Dear NFL and NFLPA...
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 11:38 AM EST
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I know both of you are busy trying to convince the world that you are right, but I need to get something off my chest.
I'm here to tell you, that we as fans don't care who's right. Save the apologies, save the rhetoric. The only thing myself, and I assume the legions of fellow football fans care about, is football. That is why I hope that someone out there will read this.
First of all, I'm going to be honest. This entire ordeal pisses me off. The fact that grown ass men can't come to a civil agreement, with MONTHS of time to do so, is laughable. These so-called leaders, didn't even get negotiating until the clock was damn near at midnight.
How long have we known this was coming? At least a year? Yet, here we are, wondering if they need another extension. Must be nice to have that kind of leeway in your job. You know what my boss would do if I sat on my ass for a year and did nothing, yet then scrambled for an extension? He would can my sorry ass. Maybe that is what this situation needs.
You know the real sickening part of this all? The NFL and the NFLPA is showing us once and for all that they don't care us the fans.
You take us for granted.
Every single thing you give us, we lap it up and ask for more. The NFL Combine drew 6.6 million viewers this year. Just to watch prospective players run around in their skimps. You televise it, we were there.
If it is -5 degrees out with a foot of snow, we mush through it to watch a football team that has sucked for 10 out of the past 11 years. We were there, paying full price for our tickets and 8 bucks for a full beer (Bud Light right? After all, they give you 1 billion dollars, so I want to make sure we get a plug in for you!)
The Browns have gone through Quarterbacks like Charlie Sheen through 7 gram rocks, yet I am damn sure I'm not the only one who has a Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson and now Colt McCoy jersey/shirts. Why? Because it's the NFL and we have to have them.
Time and time again, we fans support you, the NFL and its players. Does it matter that the economy sucks? Nope. Costs me just under 70.00 to fill my gas tank, but I'll be damned if that money is coming out of my Sunday Ticket fund. Nope, I will just have to eat Ramen noodles for a week. You would shit you pants if you saw the things I could do with Ramen noodles after all these years.
I'm guessing that you guys expect the fans to understand. After all, why is Drew Brees sending out apology tweets already? And why not, the fans have always been there. You take us for granted. We are the fat girl at the end of the night. Good old reliable fans.
I am your target audience. The 18-35 Male. I am the one who you aim your Bud Light ads at. The one you want to shell out $85 dollars for a seat to a horseshit preaseason game in which the main goal of both teams is to avoid injuries. That's me. Guess what, you're really pissing me off.
I'm not the only one either. Go ahead and laugh, call my bluff. In the past 5 years I have cut Major League Baseball from my life. Probably went from spending in the neighborhood of $1,500 a season on tickets, hats, jerseys, etc. to less than $50. Haven't lost an ounce of sleep. In fact, I have found other hobbies to fill my time. I have my summers back.
I promise you this, if the NFL misses time, I won't buy anything NFL related for one full year. I urge other fans to do the same. Speak up with the voice that is the loudest, your wallet. Whatever you want, it will be there in a year. Heck, you may even discover that the Tim Couch jersey was a poor investment. Hit the NFL and the Players where it hurts.
Don't think it can happen to you, the mighty NFL? Well it can, and the quickest way to do it is to piss off your fans. Maybe you owners and players need to be reminded that there is a customer standing at the counter while you two cat fight over my money in the back.
This is your chance to show us, the customer, your loyal fans, that we matter. That for once, we have a voice in this. Get a deal done. You're not going to get everything you want, no one ever does. It's called life. 45 years ago, you were showing the Super Bowl on tape delay, now it is a national holiday. It's not because of you, it's because of us. Remember that.
Thank you for your time,
Matt Wood
Lifelong Browns fan
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Amen!
I do however want to say this is the owners fault. They want more play for less pay. Not too many of us would take that deal.
by HenryDawg on Mar 11, 2011 11:48 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Without getting into this too much, the players asked for transparency, the owners were ready to give it, and the players declined to look at it because it would ruin their public stance that the owners weren’t willing to be transparent. There is plenty of blame to go around.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Mar 11, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
The owners claimed full transparency, it didnt fit the players definition, if they accepted it they would be stuck with that definition. A big issue in any diasagreement/negotiation is who gets to define the terms of the debate. The league and the owners tell you something do you believe it? The players tell you something do you believe it?
