NFL owners treating cheerleaders like the pioneer players
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
As you have probably heard, the NFL is being sued
left and right by its cheerleaders.
When I heard about the lawsuits, I didn't really give it much thought at first. Maybe it's because I never really believed the cheerleaders were that important to the game.
What would happen if cheerleading squads were suddenly eliminated by the NFL?
Answer: The game would go on with very little outcry from the fans.
The NFL knows that sex sells and therefore they have no problem using the cheerleaders to sell the total game "experience." The fact is, cheerleaders are on the sidelines because they themselves are a form of entertainment and they're really good at what they do - even if it's not going to make any difference to the outcome of a football game. Nonetheless, they are still a part of the tradition and culture of the NFL and it would be sad to see it all end because the NFL doesn't want to pay them minimum wage.
The NFL would like to say that they are "independent contractors", but they can't use that argument because they controlled almost everything they did. If they didn't pass the "jiggle" test they could be suspended or dismissed from the squad.
I remember watching a cheerleader tryout at a Buffalo Bills training camp back in 1980. I was absolutely amazed at the level of choreography that went into some of their routines. It was a lot more work than I had ever imagined - especially when I found out that they were practicing about 20 or more hours a week and were also required to go to community events during the season.
Almost all NFL cheerleaders are working other full and part time jobs to make ends meet.
A lot of them get injuries that they have to pay for through their own insurance. And, if they don't get healthy, they are cut from the team and fresh body is brought in to replace them.
Many cheerleaders had to pay as much $650 for their own uniforms.
Does any of this sound familiar to the older generation of NFL players?
Almost everything I just said about cheerleaders could have applied to players in the early years of the NFL. The owners didn't give anything to the players without a fight – and that's exactly what they got. The early years of the NFL were a real struggle, especially before the NFL Players Association was established in 1956.
After decades of trying to get what we wanted through Collective Bargaining Agreements – and always coming up short - players finally got smart and started suing the NFL. Now, it seems like that is the only thing that gets their attention..... and forces them to do the right thing.
Cheerleaders are finally starting to fight – and I really hope they prevail.
They may not be crucial to the game of pro football, but there is no doubt that they are part of the history of the NFL. They have established their own legacy. Like many former players, cheerleaders have also been great ambassadors of the NFL – marketing and promoting the game to all generations of fans.
After they win the right to get minimum wages, they might want to think about starting a union.
If they all got together and set up a picket line to get fair wages – would you join them?
I would.
It's the least we can do for accidentally running over so many of them on the sidelines.
