The NFL can go to hell.

[bronzeage]

But a season with replacement players would be awesome.

They might make a movie about it.

 

[KRCummings]

They might make a movie about it.

As long as they don't get Keanu Reeves to play a QB. That'd be stupid.

 

[KRCummings]

I used to give two shits about NFL players until I read an article on ex-NFL players who were hurt and had no compensation. One was living in a car with his wife. One told of having broken ribs and being taped up and sent back on the field. I wish I knew where the article was. I read it at my brother's in some mens' magazine. Football is a brutal sport and from what I see the players are getting bigger every year. They take their life in their hands everytime they go on the field.

The NFL has a retirement and care plan for it's players. It is not perfect but none are. They are not however responsible for what a player does with their money. If a former player is broke then that's too bad but not their problem.

 

[cookiejar]

The NFL has a retirement and care plan for it's players. It is not perfect but none are. They are not however responsible for what a player does with their money. If a former player is broke then that's too bad but not their problem.

I wish I had the article. It had something to do with the union not living up to its' promises. I only know I never watch football and it upset me terribly and made a huge impact on my feelings.

 

[Beco]

As long as they don't get Keanu Reeves to play a QB. That'd be stupid.

Or have the Redskins play in Baltimore....

 

[KinkyMichigan]

The NFL has a retirement and care plan for it's players. It is not perfect but none are. They are not however responsible for what a player does with their money. If a former player is broke then that's too bad but not their problem.

I agree completely. Mark Brunell, a longtime player, filed for bankruptcy just last year. And he is not even retired yet! His gross salary over his entire career is around $50 million and he's currently riding the pine for the NY Jets. I have no sympathy for the majority of NFL players, especially when they show this type of responsibility (or lack thereof) when it comes to personal finances. I'm sorry, but earning that much money over a period of less than 20 years and going bankrupt is unacceptable.

I do think that the players need an improved health care/retirement plan when they retire though. That is something that both the NFL and the Union have admitted to.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

you must have partied with and sucked the cocks of the to many buckeyes if you believe what you are saying.

I'd like to shift the focus back to this juicy scenario, if we could.

 

[cookiejar]

I agree completely. Mark Brunell, a longtime player, filed for bankruptcy just last year. And he is not even retired yet! His gross salary over his entire career is around $50 million and he's currently riding the pine for the NY Jets. I have no sympathy for the majority of NFL players, especially when they show this type of responsibility (or lack thereof) when it comes to personal finances. I'm sorry, but earning that much money over a period of less than 20 years and going bankrupt is unacceptable.

I do think that the players need an improved health care/retirement plan when they retire though. That is something that both the NFL and the Union have admitted to.

I shouldn't have posted without the article. I do know it was about former players who were seriously disabled while playing. I do know it had nothing to do with squandering money. Sorry ...

 

[KinkyMichigan]

I shouldn't have posted without the article. I do know it was about former players who were seriously disabled while playing. I do know it had nothing to do with squandering money. Sorry ...

I don't think anyone is refuting your point. Salaries a few decades ago were disproportionally small to what they are now and the health benefits were essentially nothing. The NFL has changed since then. Players are making more, health care and retirement benefits are better, the NFL is more careful with injuries. It is those older players that need to be addressed. I agree with that. And that is something that was going to be added to the CBA before things broke apart. The last CBA offer from the owners had them putting millions into a fund for those disabled and older players.

 

[Wrong Element]

While I agree that NFL players, (and, for that matter, all sports figures and entertainers), are grossly overpaid, that isn't the current battle.
The issue right now is that not only did the owners opt out of the current agreement, (which had the leagues profits and popularity at an all time high), they at the same time gave up profit on tv deals to set up a war chest to fund them locking out the players. (Which has since been ruled illegal).
They then told the players they needed an extra BILLION dollars in their end of the agreement and completely refused to show any valid financial records to support it. The much talked about final offer the NFL owners made was to "meet the players in the middle."
That was going to be over a 300 million dollar paycut still with no supporting evidence. If I came to you and asked for half your pay, and you told me "NO" me taking a quarter of your pay is NOT a reasonable way to reach an agreement.
I don't know about you guys, but if my boss came to me and told me that even though company stock was through the roof and everyone was making money hand over fist he needed to cut my pay I would be screaming to my union rep as well.

