Buffalo Bills cheerleaders sue over pay - squad disbanded

[Murloc]

Have you ever been to a game? They serve a huge purpose. They are basically the main entertainment.

I used to go to games all the time since my father would drag me to them. Let me give you a hint on what you can do at a NFL game. You can sit there and play with yourself for the 99% of the game that nothing happens or you can check out the cheerleaders.

People make fun of baseball as a boring game but there is literally nothing more boring than going to a NFL game. If you get rid of the cheerleaders I think you'd have a problem. There's not a chance in hell I'd go to one.

lol the fact that american football needs cheerleaders while in the rest of the world no such thing exists in any sport pretty much proves how boring it is 😛

 

[cabri]

If the suit wins in court; will the rest of the NFL follow the Bills handling of the dropping of cheerleading team or treat them as a PR arm of the team?

It will be interesting to see how the Bills fans react to this. 3 months to preseason to sweep this issue under the carpet by the NFL

 

[PokerGuy]

If the suit wins in court; will the rest of the NFL follow the Bills handling of the dropping of cheerleading team or treat them as a PR arm of the team?

It will be interesting to see how the Bills fans react to this. 3 months to preseason to sweep this issue under the carpet by the NFL

I'm sure the NFL teams are already exploring that option. It simply isn't worth the hassle to them. I'm guessing all the teams will simply drop the cheerleading squad at some point, except maybe the dallas cowboys, they make a lot of money off the cheerleaders so they'd be willing to pay them some money.

 

[fskimospy]

Have you ever been to a game? They serve a huge purpose. They are basically the main entertainment.

I used to go to games all the time since my father would drag me to them. Let me give you a hint on what you can do at a NFL game. You can sit there and play with yourself for the 99% of the game that nothing happens or you can check out the cheerleaders.

People make fun of baseball as a boring game but there is literally nothing more boring than going to a NFL game. If you get rid of the cheerleaders I think you'd have a problem. There's not a chance in hell I'd go to one.

Several NFL teams like the Steelers already don't have cheerleaders. You could get rid of them all and I wouldn't care. I also have to say that going to a football game is one of my favorite things, I try to go to at least one a year. I find the sport tremendously exciting.

If you don't like football that's your business, but to say that there would be a problem without cheerleaders is pretty ridiculous. The NFL is unarguably the most popular sport in America and at least for my hometown team (Go Eagles!) the entire season's tickets sell out in minutes after they go on sale. I don't think people are doing it for the cheerleaders, and I'm guessing the team will get by without whatever percentage of people were going for that reason. Maybe it would take 16 minutes to sell out instead of 15.

 

[hal2kilo]

Just go to college like all women go to college for, to find a man. No need to degrade yourself like this.

Amirite Nehelam?

 

[nehalem256]

Just go to college like all women go to college for, to find a man. No need to degrade yourself like this.

Amirite Nehelam?

Or just walk down to Walmart and apply as a cashier 😛

Of course, you probably aren't going to meet the man of your dreams working at walmart :\

 

[schmuckley]

http://www.sportspromedia.com/notes..._cheerleaders_make_us1_million_for_franchise/

Seriously if you think about it;Why have any cheerleaders at all if when they make it to "the pros" there is no pay?
Something's wrong there.
"Congratulations,You've made it to the big-time after cheering all your life;O btw,it's strictly volunteer" :thumbsdown:
So all that money your parents spent on cheering school/uniforms/doctor bills over the years amounts to pointless effort. 😵

 

[AViking]

Several NFL teams like the Steelers already don't have cheerleaders. You could get rid of them all and I wouldn't care. I also have to say that going to a football game is one of my favorite things, I try to go to at least one a year. I find the sport tremendously exciting.

If you don't like football that's your business, but to say that there would be a problem without cheerleaders is pretty ridiculous. The NFL is unarguably the most popular sport in America and at least for my hometown team (Go Eagles!) the entire season's tickets sell out in minutes after they go on sale. I don't think people are doing it for the cheerleaders, and I'm guessing the team will get by without whatever percentage of people were going for that reason. Maybe it would take 16 minutes to sell out instead of 15.

You're probably right. However what do you do at the game? There is nothing happening almost the entire time you're there. I used to go to 49ers games and the best was when it was against the Cowboys. I don't know what I'd do though if there were no cheerleaders. Damn that sounds boring. At least with baseball you can heckle the outfielders and basketball you can heckle the bench. Maybe I just need better seats.

