Troy Williamson Docked Game Check for Attending Grandmother’s Funeral

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Minnesota Vikings WR Troy Williamson was notified by the team this week that he will have one game check taken away for missing three practices and last Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers to attend the funeral of his maternal grandmother. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Troy left the team October 29 (players day off) and returned two days ago for a grand total of eight days away from the team.

Here’s my take. I think the Vikings could have used more sensitivity in this matter. I understand this is a business, but at the cost of $25,588 (Troy’s pay day) under the circumstances, it looks very cold and uncaring. It’s one thing if Troy just walks out without saying anything or for some frivolous cause, but when the issue of a death in the family is at hand, I think there needs to be some sort of “give” on the part of the Vikings. As with most organizations, doesn’t an employee get a certain number of days to “work things out” under these circumstances? With pay? Maybe eight days is excessive, maybe not. But, sometimes big business gets in the way of real life and I think that’s what happened here. I don’t know all the details about Troy’s leave of absence, but from what has been reported, it’s the Vikings who look bad in this situation.