Support NeoGAF

[FrenchMovieTheme]

i was just reading the NBA thread and got to thinking about the NFL's collective bargaining agreement coming due for renewal soon.

i will be honest: i like NBA basketball, and casually enjoy the nhl, so i would never be happy to see them on strike. but i would live. if the nfl went on strike i feel as though my life would be over at that point. i hope the fellas behind the NFL behind the scenes stuff aren't as stupid and stubborn as in the other sports

 

[DMczaf]

 

[Fifty]

I'd continue to watch the greatest pro league in the history of sports. the C F L

 

[TheDuce22]

Dont speak of such things you fool!!!

 

[Laguna X]

Dont speak of such things you fool!!!

^^ what he said

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

CFL...






:lol

 

[DJ_Tet]

:lol @ kids these days.

The NFL had two MAJOR strikes in the 80's, and quite frankly, that's why they have the best salary system in the fan's eyes today. During in at least one, and maybe both strikes, the NFL used replacement players and offered tickets at bargain prices. The union folded and scabs crossed the picket lines in droves, and the NFL Union has very little power today as a result. That explains the somewhat fan-friendly salaries and the fact that anyone can be cut with very little consequence to the team.

However, expect the players to try and change that and get some sort of guarantee (more than a signing bonus which only elite players really get). With the violent aspect of the sport, I think most fans would understand the need for some sort of guaranteed contract, however the NFL will fight that tooth and nail. I wouldn't be surprised to see a MAJOR NFL strike within the next five years.

All the sports are due for readjustment, with the NFL needing the least tweaking. However, the players have a raw deal in comparison to other leagues, and I expect them to try and change that given the popularity boom in the sport over the last 20 years.

 

[DarienA]

What would I do?

I remember the scabs in the 80's... I don't want to go back.

 

[Slo]

I would demand a refund on my season tickets. Then I would cry like a little girl.

 

[Cloudy]

That explains the somewhat fan-friendly salaries

What do you mean by this?

 

[demon]

I would be like "oh dear" and go on my merry way. And people accuse ME of not having a life...

 

[DJ_Tet]

What would I do?

I remember the scabs in the 80's... I don't want to go back.

No doubt. The replacement NFL was NOT a good thing. You thought that NFL Europe has a dropoff in quality, that was nothing compared to fat scabs

I think that if there is a strike today, there will NOT be replacement players. Games will just be cancelled.

 

[DJ_Tet]

What do you mean by this?

I mean in comparison to the NBA or NHL mainly. The amount that players and stars make in comparison to what the economics of the game bring in is much more in balance than the other pro sports. Especially hockey, but the NBA too.

 

[Cloudy]

I mean in comparison to the NBA or NHL mainly. The amount that players and stars make in comparison to what the economics of the game bring in is much more in balance than the other pro sports. Especially hockey, but the NBA too.

The reason NFL players make less money compared to other sports is that there are more players needed. IIRC, in the NBA, the players get like 55% of league revenue with the owners pocketing the rest. In the NFL and MLB, it's above 60%. I don't know what the NHL's was but apparently it was too much since the league is just not that popular and most teams weren't profiting. NBA players have the highest average salary only because there are less players to pay. Or would you rather they make what the average NFL players are making while the owners keep the rest? :lol

I still don't know what any of this has to do with fans unless you mean that some fans disapprove of guys making a lot of money cos the owners would not be passing any "savings" over to the fan.

The main issue with the NBA negotiations right now is the length of contracts not the money they have to pay. Teams just don't want someone who can't play anymore due to injury or whatever taking up a huge chunk of their cap...

 

[levious]

I would quickly raise as much money as possible and place it all on the Redskins winning the Super Bowl after a strike shortened season.

- Criticizing a bum of a player who makes too much is one thing, but fans who resent high salaries are stupid, plain and simple.

The NFL union wielding less power than other leagues means that contracts are not gauranteed and player pensions are practically non-existent for old players... is that the sort of things you want?

 

[DJ_Tet]

The reason NFL players make less money compared to other sports is that there are more players needed. IIRC, in the NBA, the players get like 55% of league revenue with the owners pocketing the rest. In the NFL and MLB, it's above 60%. I don't know what the NHL's was but apparently it was too much since the league is just not that popular and most teams weren't profiting. NBA players have the highest average salary only because there are less players to pay. Or would you rather they make what the average NFL players are making while the owners keep the rest? :lol

I still don't know what any of this has to do with fans unless you mean that some fans disapprove of guys making a lot of money cos the owners would not be passing any "savings" over to the fan.