 

[spacejamz]

http://www.sportspromedia.com/notes..._cheerleaders_make_us1_million_for_franchise/

Seriously if you think about it;Why have any cheerleaders at all if when they make it to "the pros" there is no pay?
Something's wrong there.
"Congratulations,You've made it to the big-time after cheering all your life;O btw,it's strictly volunteer" :thumbsdown:
So all that money your parents spent on cheering school/uniforms/doctor bills over the years amounts to pointless effort. 😵

Many of those cheerleaders are "aspiring" models/actresses and having the professional cheerleader gig on their resume is a big plus. They don't do make cheer leading their career.

 

[SlowSpyder]

And just like that, no more cheerleaders

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/buffalo-bills-cheerleaders-halt-season-202235251--nfl.html


lol

Not too surprising. The Bills just took it up to behind over a fairly frivolous lawsuit (in my opinion) for $3,000,000 too. I can see why they want to get rid of these financial risks.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/23/buffalo-bills-to-pay-fans-3m-settlement-in-text-message-suit/

 

[Brainonska511]

Why are there so many people bending over backwards for the deplorable behavior of this team? Illegally classifying people as independent contractors to get around paying people appropriately is not okay, even if they 'agreed to it'. The employer-employee relationship is not equal. It's not surprising that the team cuts the cheerleading squad though - it's a classic move by an employer to try and fracture the unity of the employees fighting for their rights.

 

[BUnit1701]

You're probably right. However what do you do at the game? There is nothing happening almost the entire time you're there. I used to go to 49ers games and the best was when it was against the Cowboys. I don't know what I'd do though if there were no cheerleaders. Damn that sounds boring. At least with baseball you can heckle the outfielders and basketball you can heckle the bench. Maybe I just need better seats.

Or perhaps go to events for sports you actually enjoy watching? Just a crazy thought...

 

[AViking]

Or perhaps go to events for sports you actually enjoy watching? Just a crazy thought...

Watching what? That's literally what I'm asking. What do you do and watch during the game? Nothing happens almost the entire time you're there.

 

[fskimospy]

You're probably right. However what do you do at the game? There is nothing happening almost the entire time you're there. I used to go to 49ers games and the best was when it was against the Cowboys. I don't know what I'd do though if there were no cheerleaders. Damn that sounds boring. At least with baseball you can heckle the outfielders and basketball you can heckle the bench. Maybe I just need better seats.

I usually sit in some of the worst seats in the house as 1.) they are cheaper and 2.) I like the fans in those sections better. (I like yelling).

During the drives themselves there's a maximum of 40 seconds between plays, and especially these days usually less than that. To me between plays you're discussing what just happened, talking about what you think they should do next as football is a heavily strategic game, heckle the other team, drink beer, etc. While I've been to a bad football game, I'm usually super interested the whole time.

I imagine it just comes down to you not liking football, which is of course purely your business. I wonder myself what the hell people do at NASCAR events, but lots of people seem to love it. NASCAR seems to be doing just fine without my patronage as well, haha.

 

[BUnit1701]

Watching what? That's literally what I'm asking. What do you do and watch during the game? Nothing happens almost the entire time you're there.

Umm, you do realize there is a game happening there? You know, giant muscle bound jocks running around throwing balls back and forth?

 

[glenn1]

Why are there so many people bending over backwards for the deplorable behavior of this team? Illegally classifying people as independent contractors to get around paying people appropriately is not okay, even if they 'agreed to it'. The employer-employee relationship is not equal. It's not surprising that the team cuts the cheerleading squad though - it's a classic move by an employer to try and fracture the unity of the employees fighting for their rights.

Well the former cheerleaders are now free to shop their unique skills to employers who more appropriately value their talents. I'm sure they'll have plenty of takers.

 

[fskimospy]

Why are there so many people bending over backwards for the deplorable behavior of this team? Illegally classifying people as independent contractors to get around paying people appropriately is not okay, even if they 'agreed to it'. The employer-employee relationship is not equal. It's not surprising that the team cuts the cheerleading squad though - it's a classic move by an employer to try and fracture the unity of the employees fighting for their rights.

