NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

[_shifty_]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

http://deadspin.com/5727848/a-former-player-responds-to-roger-goodells-open-letter

Five years into his tenure, the players are realizing what they have in Roger Goodell. At first, it was hard to tell. He had a refined message and promised the players that he wouldn't change a thing, unless it was deemed necessary, in the name of progress. Players are always skeptical of the power structure in the NFL — coaches, owners, or, in this case, the commissioner. There is always a prevailing "us against them" feeling. Players know that loyalty and honesty are scarce at their level, but I think for the most part, the belief endured that Goodell would respect the sacrifice of the players and keep the ship steady.

But now there's a storm coming, and the skipper is drunk at the wheel. The first sign of this came after a few well-publicized player indiscretions. Goodell started beating his chest at the rest of us. We will not tolerate this. We will not tolerate that. Here is a video about it. Here is a pamphlet about it. Here is another pamphlet (he loves pamphlets). We'll be watching you. Here I am talking about it on television. Here I am again! How's my hair?

Great Article from a recent former player (Nate Jackson) and the player's view of Goddell and the 18 Game season. Definetly worth reading

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I told everyone this about Goodell 4 years ago.
Hoping for mutiny.
From my mind to God's ears, godspeed.

 

[Chism]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Will the Lights Go Out in the NFL?
On the eve of the playoffs, Roger Goodell, the league's commissioner, explains why there might not be pro football next season.

By DAVID FEITH

New York

The great Washington Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen once likened his job to "holding group therapy for 50,000 people a week." By that measure, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell holds in his hands the mental health of tens of millions of Americans. Which is quite a burden—especially since he may soon have to deliver some very bad news.

The 51-year-old Mr. Goodell represents the owners of the most valuable sports league in the world, which today begins its playoffs. For the moment, fan attention is on the road to the Super Bowl—on the perennially favored New England Patriots, the defending champion New Orleans Saints, the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles and their quarterback, Michael Vick, of dog-fighting infamy.

But the highest-stakes action isn't taking place on the gridiron. It's out of sight, in boardrooms and over telephones, as Mr. Goodell and league owners are trying to get the players union to agree to a new collective-bargaining agreement. Negotiations have gone on for two years and if they're not settled by March 3, the NFL will suffer a work stoppage. The roughly $9 billion-a-year enterprise, in other words, might take next season off.

It's come to this, Mr. Goodell says as we sit in his midtown Manhattan office, because the owners made the mistake of signing a bad collective-bargaining agreement in 2006. The deal, he says, raised players' pay more than was healthy for the league, and left owners with insufficient cash to invest in their product. From 2006 to 2008—when owners decided to opt out of the deal, setting up this showdown—player costs outpaced revenue growth and owners' cash flow declined by $200 million.

On top of that, the commissioner says, new revenue sources are hard to find. The prime example he offers is the cost of building stadiums now that credit is hard to come by and high-tech amenities are increasingly needed to lure fans from their 60-inch, high-def home televisions.

Read more:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...465352540.html


Hmmmm not looking to promising and Goodell seems set in his ways and wont budge on this IMO. Players Union will need to back down i feel if we are to have a season next year.

 

[Tassie19Cairns20]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Will the Lights Go Out in the NFL?
On the eve of the playoffs, Roger Goodell, the league's commissioner, explains why there might not be pro football next season.

By DAVID FEITH

New York



Read more:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...465352540.html


Hmmmm not looking to promising and Goodell seems set in his ways and wont budge on this IMO. Players Union will need to back down i feel if we are to have a season next year.

You're blaming the wrong guy. The owners are the ones stuck in their ways, not Goodell. Goodell's role in this situation is solely as a person that conveys the owners' opinion to the Players Association.

As a commissioner, Goodell is great. He's cleaned up the league, there hasn't been a single relocation under his tenure(unlike his predecessor), and the NFL is maintaining its status as the most powerful sports league in the US, and one of the richest world-wide.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

You're blaming the wrong guy. The owners are the ones stuck in their ways, not Goodell. Goodell's role in this situation is solely as a person that conveys the owners' opinion to the Players Association.

