The owners and Roger Goodell don't realize how good they have it.
-No one will argue -not even Anthony- that football is the most dangerous and potentially life impacting injury prone of the major sports. So, it makes perfect sense that NFL Players have very little guaranteed money. Yeah, that's right. Teams can basically release them at any point with the only money due being deferred signing bonuses and potentially a roster bonus (depending on when the release happens). Good luck to a MLB, NBA, or NHL team getting rid of that player who isn't earning his contract. That money is guaranteed unless he retires.
-Speaking of salaries, NFL players have the lowest average salary of the major sport while having the largest amount of TV money coming (by a ridiculous margin). I read an article awhile ago that the NFL could have empty stadiums and just the TV contract money coming in and still make money. I am sure that is an exaggeration but point taken. So, how are the owners crying poor and claiming that player's portion of revenue needs to go down?
-The NFL and Roger Goodell say they have nothing but the safety of players in mind. We heard all season that was the reason for the enforcing of the tackling and defenseless player rules. The seemingly random penalties of the rules and fines there could be a whole other post. Let's just say it was inconsistent at best. Are the owners really that concerned with player safety if one of the main points of contention is Goodel's desire for an 18 game regular season while taking money away from the players? I am sure two more games will help the fact that the average NFL player's career is just 3 1/2 years? That's the shortest of any sport.
So to summarize, the owners want to take more money off the top and lower the overall percentage of money going to the players, while adding two games to a league that weekly already has life altering injuries. Its the equivalent of you or I being told you were going to work 15% more for less money. The players basically want to keep the same deal that isn't that great for them anyway (with seemingly minor tweaks like a pension system that the NFL can't consistently try to avoid paying out on).
The sad part is that the owners will eventually win. The players will cave whenever it gets to the point where they are missing game checks. They always do. The owners on the other hand get their portion of the TV money whether there are games or not.
Yeah that seems fair.....Just one more reason why Roger Goodell and friends are making me slowly hate the NFL.
But hey, at least Pitt football is going to be exciting this fall!
-Speaking of salaries, NFL players have the lowest average salary of the major sport while having the largest amount of TV money coming (by a ridiculous margin). I read an article awhile ago that the NFL could have empty stadiums and just the TV contract money coming in and still make money. I am sure that is an exaggeration but point taken. So, how are the owners crying poor and claiming that player's portion of revenue needs to go down?-The NFL and Roger Goodell say they have nothing but the safety of players in mind. We heard all season that was the reason for the enforcing of the tackling and defenseless player rules. The seemingly random penalties of the rules and fines there could be a whole other post. Let's just say it was inconsistent at best. Are the owners really that concerned with player safety if one of the main points of contention is Goodel's desire for an 18 game regular season while taking money away from the players? I am sure two more games will help the fact that the average NFL player's career is just 3 1/2 years? That's the shortest of any sport.
So to summarize, the owners want to take more money off the top and lower the overall percentage of money going to the players, while adding two games to a league that weekly already has life altering injuries. Its the equivalent of you or I being told you were going to work 15% more for less money. The players basically want to keep the same deal that isn't that great for them anyway (with seemingly minor tweaks like a pension system that the NFL can't consistently try to avoid paying out on).
The sad part is that the owners will eventually win. The players will cave whenever it gets to the point where they are missing game checks. They always do. The owners on the other hand get their portion of the TV money whether there are games or not.
Yeah that seems fair.....Just one more reason why Roger Goodell and friends are making me slowly hate the NFL.
But hey, at least Pitt football is going to be exciting this fall!
