Apologetic Weaver: 'That was a bad choice of words'
Leonard Weaver realized pretty quickly after his Comcast SportsNet interview aired Tuesday that fans weren't getting the message he had intended to send.
Apologetic Weaver: 'That was a bad choice of words'
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Leonard Weaver realized pretty quickly after his Comcast SportsNet interview aired Tuesday that fans weren’t getting the message he had intended to send.
In referencing and agreeing with the statement of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson that owners looked at the locked-out players as “slaves,” Weaver set off a backlash that flooded his Twitter account. Today, after apologizing via Twitter, the Eagles fullback made the media rounds, trying to explain himself.
Weaver said he wanted to draw a parallel between workers who feel powerless when treated arbitrarily and NFL players, whose huge salaries might make them seem immune to such treatment.
“That was a bad choice of words. When you say ‘slave,’ people automatically think of people getting worked for nothing,” Weaver said today, as he undertook another full day of rehab from knee and ankle surgeries in a Birmingham, Ala., facility affiliated with Dr. James Andrews. Weaver suffered a gruesome, career-threatening injury to his left leg in last season’s opener.
“The point I was trying to get across was, we as players are being oppressed in the sense that we don’t know everything that’s going on behind closed doors when it comes to the owners ... They don’t show us their books; they don’t show us how much money we are generating for them, even though we are getting paid millions.”
(Actually, players are told how much the league generates, but they are not told how much profit each team makes, what owners pay themselves, and so on.)
After making the Pro Bowl following the 2009 season, Weaver set a record for a fullback by signing a 3-year, $11 million deal, $6.5 million guaranteed.
“Not everybody in the NFL makes a million dollars, and on top of that, the signing bonus is all that’s guaranteed ... I want [fans] to understand, I’m not coming at you all as a millionaire who was given something,” Weaver said. “I worked my butt off, just like some of these young men and women who are making $40,000 or $50,000 a year; I worked my butt off to get where I am, and I’m appreciative of that. I would never degrade any of those people, because I understand, hand-in-hand, what they’re going through. It wasn’t but 4 or 5 years ago I was in their position.
“Everybody in Philly is coming at me as if, ‘Aw, he’s so ignorant and he’s ungrateful’ — you don’t understand, I understood what Adrian Peterson was saying. He was saying that we as players come to work, we show up on time, we perform to top level ... You want to come and take 20 percent of what I’ve got and then tell me to play two more games? To me, it’s the same struggle as the man who makes $40,000, and that’s the message that I should have been more clear in trying to relate to them. It’s not about me making a million dollars. I’ve been fortunate, man. I thank the fans of Philly, because they are a big part of why I got my contract ... The dollar amount isn’t the issue.”
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Can't believe I once liked this guy. Oh well.— jamesiri- I cant beileve he said this it is the most disrespectful remark i have ever heard towards slaves, im sure slaves would have been more then happy making 500 000 dollars a year. They have no right to compare thereselves to them and it is an insult that the African American community does not stand up to them. This league is a disgrace between the players complaining they don't make enough money and roger goodell trying to change the game into a sweetheart game with this whole kickoff scenario. I think if anything the players should get payed less money, they are getting paid to do something they love. The only people who deserve that much money are teachers, cops, and firemen.— phillyballer32
- I'm still a fan of Weaver. He admitted his mistake, time to move on from the "slave" comment...— Reality Speaks
It was a bad choice of words but he shouldn't be crucified over this. He was just expressing his feelings about his perception of how the owners treat the workers (hyperbole). I don't have a lot of sympathy toward either's cause but jeez, people saying stuff off the cuff don't need to be demonized so much, especially when he manned up and admitted it was a poor choice of words. This will all be forgotten if he's healthy & lives up to his potential when the season starts.— Mabus- Once again a poor attempt of trying to relate. I had to take a 15% pay cut on my job due to the economy. 401K went in the toilet, was given more responsibilities and my boss just looked at me with and said yep this sucks but you have two options...Deal with it or quit. The more these athletes open their mouths about "how bad they have things" the more disinterested I become in football. Enjoy your $6.5 million "slave" money Weaver— pflynn20
- are you able to truly relate to his position though? he was top three in the world at his position performing a job that he'll have to retire from in his 30's with possible impending brain damage and other physical ailments to deal with. the fact that he was injured shortly after signing his contract only serves to show how limited his earning potential is. — yantastic
- He was saying that the owners believe they have more power than the players. that is what makes them "slaves". he is black so this makes a historical significant. white people cringe when they hear a black person say slave— DonovanMcNabb
Just can't believe these guys keep sticking foot n mouth. Even worse that he didn't actually say it first so he had time or formulate his choice of words. Too bad a player can't have their contract terminated for using this word in this context.- people have to stop making excuses for these people who make comments like that. it should never be used as a comparison. his apology wasn't very good either. oppressed? get a clue and dictionary.— phillysportsnut
- people have to stop making excuses for these people who make comments like that. it should never be used as a comparison. his apology wasn't very good either. oppressed? get a clue and dictionary.— phillysportsnut
- I hope he recovers from his injuries, but I also hope I never, ever see him in an Eagles uniform.— mfecani
- Im white so If it isnt ok for me to reference it, then it isnt ok for him either. He apologized and I do personally like the guy. It was just a bad idea to agree with Peterson on it.— hipdaddy
Mountain out of a molehill by the media (wow what a shock there!) I could care less if an Eagles player says something that some mamby pamby with thin skin gets in an uproar over! Tell you what Leonard, come back full rehabbed and play like Larry Csonka revisited and it's a wash! GO EAGLES!!!- The dude is an employee. Where does he think he has the right to demand his boss tell him how much the boss makes? Can anyone here imagine going to the CEO or Owner of the business they work for and demanding to know their financials. They'd fire your can in about 2 seconds.
- i agree with gravedygr ocme vack health block well for shady, get us those short yardage runs, and pass block for Vick,and i don't care if you take a leak on the 50 yard line— southernmostfan
