Do NFL rookies owe union anything?

It took Bears players all of about 15 minutes to dislike Cedric Benson.

There was his bold talk, predictions of greatness and lack of respect for cracking the lineup.

There was also the month-plus holdout, failing to show up for camp and the feeling of entitlement.

But probably more than anything else, it's that the fourth pick in the 2005 draft was handed a five-year contract worth $35 million.

Before he had played an NFL down, or was in good enough shape to carry the football, Benson was given $17 million guaranteed.

For years, NFL veterans have decried the huge guarantees given rookies, so one of the easiest parts of the new CBA will be the rookie wage scale, ending the days of $13 million-a-year deals for the Sam Bradfords of the world.

The players will fight for a lot before they come to terms with the owners, but rookies will be at the bottom of the list, the very last thing the union cares about.

The rookies have no one in their corner during this fight and have no say in this battle, despite the fact that many of them will be out of the league or permanently disabled within four or five years and their only chance to make real money in the NFL will come from that first contract.

Yet, the players association — and all the veterans who don't care a lick about them — suddenly want the rookies to be a part of their fight by boycotting the draft and embarrassing Commissioner Roger Goodell on national TV.

“We plan to invite the 15-20 top prospects and their families to New York as we normally do for this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said league spokesman Greg Aiello. “As always, it is the decision of the players and their families as to whether they attend.”

You think of the scene with Michael Oher at the end of “The Blind Side,” when he and his family got their moment and imagine him forfeiting that chance for a union that doesn't give a spit about him.

“Every player that's ever come has said it's one of the greatest things they've ever done,” Goodell said Tuesday. “We know the fans love it, too.”

And the fans aren't too keen on this idea, which already has backfired and garnered support for the owners.

But this is what the NFLPA wants, and any draft pick ignoring the edict risks being ostracized by his new teammates when he gets to camp.

So instead of Radio City Music Hall, ESPN, the NFL Network and the commissioner, reports say the union might introduce the players at an “alternative event.”

It's all part of a CBA negotiation, complete with posturing and the accompanying rhetoric.

That's expected, but using draft picks as pawns when current NFL players won't be fighting for them in the least, is the height of players association hypocrisy.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

It was only one game, granted, but you wonder if all those pining for the return of future Hall of Famers Antti Niemi and Ben Eager still feel that way after Monday's thrashing of the Sharks by the Blackhawks.

Niemi left the five-hole open all night and couldn't stop a beach ball, while Eager made a horrible decision that led to an odd-man rush and a huge goal by Jonathan Toews.

Still, you get the feeling these two teams are destined to meet in the postseason again this spring.

The good cause

During the Blackhawks' March 23 game against Florida, the team will celebrate “Save of a Lifetime,” which serves to educate men about prostate health and PSA screening.

From 6 p.m. until the end of the second intermission, Save of a Lifetime will be set up on the concourse (Section 120) for pre-screening and information on prostate wellness.

For more info, check out Save of a Lifetime on Facebook.

Filter it

Memo to Adrian Peterson, who compared working in the NFL to “modern-day slavery”: Before you compare anything to “slavery,” think about what the word means.

Tweeted Ryan Grant of the Packers: “I have to totally disagree with Adrian Peterson's comparison … There is unfortunately actually still slavery existing in our world … That was a very misinformed statement … I understand what point he was trying to make. I just feel like he should have been advised a little differently.”

Heat is on

If Dwyane Wade continues to play defense the way he has of late, it changes things considerably and the Heat might not be dead and buried as so many have them already.

Bracketology

NBC's Jimmy Fallon: “It's the beginning of March Madness. Of course, if you're Charlie Sheen, you got a three-week head start.”

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: “Phil Jackson: ‘Real men don't cry, real men practice pop Buddhism.'“

And finally …

Omaha World-Herald's Brad Dickson: “This is embarrassing. The situation is so bad Cam Newton's dad just issued a statement distancing himself from (Jim) Tressel.”

ŸListen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's “Hit and Run” show at WSCR 670-AM.