I'm torn about this -- the way NFL contracts are structured, I think players should get everything they can, while they can. It's not like baseball, where Carl Pavano can make $40-something million with almost as many surgeries as victories. (I'm not sure on the surgeries, but I know he's only won five games the last three seasons.) I usually start off such conversations with, "I don't begrudge players for wanting more money... " and even though I don't like it, it applies to Faneca too.
His comments were certainly surprising ... but then again, Faneca's never been accused of not speaking his mind. Honestly, I don't expect him to be here after this season, and in fact, I don't expect him to be here in August. If, as Faneca said in yesterday's interview, he told the team in February that he wanted out, I hope like hell they tried to move him. If not, and they end up letting him walk next year -- or worse -- releasing him this year, well, I won't be very happy.
But I'm still infinitely happier than Adam Gretz, who left an impassioned, thoughtful comment on the whole situation. I don't agree with all of it, but here at HSS we're all about inclusion. And Mark Madden fat jokes. We like those too. Anyway, here's Adam's take:
I have little to no sympathy for guys like Alan Faneca right now.
None. Zero. Zilch.
I'm not famous and I'm certainly not rich, but I invest a healthy portion of what money I do have into the sports teams I support and follow. Tickets. Jersey's. Stuff like that. Perhaps that's not a wise and frugal thing to do, but It makes me happy. Very happy. When guys like Faneca pull this crap, it tends to take some of the fun out of it. It shouldn't. But it does. I watch sports to avoid drama, stupidity and bullshit like that. The last thing I want to see out of a Steelers season is drama like this. But that's where we are headed, at least that's how it appears right now, and that sucks. That sucks hard.
Somebody from my immediate family has been at every single Steelers game - Pre-season, regular season, playoffs - since Heinz Field opened. It's an honor. Really, it is. Around the time that Hines Ward held out - and I lost a lot of respect for him over that, as well - my dad made mention that it took him some 30 years of work to total a million dollars.
Alan Faneca has made more than 30 million dollars before the age of 30.
I don't feel bad for him that he's only(!) going to make 4.5 million dollars this year instead of 7 million dollars.
The only thing missing from his whiny ass, woe is me, tantrum today was the "I have a family to think about it here!" cliche. Give him time I suppose.
Hey Alan, you get to do what you love for a living, whether you want to admit it or not you are MORE than fairly compensated for it, and once you retire at the age of 35 you'll never have to work another day for the rest of life.
Shut up already.
Alan Faneca did a lot of great things for the Steelers and Pittsburgh. It's just amazing that in a matter of one year he's gone from one of my absolute favorite Steelers to a guy I don't even want to see around the team anymore.
Go join Russ Grimm and win 5 games a year for Arizona. And then after that, you can join Latrell Sprewell and Roger Clemens in spoiled-brat athlete hell.
There is good news, though: We're getting the word out. Here's a recent headline at SteelCityInsider.com:
Props to John for that one.
Finally, if anybody's looking for a new whip...
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