Lockout in the NFL

When reading about the history of the NFL, one of the most interesting stories is how the AFL challenged the NFL and then eventually was able to merge with the established rival. The one thing that I always remember was how the original AFL Owners were called the "Foolish Club." Every one involved with pro football and the media dubbed this group such because they were nuts to think that a rival league could be successful and challenge the NFL. Well, they weren't so foolish after all, and the AFL is one of the main reasons why the NFL became so popular and successful. There might be a new foolish club associated with the NFL and pro football, and it is lead by DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell. On Friday, after over two weeks of mediations and negotiations, the NFLPA decided to decertify and the CBA officially expired that night. The NFL then imposed a lockout, and no offseason activity can take place. The business of NFL football is on complete hold right now. I was so furious on Friday that I was going to write a long blog post slamming DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell. I decided to back off that right now because it isn't even worth it. That is what is so upsetting about this labor dispute in the NFL right now- it isn't worth it. Then, why in the hell are they doing it? Simple answer: Greed. It really comes down to that. They simply can't agree how to divide up a $9 billion dollar business. This isn't about free agency, the salary cap, or franchise tags. This whole thing is about splitting up the pie. How they couldn't figure that out the last two weeks is beyond me because the NFL has always been a trendsetter and always been good at figuring things out. If Gene Upshaw was running the NFLPA and Paul Tagliabue was still the commissioner of the NFL, this deal would have been done weeks ago and both sides would be happy.

Look, I examined this dispute at every angle, and I blame both sides. Yes, the union walked away from the bargaining table and used it's decertification button and wanted to take this to the courts. It seems like DeMaurice Smith is trying to become a revolutionary in his own right. Yes, the NFL owners didn't open their books or give the union enough respect to get a deal done. Both parties are at fault. The real problem I have is that both parties are taking a major risk by possibly fucking up the most successful, popular, and profitable sports league in this country. We all know that the NFL is bullet proof. If this thing goes into September and regular season games are missed, then I'm not so sure the NFL won't take a dip. They are playing with fire, and this could be the moment when we look back 10-15 years from now, when the NFL took a step backwards. Is it that hard to realize that if you just give a little, then in the end everyone wins? Especially in the world of pro football, where everything the NFL touches turns to gold or green.

What made the NFL so popular since 1993 was that there were no work stoppages and labor pains. Everyone divided up the cash pie, every one benefitted, and the league's popularity rose because every team had an equal chance. This labor strife could potentially damage that and in the end that could really ruin the NFL. That is what is so disheartening about this deal not getting done. Why didn't someone just stand up and say this during these mediation sessions?

So what are we left with? We are left with talks of lawsuits and lawyers instead of free agency and trades. We are left with the possiblity that in September there might not be NFL games to watch. We are left with the weirdest NFL Draft in my lifetime. The NFL has become a full time, year-round sport. After the Super Bowl ends in early February, you usually had the following things to look forward to in the offseason: The Combine in late February, free agency starting in early March, announcement of opening night/weekend and Thanksgiving games at Owner's meetings in mid-March, full schedule release in mid-April, the Draft in late April, mini-camps, and OTAs. By the time, June hits the offseason dies down, and it is summer time and training camp is right around the corner. Well, this year it ain't happening like that, and that is what really sucks about this. The only thing you can do as an NFL fan is just wait and hope this thing gets sorted out at some point.

I'll leave you with one last item. Going back to how I love to read books and stories about the creation and early years of the NFL, one of the recurring themes is how men like Wellington Mara, George Halas and other prominent owners always sacrificed for the good of the league. Those big market owners could have put all the little guys, Green Bay etc.., out of the NFL business long ago, but they didn't. They always put the shield first. Pete Rozelle was another person who always recognized this and tried to convince others that if you put the NFL first, then everyone will gain from it. Lamar Hunt, the Rooney family, Paul Tagliabue, and Gene Upshaw all believed in the same mantra, and it was the fabric of NFL management. Put the shield above anything else. I wonder what Gene Upshaw and Wellington Mara are thinking about up above as they watch this greedy mess. Maybe DeMaurice Smith and some other union people should read up on the history of this great league. Maybe owners like Jerry Jones, Jerry Richardson, and Dan Snyder should ask John Mara about what his dad would do or did to help the NFL prosper. Maybe Roger Goodell should read about what Pete Rozelle did in times of strife. Someone from the present needs to look into the past and convince their respective sides, players and owners, that the shield must come first before anything else.