The main issue with the NBA negotiations right now is the length of contracts not the money they have to pay. Teams just don't want someone who can't play anymore due to injury or whatever taking up a huge chunk of their cap...

I stand by what I said. The biggest issue is guaranteed contracts, not the overall salary of a particular player. If I recall correctly, the NHL players were over 70% of league revenue, for what it's worth. However, since the NHL barely has a TV contract, their overall revenue stream is significantly less than NBA, MLB, or NFL. And that ties into the main reason why I feel there will be a big strike in the NFL. Their new TV contracts are enormous, not including the radio deals with Sirrus (or XM? doesn't matter), and the NFL Ticket package with Directv. The overall pie got significantly larger in the NFL the past two years, and you can be sure the players are going to try and grab more.

You shouldn't be so quick to take my overall pessimism in professional sports as a slam on the NBA. We also disagree on which side should profit more, players or owners. We've had that discussion before and it goes nowhere. I'm more in favor of some sort of communistic approach which would allow the games to go back to the fans. Unfortunately it seems empty arenas are becoming more common, and that's one thing that ultimately must be addressed. It isn't for lack of fans that's for sure.

 

[DJ_Tet]

The NFL union wielding less power than other leagues means that contracts are not gauranteed and player pensions are practically non-existent for old players... is that the sort of things you want?

Player pensions should be addressed immediately in every league. It's unfortunate that with all the money in pro sports that pensions are even an issue. As far as contracts, I'd be in favor of mandatory one year deals with max levels of salary. I'd also be in favor of significant pay raises for each team based on record and playoff success. If winning is the ultimate goal, make it the ultimate goal. Sometimes it seems like the only people dedicated to winning are that team's particular fans.

I know it sounds crazy, and idealistic, but that's how I feel. I'm under no illusions that it would ever happen :lol

 

[Brian Fellows]

Watch more College football.

 

[Macam]

Petition Jeb Bush to intervene.

 

[levious]

Player pensions should be addressed immediately in every league. It's unfortunate that with all the money in pro sports that pensions are even an issue. As far as contracts, I'd be in favor of mandatory one year deals with max levels of salary. I'd also be in favor of significant pay raises for each team based on record and playoff success. If winning is the ultimate goal, make it the ultimate goal. Sometimes it seems like the only people dedicated to winning are that team's particular fans.

I know it sounds crazy, and idealistic, but that's how I feel. I'm under no illusions that it would ever happen :lol

there already are financial incentives for playoff appearances and wins, you think there should be more?

And contracts employ plenty of incentive packages for postseason success... maybe it should be made more standard? I don't know.

 

[Bowser]

See: DMczaf, DarienA

 

[SickBoy]

I would watch CFL (already do) and scabs if they fielded them.

I think an NFL strike/lockout would annoy the heck out of me. I've tried to avoid thinking and reading about the CBA, because I don't want to entertain the notion of no football, but it seems that a key issue is big-market teams not wanting to share the wealth... but sharing the wealth is a big part of what's made the NFL what it is today.

 

[Matlock]

Put the canadians on ignore

 

[mightynine]

I wouldn't have to pay for fantasy football and I'd have my Sundays back to do other stuff.

In other words, life would go on.

And I wouldn't miss the NBA one bit if they had a lockout.

 

[Mike Works]

Laugh. A lot.

 

[Rorschach]

I agree with DM, I'd double fap myself to death.

 

[belgurdo]

Continue watching racing

 

[Ryck]

Damn......I don't know Nfl has become such a tradition in my life, be it talking mathups and stats and predctions all week at work or Sunday's with stake, ribs, carne asada tacos, chips sodas and my fanatical friends.......I think I'd honestly go through withdrawl/depression.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I shudder to even think about it! *eyes DirecTV box thinking about Sunday Ticket*
I remember the scabs in the '80's and most of them were horrible, although a few actually stuck with teams afterwards.

One thing I will say about the NFL and the NFLPA is that both sides seem to understand that their league is the healthiest of all the Pro sports because of the fact that revenues are shared and that a salary cap is needed to keep things in check. Yes, the TV package is growing each time it is re-negotiated, but the amount of revenue is directly tied to the salary cap, thus as the League's revenue increases, it makes the pool for player salaries larger as well, allowing for more money for the players.

