Would you be OK if the QB from your favorite team missed a game? (1 Viewer)

[hutchins929]

Ben Roethlisburger has said that he will absolutely miss a game if need be. He wont miss the birth of his child. From what I hear the baby is scheduled to be here sometime in December. He also has said that he will do everything he can to make sure that the birth will not interrupt a game (schedule an appointment to induce).

What if, however, this hypothetical situation arrived on the team you root for???

The team you root for is in a tied divisional race with their biggest rival. Their only hope, to make the playoffs, is by winning the division. They are in a head to head matchup with that team. An hour or so before that game starts, Your star QB leaves to go back home. Because, he gets the call that his child is on the way and he doesn't want to miss the birth of his child. He and his babies mother had an appointment to induce labor on the following Tuesday but the baby happens to come a week and a half early. Are you ok with his decision to leave the team, before rather than after the game, even if it means that the team misses the playoffs?

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

when they pay you 8-25 million dollars a year you birth it in the lockerroom.

 

[Wrigley]

did you get a haircut?

 

[pollardsvision]

It's early, but so far, the results are quite shocking (64% saying they wouldn't mind).

When you get paid an insane amount of money based on your production for 16 4-hour days, I don't think missing one should really be an option for a birth.

 

[nysportsfan]

It's early, but so far, the results are quite shocking (64% saying they wouldn't mind).When you get paid an insane amount of money based on your production for 16 4-hour days, I don't think missing one should really be an option for a birth.

 

[Zeff]

It's early, but so far, the results are quite shocking (64% saying they wouldn't mind).When you get paid an insane amount of money based on your production for 16 4-hour days, I don't think missing one should really be an option for a birth.

So if he got paid less, it would be okay?

 

[Lash]

Week 1-6 --> okay (but go ahead and induce)

Week 7-17 on a sorry team --> okay (but go ahead and induce)

Week 7-17 on a team already pretty much clinched playoffs --> okay (but go ahead and induce)

Week 7-17 on a potential hit/miss playoff team --> not okay, induce

Playoffs --> not okay, induce

if the baby is so early that inducement wasn't even thought of yet, then that changes everything to life/death and makes even asking them to play a heinous crime

 

[donkshow]

It's early, but so far, the results are quite shocking (64% saying they wouldn't mind).When you get paid an insane amount of money based on your production for 16 4-hour days, I don't think missing one should really be an option for a birth.

What about all the practices that go on all week and the off-season training?

 

[shadyridr]

does the woman who he impregnated want him there?

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

It's early, but so far, the results are quite shocking (64% saying they wouldn't mind).When you get paid an insane amount of money based on your production for 16 4-hour days, I don't think missing one should really be an option for a birth.

So if he got paid less, it would be okay?

Absolutely. Not like another server can just cover his shift.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

does the woman who he impregnated want him there?

I'm guessing ben doesn't really consider ts in his decision calculus.

 

[Ignoratio Elenchi]

does the woman who he impregnated want him there?

 

[Johnny Blood]

There are suspension issues to worry about. What if the victim has a restraining order against him?

 

[CurlyDumps]

does the woman who he impregnated want him there?

LOLZ

 

[Kenny Powers]

What I heard is the due date is during 1 of the Baltimore games. That said, births actually occurring on the due date happen like 3% of the time (no link, just remember a midwife telling me). If the baby still didnt pop out 48 hours before this due date, inducing would not be problematic whatsoever.

But yeah, my QB better not miss a game due to this, because its quite easy for it to not be a problem.

 

[solorca]

A year ago, I would have said that he should absolutely play in the game. With my first child on the way, it changes my opinion a little bit. I can't imagine a scenario where I would be willing to miss the birth of my child, and I would expect my team's QB to do that either...even if I would be frustrated as a fan.

Obviously I would expect them to try to induce labor to avoid it being an issue, but if it were a situation they had no control over (premature birth, sudden labor, etc.), I couldn't fault them.

 

[Cucaloca]

Antonio Cromartie would never get on the field

 

[Zeff]

It's early, but so far, the results are quite shocking (64% saying they wouldn't mind).When you get paid an insane amount of money based on your production for 16 4-hour days, I don't think missing one should really be an option for a birth.

So if he got paid less, it would be okay?

Absolutely. Not like another server can just cover his shift.

Except one can, who we call a backup QB, and who is also highly paid.

 

[flc735]

voted maybe

family comes first so i'd be okay with that part. what i wouldn't be okay with is that he is having a baby in the middle of the season. if this was planned, its pretty stupid of him to conceive a child 9 months before mid season.

 

[johnadams]

Playing regardless of personal life comes with being fabously rich for ... playing. Have another kid in the offseason.

