NFL lockout

[Snail Shell]

The NFL has gone into a lockout. To all NFL fans on here, my sincerest condolensces (spelling?). This sucked when the NHL had it. I'm sure it sucks for you guys now. It didn't suck so much for baseball. 😛 😀

Vent your frustrations here.

SS

 

[Lonestar327]

Im not really gonna get worried until the start date of the regular season, I still stand by my prediction.

NFL fans will miss the start of the regular training camp, a deal gets done, pre-season gets cancelled for training camp, from training camp to the regular season.

 

[CodeBreaker]

I am not worried either. Just have to let some time pass and see what happens down the road. If it happens then it will be boring on Sundays.

 

[Dave2112]

I'm hoping this won't be the NHL lockout all over again...but there's SO much at stake, I don't see it going beyond training camp at the latest.

 

[alchemy]

It REALLY sucks for my 49ers. Without free agency, there wont be much we can do, besides the draft, to retool for next season

 

[jaba]

I have yet to hear an acceptable publically stated reason for why the league won't open up their financial books to prove their financial situation to the players. I'm sure they dont want to show the books for strategic reasons, but their publically stated explanations don't pass the smell test.

 

[obama666]

It's there option to open the books! That's always the Unions biggest whine is to open up the books.

 

[Big_Dogg85]

It is as Obama said, they really have zero obligation to reveal their financial situation to the players. I, much like Snail and Dave reiterated, hope NFL fans don't have to go through what NHL fans did in 04/05. There are still a few things on the burner - namely being the anti-trust lawsuit. If the judge rules in favour of the players then there may not necessarily be a lockout but then I can see this case getting appealed by the NFL, to as high a court as possible. IF judge rules in favour of NFL and appeals fail, then it all depends on how entrenched the players and the players union wants to be because in the end - it all comes down to money and unfortunately for the players, billions will always trump millions so the owners can easily holdout for as long as they want. That's what happened with the NHL, through what I had read - the players ended up giving in to a majority of the owners' demands because they did not have the financial ability to endure a prolonged strike, on top of the fact that the court of public opinion was swaying away from the NHL overall, players and league.

Well regardless of how this plays out, I hope it doesn't end up leaving an extremely sour taste in fans' mouths for a long time.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

I have yet to hear an acceptable publically stated reason for why the league won't open up their financial books to prove their financial situation to the players. I'm sure they dont want to show the books for strategic reasons, but their publically stated explanations don't pass the smell test.

When was the last time your boss opened up their books to you to let you know what they are making?

And it really does not matter whether it passes the smell test. They are not agreeing how to split 9 BILLION dollars. They players are millionaires. Who cares how they split it? The players will say they care about the future of the game but they are looking to line their wallets now.

You will NEVER be able to see 9 BILLION dollars in your lifetime. They are worried about how to split 9 BILLION each year. Kind of hard to feel sorry for EITHER side.

 

[natural tickler]

I dont blame the players...if you are claiming poor boy...show me your books to prove otherwise...ultimately, the fans are the ones who will suffer...a shame indeed

 

[maniactickler]

With no football, ill be sure to save some money from not gambling.

 

[tkpatience]

Lockout. Such an ugly term in the sporting world.

I'm reminded of the NBA in 1998 season. I find myself pondering what would be less objectionable; a partial season in which a little over half games were played or a complete season missed.

 

[jaba]

I dont blame the players...if you are claiming poor boy...show me your books to prove otherwise...ultimately, the fans are the ones who will suffer...a shame indeed

Thats the point I was making, Natural. Seems just common sense to me......

It doesnt have to be the NFL....pick any contract negotiating scenario.

The players are the star of the show. Without that commodity , the show doesn’t exist.

Management says they need a bigger slice of the pie in order to maintain solvency. The players say prove it; show me that you need a bigger slice of the pie. Management says no, just take our word for it, we need a bigger slice.

ALL parties know what the players make. Both the NFL and the owners know, because they pay the player salaries, approve the salaries, and negotiate payment for the players they want through draft and trades.

So why shouldn’t the players know what the league makes, and how the money is spent?

