Image via Wikipedia Now that the NFL has extended the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by one week I think that the 3 major issues need to be addressed and resolved. The 3 main issues in the eyes of the fans are as follows: NFL owners claim that due to rising operating cost the $1billion that they already receive before the revenue sharing is not enough, extending the regular season by 2 games and reducing the preseason 2 games and the increased benefits for retired players.The NFL owners’ major issue is their claim that, even though the league is doing better than ever before and revenue continues to increase, the current CBA can’t sustain the rising cost of operation for the owners. The NFL is a $9billion a year business in which the owners receive $1billion off the top for their operating cost. The remaining $8billion is split between the players and the owners with 51% going to the players. With the building of new stadiums, inflation, and the current economic problems around the world, the owners say that in the next few years that the $1billion dollars won’t be enough to cover their operating cost. I’ve been calling this issue a claim because to this point the owners have shown no evidence to the players that this is true. Why should they?
I have been trying to wrap my brain around that question for the last few weeks. How many company owners open their books to all of their employees when hard economic times are said to be ahead. If I were to lose my job in an effort by my employer to reduce cost to maximize profit I have no right to question that claim. I understand the players position on the issue and would like to have the proof to go along with the claim, but at the end of the day aren’t they just employees of their teams’ owner? The existence of the CBA makes this a tricky question. The fact that the revenue is split quite evenly after the operating cost stipend makes it feel more like a partnership. If it is a partnership then the owners not only should open the books to the players but actually have an obligation to do so. The players have said all along that if the owners can show them the proof to support their claim then they would be happy to restructure the revenue sharing agreement. So when talks resume on Monday they should figure out if the owners are employers or partners to the players.
The player’s first major issue is the 18 game regular season schedule. They don’t want it and can’t see how that would improve the game in anyway. I have to agree with the players on this issue. Extending the regular season has 2 potential draw backs. The first is the added risk to injury that the players will face in a longer season. With the game being as violent as it is, there is no question that more players will get hurt during a longer season. This added wear and tear on the players will shorten some careers and will likely result in a lesser product near the end of the season. It also hurts the teams when it comes to evaluating talent. The preseason is meant to work out the kinks with the starts and test the talent level of the possible backups. If you get rid of 2 preseason games then you cut player evaluation time in half. Not giving teams an adequate amount of time to fully evaluate their players will only hurt the game especially teams decimated by injuries.
With the recent studies on brain damage caused by concussions it is understandable that the players are asking for better health benefits once they retire. We are seeing that the affects of concussions are not instantaneous. Retirement benefits need to be increased for these players in order to make sure they can live long and satisfying lives. Head injuries aren’t the only issues that retired players have to deal with. Many retired players will suffer from leg joint issues that could require treatment. Many players have issues with their shoulders even before they retire so it isn’t like most of these players stop feeling the pain of competition simply because they retire. With a game as great as football it would be a tragedy to see some of the games greats in fragile state years down the road when it can be prevented with better benefits.
These are the issues that need to be worked out this week in order for a lock out to be avoided. If there isn’t a new CBA by the deadline on Friday then there should be no more extensions. The longer these negations go on the better the chances of the fans missing out on football are. The players won’t be affected until they start missing pay checks and the owners will do what they can to get to that point in order to get what they want. If there isn’t a deal done by the deadline on Friday then the NFL Players Union should decertify and take their chances in court. At least that way we will have a better chance of having a full football season next year.
You forgot the rookie wage scale. It is crazy to me how even the power struggle is on this one. The owners control the money but if the players decertify the NFL loses their anti-trust protection which of huge. It is going to be interesting. What do you think happens?
ReplyDeleteI've heard several players say that they are for a rookie wage scale. Veteran players are tired of the Vince Youngs, JaMarcus Russells, and even the Tim Tebows of the world getting major money without proving they deserve it. The college game and the pro game are vastly different so success in college doesn't always transfer to the pros. I see there being a rookie wage scale being implemented with limited objection outside of how long a player’s salary will be restricted.
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