of his son, rather telling the Oilers he would be at the birth and catch a later flight, then called in the morning of the game and said that he couldn't get a flight out of Houston.
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Yeah, there were some weather problems and he couldn't fly into the game city. He might have been able to make it but it got so late he said screw it.
 
Yankee_In_TX said:
You're also not paid as much as NFL players. Think, if Peyton Manning's father died on Wednesday, let's say they have a MUST win game (make or break playoffs), you think he shouldn't be fined for taking a week off and missing the game?

I'm glad they reversed the fine, but business is business. And when you sign on the dotted line to get that fat paycheck, you agree to certain things. Can't have your cake and eat it, too.
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The amount of money is not the issue here.

How does $$$ enter into this entire discussion? I'm at a loss for words. So, because an NFL player makes a lot of money it's suddenly different? IMO, this is trying to hypothesize that we'd be willing to negotiate our grieving process based on $$$. Wow.

Besides, I think it's absoultely FOOLISH for ANY company to give a one-day or even a two-day vacation for the loss of a parent, spouse, or child. The company is not going to go bankrupt and have to close down the shop just because YOU didn't show up to work for 3-7 days. I've never understood this mentality that American businesses have of holding people hostage with the threat of losing their jobs over something like this. If a company values YOU, it will make an effort to HELP you. If it doesn't, and it holds you hostage when tragedy hits...then you might just be working for the wrong kind of people. Analyze THAT.

Some of you people need to grow a pair and stand up for yourselves. The happiest day of my life was when I made the pre-determined decision that I was going to NEVER work again for a company that I knew might pay well but would also be a tyrant employer (like it seems some of you work for). Sometimes the best job you take is the one that might not pay as well as similar jobs in your field of expertise, but they make your life AND your paycheck so much easier to work for.

If he wanted to go fishing, I understand docking his pay. If he wanted to stay home and work crossword puzzles, I understand docking his pay. But the guy lost his parent, and some of you are even using the "Can't you have the funeral on ANY other day?" complaint. Grow up a little, would you? It's not like the guy can say "Hey, I have a game on Sunday...is there any way we could put this off until Monday?" That looks real classy, doesn't it?

No. You do it the way others need it to be done. My brother-in-law is a big time musician who had a $1,000 concert to play...this is his way of providing for his family, not a side job...and when his grandmother passed away, he didn't ask that we arrange the funeral around his schedule. He missed the gig, attended his grandmother's funeral, and realized that nothing else mattered but being there for something that doesn't happen ever day: Saying "goodbye" one last time.

Man, some of you guys' comments seem like you're bragging on yourselves: "I only had one day," or "That's business."

Pfft...whatever. I am seriously disappointed in some of you guys' outlook on stuff like this. You're just pee-o'd because it was a rich athlete and he still got his payday. Period.
 
TD said:
Yeah, there were some weather problems and he couldn't fly into the game city. He might have been able to make it but it got so late he said screw it.
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Well, according to some around here: He should have walked or jogged back as long as he got back in time.

I mean, that's how life is.
 
GP said:
Besides, I think it's absoultely FOOLISH for ANY company to give a one-day or even a two-day vacation for the loss of a parent, spouse, or child. The company is not going to go bankrupt and have to close down the shop just because YOU didn't show up to work for 3-7 days. I've never understood this mentality that American businesses have of holding people hostage with the threat of losing their jobs over something like this. If a company values YOU, it will make an effort to HELP you. If it doesn't, and it holds you hostage when tragedy hits...then you might just be working for the wrong kind of people. Analyze THAT.
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please, it's a lot worse in other much more strict societies. companies are pretty lax overall with this kinda thing, way too scared of being sued for various reasons.
 
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