LLT
07-20-2010, 04:54 AM
Steelers' Farrior, others tightening their belts
By John Harris, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Steelers players are preparing for a lockout in 2011, linebacker James Farrior said Monday.
As such, Farrior and other veterans have met with teammates about saving money in preparation for a season without paychecks if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached.
"I've been talking about it," Farrior said. "Charlie (Batch) is our player rep. He keeps me updated. It's the reality of it. We might not be playing football next year. It was a point of emphasis this offseason for everybody to start saving their money — just in case."
Farrior said players have been led to believe there will be a lockout and that ownership holds the key to a new contract.
Ownership, of course, believes just the opposite — that players must make concessions to facilitate a deal.
"It's pretty much in the owners' hands. It's up to them to try to get a deal done for next year," Farrior said. "We don't know what's going to happen. Everything that we've seen so far is leaning toward us getting locked out, so you don't want guys to not be prepared if it does happen."
In the meantime, Farrior said, players need to become more conservative spenders.
Some players need to be reminded more than others.
"It's going to be tough on some guys," Farrior said. "A lot of guys rely on that money and have a lot of responsibilities with that money. They better start saving now."
Farrior hopes that some of his teammates don't have to learn the hard way in the event of a lockout.
He said stories are plentiful about players who mismanage their money during the best of times.
How, Farrior wonders, will those same players be able to manage their money if they're not being paid?
"I've seen guys spend their money, living check to check," Farrior said. "It's terrible to say, but you've got a guy borrowing money in the offseason just to make it to next season."
On the other hand, Farrior believes the threat of a lockout will force players to take better care of their finances.
"This is our only opportunity to be able to make this kind of money, so you don't want to blow it," Farrior said. "Even though you're making it right now and it seems like you can spend what you want to spend, you have the whole rest of your life to live.
"This is not the time for us to be spending money. We have such a small window to make this kind of money in our lifetime. We're going to have the rest of our lives to live. If you want to live comfortable for the rest of your life, you don't need to spend it all now."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_691138.html
By John Harris, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Steelers players are preparing for a lockout in 2011, linebacker James Farrior said Monday.
As such, Farrior and other veterans have met with teammates about saving money in preparation for a season without paychecks if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached.
"I've been talking about it," Farrior said. "Charlie (Batch) is our player rep. He keeps me updated. It's the reality of it. We might not be playing football next year. It was a point of emphasis this offseason for everybody to start saving their money — just in case."
Farrior said players have been led to believe there will be a lockout and that ownership holds the key to a new contract.
Ownership, of course, believes just the opposite — that players must make concessions to facilitate a deal.
"It's pretty much in the owners' hands. It's up to them to try to get a deal done for next year," Farrior said. "We don't know what's going to happen. Everything that we've seen so far is leaning toward us getting locked out, so you don't want guys to not be prepared if it does happen."
In the meantime, Farrior said, players need to become more conservative spenders.
Some players need to be reminded more than others.
"It's going to be tough on some guys," Farrior said. "A lot of guys rely on that money and have a lot of responsibilities with that money. They better start saving now."
Farrior hopes that some of his teammates don't have to learn the hard way in the event of a lockout.
He said stories are plentiful about players who mismanage their money during the best of times.
How, Farrior wonders, will those same players be able to manage their money if they're not being paid?
"I've seen guys spend their money, living check to check," Farrior said. "It's terrible to say, but you've got a guy borrowing money in the offseason just to make it to next season."
On the other hand, Farrior believes the threat of a lockout will force players to take better care of their finances.
"This is our only opportunity to be able to make this kind of money, so you don't want to blow it," Farrior said. "Even though you're making it right now and it seems like you can spend what you want to spend, you have the whole rest of your life to live.
"This is not the time for us to be spending money. We have such a small window to make this kind of money in our lifetime. We're going to have the rest of our lives to live. If you want to live comfortable for the rest of your life, you don't need to spend it all now."
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_691138.html