Who would have thought it, but the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars gave a player, Aaron Ross, time off from training camp to support his wife. I was amazed when I heard this. Missing training camp? That experience of communal suffering is crucial as it is time to practice as a team developing cohesion and an understanding of responsibilities on the field. Still, the Jaguars will let Ross go…
It probably helps that Sanya Richard-Ross is a top American Olympic athlete and Ross will be going to London to watch her. The Jaguars also have made an effort to recruit free agent athletes with stable family situations thinking that those players will have the support to focus on the game. Of all NFL teams, it makes sense they would do this. It also helps that there will probably be positive publicity for this move.
Regardless of the reasoning, this decision still gives a great opening for all the men out there negotiating for time off to support their families. If XYZ Corporation does not give one time off for a family commitment, just say that if an NFL player can miss training camp to support his wife, can’t you miss some time in the cubical?
