Rex Ryan, a former NFL coach, was sad to see Earl Thomas injured on Sunday. But, he said on ESPN’s Get Up on Monday morning, he still didn’t support Thomas’ earlier push – and subsequent gesture on Sunday – for a new contract.
“This is the business of football and nothing is guaranteed to you as a player, coach or anybody else,” Ryan said. “They don’t have to give you the money. They don’t have to give you a longterm contract. It’s unfortunate but when you put your name on that contract, you have to man up and play for that contract.”
Ryan — a coach who benefited from the status quo as a coach — is simply advocating to keep things the way they are. And his argument seems to be skipping over the fact that Thomas — and Le’Veon Bell — are using their leverage as star players to try to change the status quo.
As Emmanuel Acho pointed out (along with a number of other current and past players), this is exactly why Thomas was holding out in the first place earlier this year – he knew it was very possible for him to get injured and therefore not get paid.
“Nobody owes you anything in this league,” said Ryan – which is correct. Unless you renegotiate your contract to make it so that they legally do.
