NFL players have prepared for this lockout. For years they had suspicion it was coming. The smart players planned financially and even if the season is canceled (which I don’t see happening) they will be OK. There’s a few guys who are the exception, but they only have themselves to blame.

But what about the people whose livelihoods involve the Lions? The people who don’t play football, but who earn an honest living.

They are feeling the brunt of this lockout. The Lions’ staff has been forced to take two weeks of furlough (unpaid leave). Certainly they planned ahead too, but it’s much different when you’re earning regular wages not millions of dollars per year.

It’s unbelievable that both sides are so pig-headed that they will let this happen. They’re letting the fans down, but more importantly they’re hurting the budgets of hard-working people who deserve better.

The players recognize that others are suffering.

“To be honest people who working at the stadiums and the facilities, there’s a lot of people who depend on this money. I’m OK, I can honestly say there’s a lot of people I think about who are affected more and that’s what really upsets me,’’ wide receiver Nate Burleson said.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)