As a commissioner, Goodell is great. He's cleaned up the league, there hasn't been a single relocation under his tenure(unlike his predecessor), and the NFL is maintaining its status as the most powerful sports league in the US, and one of the richest world-wide.

He has been great at the commercialisation aspect of the game (which benefits the owners), but whether he has been great at run the actual sport (which benefits the players and fans) is arguable.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Undercover Boss one of the top 20 broadcasts of 2010? WTF?

linked in this Forbes article which supports the NFLPAs criticism of owners claims that the 2006 CBA has been financially detrimental to their operations, but not releasing any comprehensive data (ex Green Bay) to support them.

 

[Chism]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

As a commissioner, Goodell is great. He's cleaned up the league

Stopped reading here.

I told everyone this about Goodell 4 years ago.

One of the few things you have been right about!!!

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Goodell is a joke of a commissioner. I sobbed when he was elected the new commissioner. Paul Taglibeau was the best commissioner. Because, like they say about officials, that a good official lets the game go, is hardly in the spotlight during a game. Same with Taglibeau. He kept true to the essence of the game that George Halas et al created. Just ensuring a well-run league, etc, and wasnt trying to "leave a personal mark" like Roger.

 

[Chism]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Goodell is a joke of a commissioner. I sobbed when he was elected the new commissioner. Paul Taglibeau was the best commissioner. Because, like they say about officials, that a good official lets the game go, is hardly in the spotlight during a game. Same with Taglibeau. He kept true to the essence of the game that George Halas et al created. Just ensuring a well-run league, etc, and wasnt trying to "leave a personal mark" like Roger.

Exactly!!

Hammer Nail Head GG.

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

You're blaming the wrong guy. The owners are the ones stuck in their ways, not Goodell. Goodell's role in this situation is solely as a person that conveys the owners' opinion to the Players Association.

As a commissioner, Goodell is great. He's cleaned up the league, there hasn't been a single relocation under his tenure(unlike his predecessor), and the NFL is maintaining its status as the most powerful sports league in the US, and one of the richest world-wide.

I'm not going to argue the point of 'Cleaned up the league' as it's the only thing he is hell bent about BUT that has caused plenty of GRIEF among fans, players & don't forget that Goodell took it upon himself to UNDERMINE his own people, the Officials in Week 6, that's just totally crossing the line and acting like a dictatorship.

Re-Location?

Considering that OWNER Art Modell moved his team to Baltimore from Cleveland has little to do with commissioners at the time who stepped in to BLOCK the Cleveland Franchise as a relocation and the Baltimore Ravens to start from scratch.

It was the deal that the NFL would provide financial help to BUILD a NEW stadium for Cleveland and their NFL records of pre-1995 would continue with their re-birth of 1999.

The previous NFL administration introduced the 2 expansion teams to the league, something Goodell isn't ready for or competent of doing.

Not need to horn-blow the 'NFL is maintaining its status as the most powerful sports league in the US, and one of the richest world-wide' line when that was already the case before Goodell arrived!!

Here's a reply to the Open letter by Goodell from Nate Jackson which will make you realise how much of a RIFT is occuring with Goodell in charge.

Read it and apologize for being so ignorant of what's actually going on.

 

[Chism]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Read it and apologize for being so ignorant of what's actually going on.

Pretty much sums it up Woodson.

 

[greennick]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Undercover Boss one of the top 20 broadcasts of 2010? WTF?

The premiere episode played right after the superbowl. Probably includes a lot of people with their boxes still running, though they were elsewhere sinking piss.

 

[stugots]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

had a good laugh at that letter

http://deadspin.com/5716038/the-greatest-letter-ever-printed-on-nfl-team-letterhead?skyline=true&s=i

 

[Brasher]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I've thought from day one that Goodell is all about leaving his own mark on the game.

He can blame players, owners, media whatever for the potential lockout but in the end, the very threat of a lockout is bad enough and is all on him.

He has one job and that is to keep the league running smoothly and since this is a business he only really has three things to worry about:

- that there is a constant and growing demand for the NFL's product (the fans)
- that there is a reliable and improving source of supply for the NFL's product (the players)
- this is done at better than break even (a profit and growing resource pool).