I wouldn’t say the owners were going to provide enough info for the players to give another 50% of the revenue heap to them
The union consulted a professional auditor and the investment-banking firm it has retained for the potential review of the owners’ statements and was told the information being offered by the NFL wasn’t nearly enough to justify the significant financial concessions sought by the league. Among the information to which the union wouldn’t have access was each team’s list of non-player costs; how much each particular franchise’s profits might have declined; whether overall-profit decreases on the league level were the result of one or multiple teams; and documentation of each team’s cash flow, balance sheets and expenses.
It gets a bit murky with trying to see through the spin that both sides put on it, but it seemed like the league just offered to show more data, but not necessarily the data that was asked for. (“Look. Here’s a statement that says we’re losing money. I made it myself. It’s very nice.”) Somewhere in here there’s probably a joke about sticking my head up a cow’s ass or just taking the butcher’s word for it.
Anyways, I doubt there are too many “good guys” leading either side at the bargaining table, so I’m not too concerned at this point about who “wins” as long as we the fans – the only reason the damned league exists – don’t lose.
I am effing hurdling you and you can't stop me.
I’m with you. Neither side is in the right here.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Mar 11, 2011 11:42 PM EST up reply actions
Steelers fan in support. Right there with you Matt, I feel the same way.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Mar 11, 2011 12:40 PM EST reply actions
Think I’m gonna redirect my money from the NFL and spend more on my golf game (which really sucks by the way) and minor league baseball.
…and this time I’m serious.
What better excuse for a new set of clubs and to spend time with the kids? — if anyone needs an excuse that is.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 1:10 PM EST reply actions
Beautiful.
Anyone have an email address for Roger Goodell? Can we send this puppy around SBNation and slap some names on it as a sort of petition? I’d sign my name on that.
By all means, spread it around.
The more fans that show the NFL that they are pissed, the more they will hopefully understand us.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
BRAVO !
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. -- Vince Lombardi
by burntorangeandbrown on Mar 11, 2011 2:58 PM EST reply actions
At approximately 2:45 Schefter is reporting that De Smith is telling the players the plan is to decertify…..insert Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls music….
Not surprised.
Hire a lawyer, expect lawsuits. It is exactly what I think he has wanted all along.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Yes. Agreed.
I feel for all the younger players. They are the victims here, too.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
No worries, I received it. I try to space the posting of the picks out by at least a full 24 hours to make sure each one gets enough exposure/comments.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Mar 11, 2011 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
Owners have offered to split the difference with the players.Pretty much, to meet in the middle.
According to Yahoo, the players have decided not to counter and want to take it to court. I don’t see how anyone can believe that the players want to make a deal right now.
Very nice job BK. We know at some point they are going to have to agree on something. This brinkmanship is getting tiresome. I think they spend most of the time trying to figure out how to save face with their constituencies… sound familiar? This is the same reason government is paralyzed. The players obviously like the status quo so the staus quo must be good for them. I still wonder why once the union is decertified the NFL doesn’t just put out an employment notice for good football players and start hiring whomever will answer—former union players or not. Maybe we could get an improved roster! I’m sure there are plenty of non-starters that would like starter money. Do you really think the product on the field would be that different? I know it wouldn’t be different than pre-season play.
Brownsyup
There’s a part of me that wants to see a lockout and wants to see next season cancelled. The idea of watching millionaires and billionairs kill the goose that laaid the golden egg holds some appeal for me.
No matter, excellent rant Bernie.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
It is disgusting how much they charge for seats and beer and Jerseys theese days. I for one haven’t bought any NFL apparel that wasn’t on the discount rack. Frankly the price of tickets keeps me from going down to see more than one game a year or so. Maybie the NFL and the Players will realize that a lockout will only make more fans like me.
