Detroit Lions Weblog

The Lion’s Grievance?

As has been well reported recently, some unnamed Lions players had the team’s NFLPA union reps (Terrence Holt, Corey Schlesinger, and James Hall are the player reps) file two grievances against their coaching staff for too much contact during pre-season minicamps and also a scheduling violation. The grievance was ruled in the players favor by the league and there were two days this week that the players were paid but didn’t have to report to the team’s Allen Park training facility.

In recent years, there have been similar situations that have arose with similar punishment. That being said, once the coaching staff roots out the parties involved in the grievance process it’s quite likely that these players will face an uphill battle in attempting to make the team’s roster. I don’t think there will be a witchhunt-type process initiated, but I do strongly believe, judging by recent comments by players like Dre Bly and Marcus Pollard, that many off the team’s current personnel is on board with the coaching staff’s decisions and are more than willing to put forth the work (by any means) necessary to help improve the team.

Many Lion fans have a much larger grievance that they would like to file that can ONLY be grosslt exacerbated by things like these recent grievances. Lion fans have been loyally supportive through thick and thin. If a few players want to file grievances, which is certainly within their rights, many fans may begin to decide to turn their attentions elsewhere. Football is a tough sport. Most of it’s participants enjoy physical contact. Even if career preservation is at stake, it is going to be hard for outsiders to perceive these grievances as anything but slothfulness and unwarranted sensitivity. The upcoming months will make it abundantly clear whether or not the team could have used the practice time that they lost as result of the grievances.