The current supply agreement runs out in less than three months and there is no reason to believe a new agreement will be in place in time to supercede it. So as Tsar of the NFL, he has failed at one of the three primary pillars in his role. He heads an organisation than can not guarantee the supply of its product to its consumers.

Sure the back room dealings, personal agendas and outside economic environment make this a far more complex issue than presented but, in the end, that's why he gets the big bucks.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

"http://deadspin.com/5727848/a-former-player-responds-to-roger-goodells-open-letter"

And now its just getting silly. On the heels of an impassioned plea for safer play, he's aggressively pushing an 18-game season.

I know he's in a negotiation here, but don't put Icy Hot in my jockstrap and ask me why my balls itch. And the manner in which he is selling the longer season to the public insults the intelligence of the players even more. He says that it won't add a single game. It's still a 20-game format. Enough with the 20-game argument. Every player knows that during the four combined preseason games, the starters barely play a total four quarters, if that.

well said.

 

[greennick]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

In the Goodell letter, I must say I really do agree with this:

It’s not just the health of players that concerns us. We must ensure the health of the league. That includes a new system that properly compensates proven veterans and retired players by shifting some of the outrageous sums paid to many unproven rookies. Earlier this year, Sports Illustrated published a list of the 50 highest-paid American athletes that included five 2009 NFL rookies. Every other athlete on the list was a proven veteran. In 2009, NFL clubs contracted $1.2 billion to 256 drafted rookies with $585 million guaranteed before they had stepped on an NFL field.

Don’t get me wrong: top draft choices will continue to be highly paid. All we’re asking for is a return to common sense in paying our rookies. Other leagues have done this and we can too.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ll-we-can-and-will-reach-an-agreement-on-cba-

 

[ERead]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

In the Goodell letter, I must say I really do agree with this:



http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ll-we-can-and-will-reach-an-agreement-on-cba-

So do I. I am amazed that senior players aren't at least willing to concede on this. The top 5% get enough money, the rookies are getting too much. You'd think there'd be a massive "middle class" that would put pressure on the NFLPA to sign a deal in line with getting some money moved around.

That is assuming there isn't anything else objectionable in the agreement (and I haven't read a word of it).

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I call bulls&^t on the whole rookies are overpaid thing.

Read these (especially the first 2):
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=1492
http://www.advancednflstats.com/2009/04/draft-picks-bricklayers-or-gladiators.html

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=8297
http://thebiglead.com/index.php/201...-ridiculous-could-open-door-for-rival-league/

Sure some rookies get exorbitant signing bonuses, but they aren't part of the salary perse (each team gets allocated a salary allowance by the league each year based on the number of draft picks and how high those pick were; bonuses are outside of this).

If teams dont want to be saddled with keep a bust on the team because of their huge contract, maybe they should do a better job of scouting college players instead of picking them based on hype (or outside scouting sources like the 'National Scouting Service' - most of the best drafting teams have their own scouting network)

The other thing is that the people most likely to be affected by a rookie scale - players not yet in the league - have no say in the CBA negotiations. The NFLPA has to look out for the current players, not necessarily any future ones.

 

[Brasher]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Team salary caps generally accurately reflect a class structure and value ranking amongst the team roster.

Most money goes to positions like QBs, LTs, elite WRs, pass rushers and shut down corners. Probably the most important positions on the field, the most likely gamechangers/playmakers and also the rarest and hardest to find (you could also probably add highlight reel candidates as well). Probably 5% of the roster.

Not long ago you could have said RB deserved to be on that list but the rise of the pass happy league and running back by committee has eroded the position's payscale.

The middle ground of the roster (both is pay scale and role)...guards, LBs, safeties are pretty much interchangable (sure there are the elite and the absolute scrubs at these positions) but few are difference makers like the former group.....this group though also probably makes up 75% of your roster.

The rest of the roster is made up of role players, fringe and development projects.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Team salary caps generally accurately reflect a class structure and value ranking amongst the team roster.