"Smokescreen."
Good for you. I wish I had the willpower to not buy jerseys.
Now, until there is a new deal, I won’t spend a dime.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
Fan Boycott!!
I have already quit spending!! I’m totally pissed. I was ready to buy a Colt McCoy jersey and now I refuse to buy ANYTHING with NFL on it! We should do it NOW so they will see fans are feed up!!!!
The players have offered an extension in return for 10 years of audited financial records.
Honestly, I would tell the players to go jump in a lake. Everything I read is that the owners continue to give in. What are the players giving up? The keep asking and taking. Someone needs to explain that this is a give and take.
Notice I said “extension” not a deal.
I really hate the players right now.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
In my opinion, you have it exactly backwards. In the revenue sharing deal the owners got a billion off the top before anything else was split. They want 2 billion off the top before any sharing claiming their expenses are out of control. If that’s the case then they can, like any other business, show their books. They claim new stadium construction is killing them but I don’t know that many business get their facilities subsidized like pro sports teams. If Art Modell, a lion and potential HOFer to other owners isn’t enough to convince you they are mostly made up of greedy, soulless a-holes, I don’t know what will.
I haven’t followed any of this closely, but it was my understanding that if the union decertifies, it could very well put the league’s anti-trust exemption in play. And that’s something the owners desperately want to avoid.
In other words, the players don’t have to give up a thing right now because they’re the only one at the table with an ace.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
But at some point in time, the players have to play ball.
As of right now, this isn’t a negotiation, its a hold-up. And a BS offer 10 minutes before the deadline isn’t negotiating. If this goes to court, as it looks like it will, I hope the owners CRUSH these guys.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 5:16 PM EST up reply actions
The owners have more money, and they can afford to lose the productivity of the buisness a whole lot more. WIthout the games, the owners lose the overhead expenses, and without games much of the stadium costs are nil. Meanwhile the cities actually own the stadiums and the Teams’ leases are often for paltry low sums that won’t trouble the billionaire owners. Fact of the matter is: Financially the players need football a whole lot more than the owners do.
"Smokescreen."
Financially the players need football a whole lot more than the owners do.
Someone should tell their Union Rep that.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
well the players were getting the better end of the deal in the last CBA I think, and now that the owners overhead is going up I think they realize that if things kept going like they were, the owners would be scraping by with very thin profit margins if the prices of everything kept going up.
"Smokescreen."
but there are still dozens and dozens of people who work for nfl teams, with or without games, that represent significant costs, and debt service payments for many teams on their stadiums/practice facilities. no football is a money loser for the owners, too, make no mistake.
by DontCallMeJoey on Mar 14, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
The owners negotiated their way to a contract that significantly helps them withstand a lockout.
It’s easy to get pissed at the players because the easiest way to have football is for them to give in and take what the owners and the league are offering.
That was a shady deal and it was rightfully shot down.
Still doesn’t excuse the complete lack of cooperation from the players side.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
you are right. this is take and take. its 2 things the owners don’t want to do.
Its like “if you give me all your %, I will also offer to burn your house down at the same time”
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!
And shit has hit the fan.
The union has applied to decertify their union. This now heads to the courts. I don’t care what anyone else says, this groundwork was laid when they hired DeMaurice Smith. Like I said before, I hope that the players get crammed in court.
Enjoy your lawsuit assholes.
And while I’m at it, I’m gonna add this.
I hope that a lot of these players end up having to get a real job for once in their lives. Maybe someone should pull them aside and tell them that they play a f’n game for a living. And save the injury bull shit. I am guessing coal miners in West Virginia would trade spots with them in a heartbeat. Plenty of people in this country work dangerous jobs for a fraction of these guys pay checks.
Go get a job like the rest of us and then come at me with the crying poor bullshit. 99% of these players make more in a year than damn near everyone else in this country. Those guys who make the minimum’s still clear six figures a year in a down economy. And I am supposed to sympathetic to that shit? In case you haven’ noticed, I am in full game thread mode right now.