I agree that abuse of the 'independent contractor' loophole is a big problem.

EDIT: Even worse though (if true) are the allegations that the team was forcing them to buy Bills swag and sell it.

That being said, I have thought cheerleading squads are stupid for a long time.

 

[Brainonska511]

Well the former cheerleaders are now free to shop their unique skills to employers who more appropriately value their talents. I'm sure they'll have plenty of takers.

That is an independent problem from the fact that the employer was cheating their de facto employees (even if the Bills would never admit that they were in fact employees).

 

[glenn1]

That is an independent problem from the fact that the employer was cheating their de facto employees (even if the Bills would never admit that they were in fact employees).

The lawyer is literally on the case, I have no doubt that it will get resolved. In the larger sense though, this might actually lead to organizations being much more careful about ever reimbursing costs for any "volunteer" since they might be classified as an employee otherwise.

 

[fskimospy]

The lawyer is literally on the case, I have no doubt that it will get resolved. In the larger sense though, this might actually lead to organizations being much more careful about ever reimbursing costs for any "volunteer" since they might be classified as an employee otherwise.

Hopefully it will also lead to organizations being much more careful about forcing 'volunteers' to buy their swag and resell it on their own dime, etc, as well.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Have you ever been to a game? They serve a huge purpose. They are basically the main entertainment.

I used to go to games all the time since my father would drag me to them. Let me give you a hint on what you can do at a NFL game. You can sit there and play with yourself for the 99% of the game that nothing happens or you can check out the cheerleaders.

People make fun of baseball as a boring game but there is literally nothing more boring than going to a NFL game. If you get rid of the cheerleaders I think you'd have a problem. There's not a chance in hell I'd go to one.

Watching a football game for the cheerleaders is like reading Hustler for the articles.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I wonder myself what the hell people do at NASCAR events, but lots of people seem to love it. NASCAR seems to be doing just fine without my patronage as well, haha.

I've been to a few Nascar events over the years (my brother in-law's/family's paving company gets free tickets/sponsors suite access*) and the best events are the smaller short tracks as you can see all the action, all the time. I've been to Daytona once as a guest and didn't enjoy it anywhere as much as the smaller tracks. Unless you like seeing the cars go by in a matter of a few seconds and then 40 or so seconds to see them go by again. Also don't care for having to using binoculars to watch a race either.

* Includes free drinks, food, and swag.

 

[fskimospy]

I've been to a few Nascar events over the years (my brother in-law's/family's paving company gets free tickets/sponsors suite access*) and the best events are the smaller short tracks as you can see all the action, all the time. I've been to Daytona once as a guest and didn't enjoy it anywhere as much as the smaller tracks. Unless you like seeing the cars go by in a matter of a few seconds and then 40 or so seconds to see them go by again. Also don't care for having to using binoculars to watch a race either.

* Includes free drinks, food, and swag.

It has always seemed like a sport that is better enjoyed on TV, but half the fun is being at the event I guess. Smaller tracks make sense though, at least then you can get a sense of the race.

 

[Zorba]

There should be no such thing as volunteering for a massive, profit making, enterprise. Especially when the events you are volunteering for are directly their revenue generating business.

The cheerleaders can be fired, required to show up at specific events and take specific training, for a profit generating event for a for-profit company, that is not what I think of when I think of a volunteer. Also, I am sure the Bills organization makes money directly selling their likeness on calendars, postcards, etc.

I say give them minimum wage and workers comp, or get rid of them.

 

[glenn1]

Hopefully it will also lead to organizations being much more careful about forcing 'volunteers' to buy their swag and resell it on their own dime, etc, as well.

😕 Unsure how that relates to the story here, example please?

Obviously there's going to be organizations who abuse their "volunteers," and per this story it seems like some if not all NFL teams fall into this category. My entire point is that Congress and/or states should update laws to provide additional clarity on exactly who does or doesn't classify as an employee vs. a volunteer. Allowing that to be determined via legal lottery on an ad hoc basis is stupid and a complete waste of resources. Sure, this time it's a greedy, deep-pocketed NFL team which is in the dock, but next time it might be your local soup kitchen because some volunteer got their parking validated. DO you really want every single instance like this determined by opportunistic lawyers suing the name of "aha, they were compensated (some token amount) and thus employees and due minimum wage."