Most money goes to positions like QBs, LTs, elite WRs, pass rushers and shut down corners. Probably the most important positions on the field, the most likely gamechangers/playmakers and also the rarest and hardest to find (you could also probably add highlight reel candidates as well). Probably 5% of the roster.

Not long ago you could have said RB deserved to be on that list but the rise of the pass happy league and running back by committee has eroded the position's payscale.

The middle ground of the roster (both is pay scale and role)...guards, LBs, safeties are pretty much interchangable (sure there are the elite and the absolute scrubs at these positions) but few are difference makers like the former group.....this group though also probably makes up 75% of your roster.

The rest of the roster is made up of role players, fringe and development projects.

cue GG to claim that the right term is 'blind side tackle' trying to explain that a RT is far more important to a LT for teams with leftie QB's

 

[Brasher]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

cue GG to claim that the right term is 'blind side tackle' trying to explain that a RT is far more important to a LT for teams with leftie QB's

Technically correct (but then again that depends if the team swaps tackles and TE around when going from a right to left handed QB)

 

[greennick]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I call bulls&^t on the whole rookies are overpaid thing.

Read these (especially the first 2):
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=1492
http://www.advancednflstats.com/2009/04/draft-picks-bricklayers-or-gladiators.html

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=8297
http://thebiglead.com/index.php/201...-ridiculous-could-open-door-for-rival-league/

Sure some rookies get exorbitant signing bonuses, but they aren't part of the salary perse (each team gets allocated a salary allowance by the league each year based on the number of draft picks and how high those pick were; bonuses are outside of this).

If teams dont want to be saddled with keep a bust on the team because of their huge contract, maybe they should do a better job of scouting college players instead of picking them based on hype (or outside scouting sources like the 'National Scouting Service' - most of the best drafting teams have their own scouting network)

The other thing is that the people most likely to be affected by a rookie scale - players not yet in the league - have no say in the CBA negotiations. The NFLPA has to look out for the current players, not necessarily any future ones.

I agree that some players are certainly worth the money, however I would like to see the contracts set up as 3 years with a 3 year option or something. There needs to be an out if players do not fulfil their basic requirements. Teams like the Raiders being stuck with players like Ja Marcus is just not good for football.

 

[Brasher]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I agree that some players are certainly worth the money, however I would like to see the contracts set up as 3 years with a 3 year option or something. There needs to be an out if players do not fulfil their basic requirements. Teams like the Raiders being stuck with players like Ja Marcus is just not good for football.

The Raiders weren't stuck with Russell, just like the Chargers weren't stuck with Leaf and others, Akili Smith, Tim Couch, Alex Smith, Heath Shuler...the list goes on.

Rightly or wrongly, these teams picked these players to be franchise QBs and deserve to be paid as such.

The real issue is that NFL player contracts are not guaranteed (unlike most coaches, GMs and owneers who are often the cause for the players poor performance) so, to satisfy cap considerations, they pay huge signing bonuses up front before these guys have proven anything.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I agree that some players are certainly worth the money, however I would like to see the contracts set up as 3 years with a 3 year option or something. There needs to be an out if players do not fulfil their basic requirements. Teams like the Raiders being stuck with players like Ja Marcus is just not good for football.

Again that is the FOs fault for not scouting properly and then picking players who turn into busts.

A 3yr option? Considering most college players get drafted between the ages of 22 and 24, what is potentially a 6 yr contract is far too long. That rookie contract would cover their prime (with prime generally being 26-29), and in the case of most RBs, their entire career. Furthermore, almost no rookie currentl gets a 6 year contract, the longest are 5, with most players getting only 3 or 4 year contracts.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

The Raiders weren't stuck with Russell, just like the Chargers weren't stuck with Leaf and others, Akili Smith, Tim Couch, Alex Smith, Heath Shuler...the list goes on.

Rightly or wrongly, these teams picked these players to be franchise QBs and deserve to be paid as such.

The real issue is that NFL player contracts are not guaranteed (unlike most coaches, GMs and owneers who are often the cause for the players poor performance) so, to satisfy cap considerations, they pay huge signing bonuses up front before these guys have proven anything.

If im not mistaken, wasnt non-guaranteed contracts something that the owners negotiated for when the players demanded, and then got, FA?