Hell yes I’m pissed. And every single one of you should as well. Until there is a deal, I won’t spend a dime on the NFL.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 5:35 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
You should be in full game thread mode, I’m disgusted that it has come to this, and everyone else should be as well. To me, this whole ordeal is just as disappointing as a Browns loss on Sunday.
"There is a small, but important difference between peeing in the pool and peeing into the pool." - Demitri Martin
To me its worse, at least we have a game the following Sunday.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I love football. Never said differently.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
What’s that supposed to mean? They do play a game for a living. Football is a game. And I think it’s clear what Bernie meant by “a real job.”
I’m sick of hearing athletes (and owners) constantly complaining about their money. Teachers in this country make about $55,000. Don’t practice squad players at least make $100,000?
by emily522 on Mar 11, 2011 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
What i mean, is it’s real easy to say, go out and get a real job you play a damn game. But that game creates a lot of money for a lot of people and it gives a lot of entertainment to a lot of people.
The money that the owners and the athletes are bickering over is money that exists. This money exists to go into someone’s bank account. To tell the players to go out and get real jobs is to ignore the fact that the money they are trying to get isn’t some speculation and it’s also basically siding with the owners, which is one reason why the players are taking such drastic measures.
When it comes down to it, the players will be looked at as greedy spoiled athletes who need to get real jobs, while the owners will just be looked at as greedy millionaires. The players can’t win in the court of public opinion because all people care about seeing them do is play their “games.”
The money that the owners and the athletes are bickering over is money that exists. This money exists to go into someone’s bank account. To tell the players to go out and get real jobs is to ignore the fact that the money they are trying to get isn’t some speculation and it’s also basically siding with the owners, which is one reason why the players are taking such drastic measures.
I understand that the money exists, but lets not act like the players are the little sisters of the poor. After the 1 billion dollar peel back, the players received 60% of every dollar spent. Even the NFLPA President Kevin Mawae said that the deal was way to good for the players. How can anyone expect the owners to keep that up?
The players can’t win in the court of public opinion because all people care about seeing them do is play their "games."
This I fully agree on. Especially after reading what the NFLPA passed on. Both sides are dirty, but at least the Owners wanted to fix it, IMO.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
$45,000 annually for a teacher would be a more accurate average. This only strengthens your point of course. :)
"There is a small, but important difference between peeing in the pool and peeing into the pool." - Demitri Martin
I think the average for high school is 50,000 or 55,000. Overall it’s probably 45,000. Still ridiculous.
I think the average for high school is 50,000 or 55,000.
Lol. Let me go teach where you’re finding these numbers Em.
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 11, 2011 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
sometimes people quote teacher compensation with benefits included … maybe that’s where you got the higher number.
by DontCallMeJoey on Mar 14, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
This is to golan:
I had to delete your comment, not because anything you said was out of line or wrong or anything, but because the potential for it turning into a political argument was too strong.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Mar 11, 2011 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, that’s why I didn’t reply to SBs reply to my post. Thanks for the heads up though.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Mar 12, 2011 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
I was wondering why you didn’t. Thought it was reply from Golan worthy.
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 12, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
And let’s lock ourselves out and decertify ourselves as fans while we’re at it.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
Not only am I not spending any money on the NFL, I am hereby ceasing to visit NFL.com for any football news. I guess now I’ll never know what is being advertised there. And I’ll be keeping an eye on the news to make sure I get my Sunday Ticket subscription cancelled if there isn’t going to be a quality (relative for a Browns fan) football season this year.
I am effing hurdling you and you can't stop me.
I am a*so goi*g to try to avoid using the $etters #$% i@ a&# <uture correspo@de%ce.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Not me. They can take their damned game, but they’ll have to pry my alphabet from my cold dead hands. If we let them affect the rest of our lives, these entertainment-istas win.
