This is the second time in just a few days that a punter of all people was cool to listen to. And a VIking punter at that. ROFL at Kluwe.
Laughter aside, though, I don't know why anyone should be surprised that Manning, Brees, et al want "special terms." This happens all the time in litigation.
People don't just "put their name on" mega-million dollar lawsuits out of a sense of collective identity and team unity. They put their name on mega-million lawsuits because they're expecting to get something more by virtue of having their name there rather than someone else's name there. And a big part of that "something more" is more influence at "settlement time."
WHen a lawsuit gets to the stage where "let's settle" becomes the dominant pressure, it helps to have your name on the documents. If you think your interest has some "extra complications" or things that "not a lot of others in the group are as worried about"? ANd those things matter to you? Then get your name on the papers.
Litigation happens when the hurt from not litigating gets personal. You don't sue because "everyone's getting fucked over". If everyone's fucked, you get some other moron to deal with the lawyers and the courts and the bad press and the mickey mouse shit. You litigate because you personally are getting fucked over and because you don't trust "everyone" to do what you think needs to be done.
Peyton and Brees and Brady are really really big names (arguably the biggest). But there are a heckuva lot of "big names" out there who didn't put there name on the lawsuit? WHy is that? Do people really think the named plaintiffs care "more" about the "players as a whole" than all those other big names. Dream on.
Do you really expect Logan Mankins to put his name on the dotted line of the original filings, even though dozens of players with at least as much "star power/influence," just because he was gung ho for the team. Give me a break.
Anyone who puts his name on a lawsuit without being driven by his "personal" stake in the thing is a damn fool. (Most people are damn fools when they litigate anyway, but IMO it is naively moronic to do it just for the "common good.")
If my name were on the documents, and the "collective" bargaining hadn't fully taken into account my key personal stake, then damn straight I'd be pushing for special treatment. And the more everyone else is saying "it has to be done right now", the more of an asshole I'd be.
Because this is the time where my influence to get what I went into this for is as big as its ever going to be.
Sorry, but litigation happens because playing nice doesn't work. If you have to sue, you've already decided that its necessary at some point to be an asshole.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)