 

[Borat]

He is irresponsible for planning his family like this.

Tom Brady got a baby mama, and he still knows better.

 

[SSOG]

Week 1-6 --> okay (but go ahead and induce)Week 7-17 on a sorry team --> okay (but go ahead and induce)Week 7-17 on a team already pretty much clinched playoffs --> okay (but go ahead and induce)Week 7-17 on a potential hit/miss playoff team --> not okay, inducePlayoffs --> not okay, induceif the baby is so early that inducement wasn't even thought of yet, then that changes everything to life/death and makes even asking them to play a heinous crime

Inducing is nice, but it's not a cure-all. Inducing is a tug-of-war between what's best for your baby (current medical literature says the ideal is no fewer than 39 weeks and no more than 40 weeks), and what's best for you (the later you schedule the induction, the greater the risk that the baby comes prior to the scheduled date). Given the research on the subject, I question how many legit OBs would even countenance a vanity induction before week 38 (considered full term). Despite this, plenty of babies arrive before that. "Not ideal" is worlds away from "life-and-death". My cousin just gave birth at 36 weeks, and the baby was home from the hospital in 4 days, no worries. Nobody wanted the baby to come that early, but nobody is losing it just because he did. And even setting aside what's best for the baby, there's a question of what's best for the mother- inducing a woman who is fewer than 2 centimeters dilated dramatically increases the chances that she'll eventually have to be sectioned, which turns a natural procedure into major invasive surgery. And inducing also has a negative experience on the birth process- typically, a woman can spend up to 12 hours progressing through the first stages of labor in the comfort of her own home. With an induction, those 12 hours get spent in a hospital bed hooked up to IV fluids. Childbirth is an intensely personal and emotional experience, and I don't feel I'm in any position to dictate to a stranger how her experience must play out. In case it's not clear, I voted that it'd be fine for the QB to miss the game. Just because I pay money to watch him play does not mean I get a vote in how he lives his life. If he wants to take off work, that's between no one but him, his family, and his employer. His employer would no doubt find it incredibly inconvenient for him to leave at such an important time. My employer would no doubt feel the same way if I were to leave in the middle of a time-sensitive, mission-critical task. This doesn't give my own employer the right to dictate to me how I handle my family life, any more than it gives the QB's employer the right to dictate to him. If my employer is unhappy with my decision, he is free to explore whatever options he feels are justified, and as an adult who has made his own decision, I will deal with the consequences or contest them as I see fit. I would not expect any different from the NFL QB. He is an adult. He has a right to make decisions about how he wants to live his life, even if those decisions make me unhappy.

 

[Kenny Powers]

He is irresponsible for planning his family like this.Tom Brady got a baby mama, and he still knows better.

Pulling out is planning, blowing it in there is not a plan

 

[DoubleG]

A year ago, I would have said that he should absolutely play in the game. With my first child on the way, it changes my opinion a little bit. I can't imagine a scenario where I would be willing to miss the birth of my child, and I would expect my team's QB to do that either...even if I would be frustrated as a fan.

...and I'd bet that's pretty damn near the "dividing line" for the votes. A great secondary poll would be "Yes - and I am a parent myself", "Yes - but I am not a parent"...etc.

 

[SSOG]

voted maybefamily comes first so i'd be okay with that part. what i wouldn't be okay with is that he is having a baby in the middle of the season. if this was planned, its pretty stupid of him to conceive a child 9 months before mid season.

I don't know if you understand what a planned pregnancy really is. Despite what they teach in high school health class, pregnancy does not result from each and every unprotected sexual encounter. It's not like one night you say "hey, I want a baby" and then 9 months later you're cursing yourself for not checking the calendar first. Even perfectly reproductively healthy people going all out (timing the cycle, ideally spacing sex for optimal coverage) only have about a 50% chance of conceiving in any given month. You have to go a full year trying (and failing) to get pregnant before you're considered reproductively challenged. And even if you do succeed, miscarriages are shockingly common. And lord help you if it turns out you *are* reproductively challenged- even with assistance, you're looking at potentially years before it happens, if it ever does. Asking potential parents who are trying to start a family to try to time it so the baby isn't born in certain months is callous and cruel. Unless we're talking about in vitro, in which case, yeah, it's just really bad planning to have a due date in the middle of the season- no real excuse for that.

 

[Ignoratio Elenchi]

Nothing could keep me from the birth of my own child, and I'd never expect anyone else to feel differently about the birth of their children. I personally would have zero problem if my team's QB decided to miss a game for that reason.