That being said, there is some truth to the owners statements that costs are rising, anyone who's had to buy ANYTHING in the last couple years is aware of that. The issue is that the owners aren't showing any data as to how much their costs have risen and seem to seriously expect the players to just eat the loss.

It's insane.

I don't doubt that their costs have risen, but I am possible that their profits have risen even more. The NFL is, by virtually all accounts, a growing business. Asking the players to accept less of a shrinking pie is one thing (the NBA players may be facing this decision before long), but you'd have to be insane to gladly agree to accept less of a growing pie.

This is even leaving aside that franchise values continue to go through the roof. The Cleveland Browns are worth easily twice now what they were when they returned 12 years ago--and that's the worst-run franchise in the league. Imagine what, say, the Patriots are worth now compared to when Robert Kraft bought them.

But a season with replacement players would be awesome.

You're not going to have that this time around. Can't hire scabs with a lockout.

 

[Mike_Yates]

Disaster, war, death, economic decline, nuclear meltdowns, but OHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGODDDDDDDDDDDD! A YEAR WITHOUT FOOTBALL?!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT WILL THE SHEEPLE DO????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KinkyMichigan]

Did anyone see Adrian Peterson's comments for Yahoo Sports? What a joke!!! He compared what he does to "modern-day slavery"! That may be the most insensitive and uninformed comment I have ever heard...especially coming from a guy who is set to make over $10 million next year for a job that is only full-time for 7 months...

 

[Balladeer08]

A person's pay does not depend upon the danger or risk. It's a matter of how many people can do the job, and then how many of those are willing to do it.

You folks basically encapsulated why I have encouraged my children to stay away from "Public Service". It is not appreciated, paid, or done for anyone with any gratitude.

But at least I like and respect myself.

 

[Wrong Element]

I don't think anyone is refuting your point. Salaries a few decades ago were disproportionally small to what they are now and the health benefits were essentially nothing. The NFL has changed since then. Players are making more, health care and retirement benefits are better, the NFL is more careful with injuries. It is those older players that need to be addressed. I agree with that. And that is something that was going to be added to the CBA before things broke apart. The last CBA offer from the owners had them putting millions into a fund for those disabled and older players.

I agree with doing more for the retired players, especially considering how much more we know now about the cumulative toll of the sport.

However:

1) I've never understood why so many fans and sportswriters consider this a special responsbility of current players only, rather than a responsibility for the league as a whole.

2) Keep in mind that some of these retired players--not the oldest of them, but certainly the ones who played into the 1980s--had the capacity to fight for their rights, including things that might have benefitted them once retired, but deliberately chose not to. The 1987 strike collapsed in part because some of the fatcat players of the day caved. Now some of them want the players of today to battle for them when they were unwilling to do it for themselves.

 

[cookiejar]

http://blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/Football_7/The_NFL_And_Disabled_Players.shtml

This isn't the article but it is close to what I read.

 

[bronzeage]

You folks basically encapsulated why I have encouraged my children to stay away from "Public Service". It is not appreciated, paid, or done for anyone with any gratitude.

But at least I like and respect myself.

Don't be too discouraged. Public servants are the current whipping post for our so called conservatives.

Just like so called conservatives want other people to change their behavior to make their lives better, they also expect others to take a pay cut so they can maintain their standard of living.

If you ask them if they will accept a reduction in police protection, they say all the cops are in donut shops, so what would it matter. The things they produce (whatever that might be) is always held dear, but the things they need are undervalued.

 

[Joeybagadonuts]

But a season with replacement players would be awesome.

Can you imagine paying 10 Gs for a PSL plus the price of the ticket, to watch replacement players?

 

[Beco]

Can you imagine paying 10 Gs for a PSL plus the price of the ticket, to watch replacement players?

and from what Im reading, the owners arent relenting on asking for the payments that are due this spring. In stadiums they didn't even pay for.....nice gig