I'm not feeling sorry for anyone in this millionares versus billionares game, although I do feel more should be done for retired players, who have sustained lifelong debilitating injuries back in the day, and have substandard medical coverage for those injuries they sustained making the game what it is today.

 

[storm7400]

Thats the point I was making, Natural. Seems just common sense to me......

It doesnt have to be the NFL....pick any contract negotiating scenario.

The players are the star of the show. Without that commodity , the show doesn’t exist.

Management says they need a bigger slice of the pie in order to maintain solvency. The players say prove it; show me that you need a bigger slice of the pie. Management says no, just take our word for it, we need a bigger slice.

ALL parties know what the players make. Both the NFL and the owners know, because they pay the player salaries, approve the salaries, and negotiate payment for the players they want through draft and trades.

So why shouldn’t the players know what the league makes, and how the money is spent?

I'm not feeling sorry for anyone in this millionares versus billionares game, although I do feel more should be done for retired players, who have sustained lifelong debilitating injuries back in the day, and have substandard medical coverage for those injuries they sustained making the game what it is today.

Its been said before in this thread but I'll reiterate it, ask your boss or company to show you their books. You'd barely make it through the door with that request. Frankly the owners DON'T have to open their books because it would reveal trade secrets and that my friends is protective information. Secondly, not all information pertaining to "the books" includes money going to the players. They employ scores of other people in order to make an NFL team run and you don't see any of those people asking for a look at the books or even having the option of negotiating a new deal in terms of revenue splits.

This whole debacle has become driven into the ground by the hack media and is nothing more the revolting. Frankly I'm too the point of not caring in any way about anything pertaining to this issue. If these clowns are trying to garner sympathy from me or any other self respecting fan about $9 BILLION then they are sadly mistaken.

 

[jaba]

Its been said before in this thread but I'll reiterate it, ask your boss or company to show you their books. You'd barely make it through the door with that request. Frankly the owners DON'T have to open their books because it would reveal trade secrets and that my friends is protective information.

First off, I'm not vital to the viability and sustainability of my company, so they don't have to show me jack but the exit door, should they choose.

NFL players are vital to sustainability of the NFL as a successful enterprise.

Secondly, not all information pertaining to "the books" includes money going to the players. They employ scores of other people in order to make an NFL team run and you don't see any of those people asking for a look at the books or even having the option of negotiating a new deal in terms of revenue splits.

Management can redact info on the books not pertaining to what needs to be revealed for negotiating purposes, it's done all the time. And those scores of other people you describe employed by the NFL can all be replaced, so they don't have the leverage to ask to look at the books as a barganing position. I'd bet they would if they could.

This whole debacle has become driven into the ground by the hack media and is nothing more the revolting. Frankly I'm too the point of not caring in any way about anything pertaining to this issue. If these clowns are trying to garner sympathy from me or any other self respecting fan about $9 BILLION then they are sadly mistaken.

I completely agree with you.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

First off, I'm not vital to the viability and sustainability of my company, so they don't have to show me jack but the exit door, should they choose.

NFL players are vital to sustainability of the NFL as a successful enterprise.



Management can redact info on the books not pertaining to what needs to be revealed for negotiating purposes, it's done all the time. And those scores of other people you describe employed by the NFL can all be replaced, so they don't have the leverage to ask to look at the books as a barganing position. I'd bet they would if they could.



I completely agree with you.

It is not vital for the NFL owner to show the books either. When was the last time Gene Orza had the owners open the books??? Oh...NEVER! The pie is 9 BILLION dollars. These owners and US made these players millionaire.

You and Natural seem to sympathies with the players. That is okay. But these players are making MILLIONS of dollars. Are you making MILLIONS of dollars? I know I am not! Guys like AP are suggesting that the league is equal to modern day slavary. Really??? You can have pity for a guy who makes 10.25 million dollars making those kinds of comments? Really???

 

[primetime]

To me, this lockout is ridiculous. I usually side with owners in these situations (unless they are being totally evil), because let's face it. The NFL is a corporation. The top guys will ALWAYS make ridiculous amounts of money and the "workers" will always make substantially less. Name another company in America that doesn't run the same way..