This is one of those careers, though, where you're sort of expected to make these kinds of sacrifices. You're being paid extremely large sums of money to perform a task, which unlike many other jobs, has to be done during a specific three hour window once a week. You can miss practice, pregame, postgame, whatever, but you have to be there for the game. Not because you owe it to your loyal fans or anything like that, but simply because you signed a contract with your employer, knowing full well that this kind of condition was part of the package. Then again, contracts in the NFL frequently seem to mean little to parties on both sides, so maybe it's unfair to expect a player to care so much about the terms of a contract that his employer can break at any time.

 

[flc735]

voted maybefamily comes first so i'd be okay with that part. what i wouldn't be okay with is that he is having a baby in the middle of the season. if this was planned, its pretty stupid of him to conceive a child 9 months before mid season.

I don't know if you understand what a planned pregnancy really is. Despite what they teach in high school health class, pregnancy does not result from each and every unprotected sexual encounter. It's not like one night you say "hey, I want a baby" and then 9 months later you're cursing yourself for not checking the calendar first. Even perfectly reproductively healthy people going all out (timing the cycle, ideally spacing sex for optimal coverage) only have about a 50% chance of conceiving in any given month. You have to go a full year trying (and failing) to get pregnant before you're considered reproductively challenged. And even if you do succeed, miscarriages are shockingly common. And lord help you if it turns out you *are* reproductively challenged- even with assistance, you're looking at potentially years before it happens, if it ever does. Asking potential parents who are trying to start a family to try to time it so the baby isn't born in certain months is callous and cruel. Unless we're talking about in vitro, in which case, yeah, it's just really bad planning to have a due date in the middle of the season- no real excuse for that.

ok. no, i do not have that much knowledge as far as child birth goes. my vote is now yes

 

[Thumper]

Life happens and In the end it's just a game. I have a lot more respect for Big Ben after hearing about the stance he is taking...How would you feel if your boss/company told you that you couldn't be present at the birth of your child? I don't know a guy who wouldn't punch him in his mouth and tell him to go to hell.

 

[Jewell]

Antonio Cromartie would never get on the field

Not only am I cool with Ben (or my team's QB) missing a game to be present for the birth of their child, I actually repect Ben more for taking this position.

 

[DiStefano]

Travis Henry never made it to the birth of any of his children.

But he never missed a conception.

 

[jwb]

why do people feel the money one makes matters in things like this? Especially when it's really just perception (to us, he makes a ton. To the starving person, WE make a ton - so should we miss the birth of our kids because of that?)

 

[placebo]

I think Roethlisberger has built up enough good will in Pittsburgh that I think he could get away with missing for childbirth even a crucial game that ends up being a costly loss. As a Texans fan, if Matt Schaub or any Texan were to miss such a game for that reason, I don't think I would be alone in never forgiving him, and the day he was no longer on the team couldn't come soon enough. I have no problem admitting this is a bit irrational, but so is having such an emotional connection to men playing a game in the first place, and that feeling is what ultimately pays their lofty salaries.

From what I understand, men in the delivery room is a fairly new idea in this country. No, I don't have a child or one on the way, but I don't understand this life or death approach to being there during the birth. Wanting to be there, sure. Willing to make such a large sacrifice and letting down your organization, teammates, coaches and fans to be there is something I don't think I'll ever understand. I don't think it has anything to do with my personal experiences. If a situation arose where a player had to miss a game to be at the death bed of a close relative, I would accept that. Yet I've never lost a parent, sibling, spouse or child. Being there for the birth simply isn't comparable. You'll get to see the damn kid plenty later.

 

[kegger]

If I'm the starting QB for a professional football team that needed the win I am in all the games no question.

If it's early season on a good team probably play depending how we feel the season plays out and are chances.

If I'm on an team that has no shot at making the playoffs but I am there starting QB then I "may" be at the birth.

But for the most part I believe as the starting QB I should be at every game regardless, as your a leader and

the teams chances of winning tend to take a pretty big hit when your not playing and hurting the team, yep it's

not fair to be in a job that depends on you that much, but you are, finish the game and get to the hospital stat.

So Yah I would have a problem with it, as I feel I shouldn't do it and feel they should not do it either there.

(No I would not be OK with)

.

 

[placebo]

why do people feel the money one makes matters in things like this? Especially when it's really just perception (to us, he makes a ton. To the starving person, WE make a ton - so should we miss the birth of our kids because of that?)

It's not just the money. I'm sure there's posters here that hold important positions, but their employers can probably get by without them for a day. I struggle to think of any job where the employee is so irreplaceable and the hours are so inflexible.

 

[DoubleG]

why do people feel the money one makes matters in things like this? Especially when it's really just perception (to us, he makes a ton. To the starving person, WE make a ton - so should we miss the birth of our kids because of that?)