I am effing hurdling you and you can't stop me.
by JustBob on Mar 11, 2011 9:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i hear you, matt, but this ultimately gets too simplistic.
to complain over salaries of the magnitude of those in the nfl seems ridiculous, you are right … but that doesn’t mean that one side should accept a bad deal. regardless of the dollar amounts at play, each side has a duty to negotiate the best terms that they can for their constituents. the fact that they’re arguing over billions is, at the end, immaterial to the negotiations.
court of public opinion, on the other hand, is a different story.
by DontCallMeJoey on Mar 14, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I am hoping and Praying that us fans will somehow come together and show both sides who is the one getting screwed here. I would also hope it would start with us Browns fans. I mean what other fan base knows how to rattle the cages of the NFL? Phone calling, faxes, letter drives, marches. We were only one group of fans.. Could you imagine a large majority of fans causing havoc against the Owners and Players?
I am holding off my payments for my seats this year. We should give the the owners and players a deadline. Either resolve this or we will walk away.
Hear, here should be added to the DBN Glossary.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
I went into my DBN Glossary post and commenting was closed for it; additionally, it’s so old now that probably no one who recently joined or new members who join in the future will ever see it. I’m in no way trying to sound important, because much of the glossary was created by all of you making suggestions, but I think it would be beneficial to have this visible again for newer members as a tool for better understanding of comments/jokes.
I don’t want to bother updating it if no one will see it. Chris, minions – what would be the best way to make this post visible again, and can it be edited after commenting has been closed? Does anyone else even agree that it should be visible again? Thoughts?
I don’t want to bother updating it if no one will see it. Chris, minions – what would be the best way to make this post visible again, and can it be edited after commenting has been closed? Does anyone else even agree that it should be visible again? Thoughts?
Copy/ Paste. Add new definitions. Title it DBN Glossary V. 2.
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 12, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
I’d guess that this would be the quickest and easiest way to get it back in view. and to answer DNs question: count me among those who would like to see the glossary front and center again.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Mar 12, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
Here, here!
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 12, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
So, I’m a fan of Pierre Garcon on Facebook and his latest status read “Lockout. Not what we wanted.” LOL. I find it disturbing how Smith left all the players in the dark but yet they all still follow him like baby geese. A union where the members have no clue what their superiors are doing…
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
That pretty much describes every union out there…
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
I’d like to think NFL players are even more absent – minded to it, however.
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 11, 2011 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly. Growing up in and learning the history of Appalachia I know the good than unions can do. But when a union starts to serve itself rather than it’s members as most seem (to me) to inevitably do, that union needs to go the way of the dodo.
On the bright side, we still have the CFL and college games.
I am effing hurdling you and you can't stop me.
Wonder when was the last time De Maurice Smith played a game of football (not counting flag or two-hand touch). I’ve never understood what qualifies him to represent this elite group of professional athletes.
This is exactly what the players deserve for hiring a trial lawyer to lead their union. They should not be surprised and hopefully they took him at this word when he advised them to save up for a couple months living expenses.
So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it… well, he gets it. I don’t like it any more than you men.
Good luck with that. Here’s hoping it’s only a couple of months…
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 8:53 PM EST reply actions
This wasn’t the time to hire an ex baller to lead the union. Everyone knew for a very long time that this one would be a contentious brawl The players did the smart thing in hiring an attorney
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
I think they should have hired David Cornwell. An agent that is used to dealing with the NFL.
If you hire an attorney, you are setting yourself up for a court battle.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 9:09 PM EST up reply actions
I think they saw the court battle as inevitable, and hired accordingly.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
The egg — definitely — the egg
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
This wasn’t the time to hire an ex baller to lead the union.
Unless they wanted to play football instead of dressing up pretty for court.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 11, 2011 9:01 PM EST reply actions
I bet you’re right. This isn’t about health and safety issues or benefits or any of that nonsense. The players hired an attorney so they could get some face time with the cameras and show off their urbanwear.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
In my eyes, the players can no longer say it is about benefits or safety.
The NFL gave in on all the issues in their last offer. This is 100% about money, and it always has been.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 11, 2011 9:17 PM EST up reply actions
Most definitely. Money makes the world go round.