I look at it this way. The owners do not have to open their books. It is their right. But, they should open it to shut the player's union up. The players are making out like bandits, more than any other "common American" worker. If those players can't manage MILLIONS of dollars, then they deserve to be broke.

Yes, the players are specialized and obviously make the NFL what it is. A friend of mine asked, "How would you feel if the owner of our company we work for asked you to give up 20% of your salary because he is not making as much money as he is?" To be fair, i will admit i would be pissed. But losing 20% of my salary hurts a lot. Let's say I make $40,000 a year. Losing 20% is losing $8,000. That will hurt a great deal. Now, in the NFL, the minimum is like $320,000. Losing 20% of that is losing $64,000. That still puts his salary a lot higher than the average American. It's all about scale.

What really pisses me off is the league decertifying itself. Why do that? Get back to the table and keep hammering out a deal. The NFL owners came down from their $1 billion dollar demand to like $325 million. Plus, the owners/union pretty much came up with the rookie salary cap (MUCH NEEDED), and had better benefits for past players. They are hung up on revenue sharing. Really people? You were almost home. Decertifying and going to court makes it a lot worse. Keep negotiating. I hope the courts strike down the sham of decertifying. The CBA can't remain status quo.

The one thing I keep thinking about is the owners have an ace up their sleeve. They knew the union may break up and try to go to court. I think the players will end up losing this battle.

 

[natural tickler]

It is not vital for the NFL owner to show the books either. When was the last time Gene Orza had the owners open the books??? Oh...NEVER! The pie is 9 BILLION dollars. These owners and US made these players millionaire.

You and Natural seem to sympathies with the players. That is okay. But these players are making MILLIONS of dollars. Are you making MILLIONS of dollars? I know I am not! Guys like AP are suggesting that the league is equal to modern day slavary. Really??? You can have pity for a guy who makes 10.25 million dollars making those kinds of comments? Really???

you are half right, but since the NFL and its teams are a public entity, the players are entitled to see the books if you are claiming poor boy...unless the owners got something to hide

 

[jaba]

I look at it this way. The owners do not have to open their books. It is their right. But, they should open it to shut the player's union up.

That's all i'm saying, Prime. Or, if they dont want to open them, at least owners should be smart enough to have a better publically stated argument than," we aint showing you how much money we make, because we dont have to, but please take our word for it, we need you players to take a smaller piece of the financial pie, because, we need you to accept smaller financial packages and incentives. Just trust us owners and management on this one."

The one thing I keep thinking about is the owners have an ace up their sleeve. They knew the union may break up and try to go to court. I think the players will end up losing this battle.

I don't know. I thought I heard somewhere that the players actually made out better in the long run after the last lockout. I could be wrong. But the idiot owner of my Raiders paying that idiot flake bust of a rookie quarterback Jamarcus Russell 40 million dollars to get fat and throw picks and get high off "purple drank" codine cough syrup makes me think the players got the better end of the deal last time.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

I have to ask these questions:

1) Who made these players millionaires?

2) Can any of you guys go into your bosses office and say..." I want to see the books because I am making $10.00 an hour and I think you are making more than you are claiming on my back. "

3) Why defend the players when the pot they split is 9 BILLION dollars? We are not talking about 9.00 dollars or 900.00 dollars.

4) If you owned a business are you going to show your employees the books because they asked?

5) Isn't Wal-Mart, Sunoco or Target or Toys R Us a public entity? Are they showing their employees their books?


I will refer to Eddie Murphy in the movie Raw:

" If you had five dollars and had to split it you'd be upset. Right? "

These owners have billions of dollars and I think these players know that.

So what is the point? If you were a billionaire owner and you are making these players millionaires ( some of them MANY MANY MANY times over ), would you be willing to open up the books?

It is not a matter of what they are hiding, bottomline is it is NOT of their business. They are making these players MILLIONAIRES. I didn't say thousands of dollars. I said MILLIONS of dollars.

 

[natural tickler]

which is the reason the books should be opened...9 billion dollars is indeed a lot of money, but again if you are claiming to be broke, then show them the books...there is too much at stake to just take someone's word you have no money