It's not just the money. I'm sure there's posters here that hold important positions, but their employers can probably get by without them for a day. I struggle to think of any job where the employee is so irreplaceable and the hours are so inflexible.

You mean this is not one of the things that will play into the NFL's "flex scheduling"? I bet they would have moved a game time if Brett Favre had asked via text.

 

[kegger]

why do people feel the money one makes matters in things like this? Especially when it's really just perception (to us, he makes a ton. To the starving person, WE make a ton - so should we miss the birth of our kids because of that?)

It's not just the money. I'm sure there's posters here that hold important positions, but their employers can probably get by without them for a day. I struggle to think of any job where the employee is so irreplaceable and the hours are so inflexible.

Yep money didn't play into my position either, just the need of the guy to be there to get the job done.(a starting professional QB on a team is not as easy to be replaced and perform as most any other job is)

 

[CalBear]

On the one hand, you have the fans, who will call you a pathetic bum the first time you throw two INTs in a row, the owner, who will void your contract the first time it seems advantageous to him, and your teammates, who will put a bounty on your head as soon as they sign a contract with another team.

On the other hand, you have your wife and your first-born child.

Choose wisely.

 

[Shawn]

you can plan to have a baby that is born in the offseason he is stupid

 

[jwb]

why do people feel the money one makes matters in things like this? Especially when it's really just perception (to us, he makes a ton. To the starving person, WE make a ton - so should we miss the birth of our kids because of that?)

It's not just the money. I'm sure there's posters here that hold important positions, but their employers can probably get by without them for a day. I struggle to think of any job where the employee is so irreplaceable and the hours are so inflexible.

Yet it's still just a job.

 

[Shawn]

think of working in the nfl as being the same as working on a cruise ship you can't just leave to see your family in the middle of a cruise

 

[DoubleG]

think of working in the nfl as being the same as working on a cruise ship you can't just leave to see your family in the middle of a cruise

...except he can, actually. But other than the fact that the two are entirely dissimilar, they are almost the same.

 

[placebo]

why do people feel the money one makes matters in things like this? Especially when it's really just perception (to us, he makes a ton. To the starving person, WE make a ton - so should we miss the birth of our kids because of that?)

It's not just the money. I'm sure there's posters here that hold important positions, but their employers can probably get by without them for a day. I struggle to think of any job where the employee is so irreplaceable and the hours are so inflexible.

Yet it's still just a job.

What's your point? I'm not suggesting he be forced to do it. I'm just going to disrespect him if he chooses not to do his job.

 

[Novice2]

You have to be somewhere at some time in some jobs. If under no circumstances must you miss being there when your baby is born do not become an NFL player.

 

[Red Herring]

For those saying he could have planned it better, another thing to think about: no birth control method is 100% effective. Do you want to take 6 months off of sex to ensure you're at your job? I can guarantee Big Ben ain't.

One other thing I thought of right away and haven't seen anyone mention yet: By the time he retires, he'll have had a chance to play hundreds of games in his life (HS, college, NFL). He has exactly 1 shot at seeing his child born.

(voted Yes, and I am a parent)

 

[Daywalker]

Talking 50+ players and coaches. If I'm the owner paying this kind of money I would expect this circumstance to be their problem not mine.

Plus you are doing a lot more for your kid by collecting a game check. A million dollars in some cases. Most of these guys go broke.

 

[UKColt]

Love all the people saying 'get it induced' like it's just his call. What if his partner wants a natural birth? Is her say vetoed because he happens to be an NFL QB?

We're talking about one of most defining moments of a persons life vs a #######g football game. Of course he should be at the birth, and if anyone gives him grief for it then they're an idiot.

 

[Deamon]

does the woman who he impregnated want him there?

comment of the year so far.

 

[placebo]

Love all the people saying 'get it induced' like it's just his call. What if his partner wants a natural birth? Is her say vetoed because he happens to be an NFL QB?We're talking about one of most defining moments of a persons life vs a #######g football game. Of course he should be at the birth, and if anyone gives him grief for it then they're an idiot.

40 years ago you wouldn't even be allowed in the room. Men have become brainwashed into thinking they need to be there. I would be in the room without complaint if my wife wanted my support, but I have no personal desire to be there. Childbirth is gross. I have a fond admiration for hoo-has and I'd like to keep it that way.

 

[renesauz]

(I voted maybe) Under most circumstances...absolutely. And shame on those who would require her to induce...not good for her or the baby.

If it's December and my team is in a hot playoff race with a lousy backup, I would expect him to be on the field. He AND HIS WIFE are receiving a ridiculous amount of money for this. No simple answer...case by case.

 

[comfortably numb]

Those voting that you would be OK. Would it change if it lamded on Superbowl Sunday?