I find it interesting that in their long bulleted list of concessions made in the final offer, the owners make no mention of how much they agreed to take off the top or what the split would be for the remaining revenue. Money was the major sticking point all along, and for all we know at this point, they could have made all of those concessions in the final offer (for PR reasons) while jacking the money demands to unacceptable levels.
Not sure that it’s wise to draw any conclusions just yet. All of the information we’ve gotten thus far is from one side or the other, and most of the time in situations like this, the truth is neither here nor there.
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
Best take on this yet (from the comments at PFT):
The owners and the union could not agree on the exact parameters of "obscene wealth".
Dawgs by Nature -- where Mike Holmgren, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Mar 11, 2011 9:29 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
I just had an interesting thought… The comment that the 32 NFL teams represent a monopolistic enterprise can be argued against in that the players can opt to play for one of the other Football leagues.. There is still an AFL, CFL, and UFL out there (you can consider all of them as professional football leagues, even if not at the same level as the NFL). Given that, the NFL as an organization of 32 teams can make their rules, and if said players don’t like them, they can go else where to another football league.. Hence, fundamentally the NFL should not be violating the Sherman Antitrust law.
Take Care,
Bink
Sounds good to me, but I am no lawyer.
by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 12, 2011 1:08 AM EST up reply actions
I think a business need not have 100% market share to qualify as a monopoly. For instance when Microsoft got busted there were many other smaller companies still around, they were just being kept from competing. I’m not sure whether the NFL would qualify as a monopoly anymore, but I do know at one time they did.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on Mar 12, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
No, you don’t need 100% to be a Monopoly, just large majority control. Next is Oligopoly, which is monopolistic control of a market by a few companies, not just one. So, the NFL is clearly still a Monopoly when it comes to football, unless you consider the NCAA, then it’s an Oligopoly.
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 12, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions
What if the league owners reorganized back into the old AFL and NFL? That would be an oligopoly, right?
— no monopoly.
Hasn’t this been argued once before?
Deja vu? Jamais vu? or…
Presque vu?
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 12, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
the NFL (and every other major professional sport) has an anti-trust exemption from the congress
by DontCallMeJoey on Mar 14, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
So I just had a thought… But aren’t the players essentially team employees?
I only ask this from the constant mention of the players and owners being “business partners.” I’m not too versed in the whole union universe.
Yeah they have a contract and all that… but the players play for the team… and they get paid for it. So unless my logic is wrong… but if someone pays you for services rendered then they are technically your boss and you’re their employee. (In a very very basic sense.)
No, a union muffs all that up.
If you haven't watched Inception, do it now. Right now.
by SpecialBrownie on Mar 12, 2011 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think I’ll be watching the draft after all this. I don’t think anybody should to be honest. I’ll get the information from the internet afterwards if I have to. As much as I love it, we’ve got to send some sort of message.
Whatever you do — don’t write to your congressman on this!
Must I state why?…
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 13, 2011 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Why in God’s name would I write my congressman?
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. -- Vince Lombardi
by burntorangeandbrown on Mar 13, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
To that I would just say: Don’t write them in Anyone’s name.
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is. -- Yogi Berra
by JustPlainBrowns on Mar 13, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I doubt Congress will be hearing much from NFL fans, I certainly would have no reason to write my congressman.
Hard to see how or why there should be any reason for concern on this front.
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. -- Vince Lombardi
by burntorangeandbrown on Mar 13, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I was just thinking of this last night. The only way for the fans to weigh in on this whole mess is by withdrawing their support, which as far as the business model is concerned means their money. Several people already mentioned not buying any team apparel or other such items, and that is definitely a start but something that might take longer to have an appreciable effect.
I think the more immediate effect is to weaken advertising revenue. If advertisers find out that not as many people are going to NFL.com, the value of the advertising space there will drop. Likewise, people should make it known that they will not be watching NFL network until this dispute is settled. We can get all the football news, such as there is, from other sources. Other outlets will be covering the draft for anyone who wants to know what our team would have to work with if there were a season, so there is absolutely no reason to do anything that would pump money into the business that is denying us what we were willing to pay for.
I am effing hurdling you and you can't stop me.
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