Guaranteed contracts are another issue, and because of the nature of the game, and the number of major injuries, some career ending, those types of contracts are a huge risk for NFL teams who could see their star players gone for ever, but still have to pay them regardless. The Browns are sure glad that Kellen Winslow isn't under that type of contract, although it is likely they will try to void some of his contract none the less, do to his off field injuries. But compare that to Jason Giambi, whose contract the Yankees would like to void. They gave him a huge deal, thinking he would provide them a major power hitter. Turns out the guy is on 'roids. False advertising! Now that he's no longer juiced, he's not even an average player, but the Yankees still can't void his contract.

 

[DJ_Tet]

there already are financial incentives for playoff appearances and wins, you think there should be more?

And contracts employ plenty of incentive packages for postseason success... maybe it should be made more standard? I don't know.

No I know there are, but what does $50,000 mean to someone making $10 million a year? I'd want to bring the difference to around 1/3rd salary or something like that. Say the cap was $3 mil a year, make the Super Bowl winner earn an extra mil or so per player. Now, players obviously don't need any incentive to win the SB once they are there. However, this scale would slide weekly. It's not a fully formed idea, and it certainly has it's own can of problems, but since it's a job to these players (rightfully so), lets make them really play for pay.

 

[Archaix]

No I know there are, but what does $50,000 mean to someone making $10 million a year? I'd want to bring the difference to around 1/3rd salary or something like that. Say the cap was $3 mil a year, make the Super Bowl winner earn an extra mil or so per player. Now, players obviously don't need any incentive to win the SB once they are there. However, this scale would slide weekly. It's not a fully formed idea, and it certainly has it's own can of problems, but since it's a job to these players (rightfully so), lets make them really play for pay.

But then you're defeating what most every rule in the NFL is set up for-To make it easier for the teams who finished badly last year to finish well this year. They get high draft picks, easier schedules, and spend the same amount on players that the good teams do. With any sort of bonus to the cap, you eliminate a big part of that even playing field.

As far as pensions, fuck them. Aside from the games themselves, nothing is more entertaining in sports than seeing former players whoring themselves out for every penny that they can get because they're too god damned retarded to spend and invest the millions they make wisely.

 

[DJ_Tet]

First off, "easier schedules" is a myth whose day has passed. With your 6 division games plus your division playing the same 8 teams (1 other NFC conference and one other AFC conference), that leaves 2 games that aren't home variants of the schedule of your nearest competitors. Combined with the massive parity, easier schedules don't hold much water for me.

Otherwise, I don't see how it disrupts competative balance. I'm still in favor of a cap.

Third, I can't believe someone would say that about pensions. Sports salaries have gone up in magnitudes from 1985 and the 70's since free agency. Players in the 60's (not that long ago) had working class salaries. You've also got to remember that only a handful of athletes even today are making assloads of cash. Sure, the minimum salary is nice, but the pension isn't for Ryan Leaf who blew his wad. It's for the poor sap who blocked for Jim Brown and pulled in maybe $300,000 for his entire career. Those players enabled what has happened in the last 20 years and there is PLENTY of money to help them out, they should be taken care of. Players in the NBA who retired pre-1963 for instance receive a small monetary sum ($1000 or $2000 a month for instance) and their wives aren't covered at all. It's unfortunate in this era of "throwbacks" that they have forgotten the players whom truly played the game for the love, as it was impossible to get rich from it.

Hell, if you guys saw what Magic and Bird and Jordan played for for the majority of their careers, yeah it was a lot of money, but it looks downright paltry compared to what players earn now. Are economics so out of whack that the MLE today makes about 2 times what Larry Bird made in his prime? I'm not trying to keep anyone from getting theirs (like I could stop them), I mainly think the cash in the system could be distributed better.




edit---I think I understand what you meant about competative balance Archaix. You are suggesting that good players would take significantly less to join a good team to guarantee wins? Yeah, I think you're right. However, that already happens to a lesser extent. Like I said, my system would never be implemented, but I feel with tweaks you could truly level the playing field. It ain't perfect though by any stretch :lol

 

[bionic77]

I would kill Tom Brady.

This is the same answer I would give to the questions: "What would you do if the Pats beat the Steelers in the playoffs again?" and "What would you do if you met Tom Brady?"

 

[Boogie]

Put the canadians on ignore

:lol

Good answer.

 

[Spectral Glider]

Like Chris Rock said, "I'd jump out the fuckin window.....and slit my throat on the way down."

 

[soulja224466]

I would kill Tom Brady.

This is the same answer I would give to the questions: "What would you do if the Pats beat the Steelers in the playoffs again?" and "What would you do if you met Tom Brady?"

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Alex Anderson]

I would take solace in knowing the Redskins wouldn't finish under .500 again for the year.

It would definitely suck, but it couldn't be half as bad for me personally as the '94 baseball strike was.