We've all heard that expression which most of us understand to mean that we should stop listening to celebrities, athletes, entertainers, et al when it comes to politics, social issues, or pretty much anything that isn't within the field that made them famous.

I think that's wrong because most of us truly enjoy what they do in their chosen field. Hasn't Tom Cruise made some pretty entertaining movies? Isn't Lebron James an amazing basketball player? Jay Z has put together some really good albums, if you like his style of music. We would have missed out on some pretty good entertainment if we had followed the adage.

What we have to do is stop listening to famous people without being critical of what they are saying. By 'critical' I mean we should analyze what they are saying and the validity of their opinion.

Chris Long plays in the NFL. He is the son of Hall of Fame inductee Howie Long, one of my favorite players. Chris has been put forth as an expert on social, political, and economic issues. He is a lineman which means he is one of the more intelligent men on the field. The fact that I was also a lineman does not mean I am biased. But Chris is articulate and educated; should I say indoctrinated?

Long was speaking about current NFL players that are holding out and trying to get a new contract. Chris opined that failing to live up the the contract that the player signed is not a big deal since NFL teams consistently dishonor the contracts all the time. His definition of 'dishonoring' is management deciding to waive or cut a player before the contract expires.

I guess Long's analysis tells me that a degree from the University of Virginia is not worth as much as it used to be. He misses a very significant point in his evaluation of honor and dishonor; teams have the right under the terms of the contract to waive or cut a player, thus terminating the contract. If one is exercising a clause that is specifically addressed in the contract, then that party is not dishonoring the contract, they are living up to the terms of the contract and exercising a right they are given in that agreement.

Players who choose not to report to the team as required by the terms of the contract, are actually dishonoring the contract. There is not a provision in the contract that allows them to hold out so their actions are actually extra-contractual and thus not part of the agreement.

Long goes on to say that you and I can't relate to the situation that professional athletes find themselves in; e.g. the player can be cut or traded without any notice. Really? Chris, you grew up in a world that most of us can only dream about. Most of us are in exactly the same situation as professional athletes in that regard. Miners,, auto workers, and others can be laid off at a moment's notice. Many employees, especially salaried, are 'at will' employees who can be let go without cause.

We may not make the money that athletes are paid but we face the same uncertainties that many of them face; we can get hurt on the job, we can lose our job if we don't perform, we can lose our income at a moment's notice.

Long and others certainly have a right to express their opinions but just because they are good at their craft does not mean they are knowledgeable about other fields. Doesn't mean they aren't knowledgeable either, but we must start analyzing their statements rather than give them a weight they do not deserve.

Kind of like when you were a teenager listening to your parents.