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Looming NFL Lockout

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  • Team Sports
  • Games
Last response: in Sports & Wellness
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Will there be an NFL strike? If so, how long?

Total: 10 votes

  • No strike
  • 0 %
  • Yes: It won't go into the regular season though
  • 40 %
  • Yes: It'll cancel the pre-season
  • 0 %
  • Yes: Weeks 1-3 will be cancelled
  • 20 %
  • Yes: Weeks 4-7 will be canclled
  • 10 %
  • Yes: 7+ weeks will be cancelled
  • 0 %
  • Yes: The whole season will be lost
  • 30 %
March 9, 2011 12:38:04 AM

Last week the NFLPA and the owners agreed to extend the current labor agreement another week so that they could continue bargaining in the hopes of avoiding the league's first labor stoppage since 1987 (just one came was missed though). I suspect though that with roughly $9 billion on the line between players and owners, a strike this time around would be far more catastrophic for the league from a financial standpoint. Besides the money issue, the players are concerned about adding an extra 2 games to the schedule, while getting rid of 2 preseason games. The owners say that the players would be compensated, of course, but the players do not want to add more physical punishment to an already taxing season.

From my point of view, I agree that the preseason should be cut to 2 games, as no one cares about the preseason, not to mention the stars, who hardly play. But extending the regular season to 18 games is a bit much if you ask me. Football is a physically taxing game and the needless to say, I fear that we would see more injuries. Plus, if you have a team like last season's Packers who had to play in all the playoff games, that is an awful lot of games to play in a single season. Stick to the current schedule and divvy up the money accordingly! That's easier said than done though.

With that said, do you think that the players and owners will be able to work things out in time to avoid a strike? If not, how long do you think a strike will be?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6192748

More about : looming nfl lockout

March 9, 2011 12:42:04 AM

I think that a strike/lockout will happen, but things will be resolved before it cuts into the regular season. That's just me though. I guess we'll find out in the coming days.
March 13, 2011 10:51:51 PM

Agreed - once the players see that they will start losing income they will come around. I'm not for either side but I believe the owners are still going to get the TV money in the event of a lockout.
BTW this should not even be an issue in our current economy.
Dave
March 13, 2011 11:45:23 PM

It is big money, $9 billion per year, but you're right that it shouldn't be an issue. In the grand scheme of things $9 billion is a drop in the hat.

I estimate that after the players are legally locked out after a judge in Minnesota makes his decision, which should be sometime this week and the big anti-trust suit gets going, then we'll have an idea on how long it'll last. I estimate that they'll settle things either just prior to June or a bit into June. Chances are I'll be wrong and hopefully I am if they can settle things before June!
March 16, 2011 12:22:07 AM

Wow - just imagine a year without NFL football. If the owners and players have any sense at all they will settle now. If they don't in this economy - too bad.
Dave
March 16, 2011 6:11:04 PM

Exactly. It will be their loss- both the players and owners. I sure as heck will not feel sorry for either group, as both are rich enough.

But yes, it would feel very different without any football come fall. It wouldn't shock me if the owners brought in "replacements" if this goes far enough.
March 25, 2011 12:14:24 AM

I hope there is a season - I just had a coworker buy me a $20 ticket at mandalay bay in vegas for the stillers to win it all. I came so close last year.
Dave
March 25, 2011 4:51:00 AM

If there isn't a season, at least it was only $20...could be worse.
March 30, 2011 1:58:09 AM

buwish said:
If there isn't a season, at least it was only $20...could be worse.


Thats funny Kevin, I lose $20 and the players and owners lose millions. Gotta love it :D 
Dave
March 30, 2011 9:40:00 PM

I can't believe that the players will get $60K from the "lockout fund." That is complete chump change to the majority of them.
April 23, 2011 12:21:36 AM

buwish said:
I can't believe that the players will get $60K from the "lockout fund." That is complete chump change to the majority of them.


Chump change to them but I could live on it for a while. I bet we see the NFL season start week 3 or 4 at the latest.
April 30, 2011 1:11:33 AM

Well, the federal judge decided to issue an injunction stopping the lockout, but the owners appealed and won a temporary stay. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out in the legal arena in the coming weeks.
April 30, 2011 1:58:40 AM

buwish said:
Well, the federal judge decided to issue an injunction stopping the lockout, but the owners appealed and won a temporary stay. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out in the legal arena in the coming weeks.


Should be very interesting. Not having an NFL season is my worst sports nightmare. But If it happens it happens. And I still think there will be a season because there is too much money involved.
Dave
April 30, 2011 2:43:10 AM

It would be idiotic for all involved- players and owners- to have the whole season canceled. Like you said Dave, there is just too much money involved for all parties. Not to mention how much money all would lose with the league's credibility hit with the fans for the 2012 season. It would be like baseball all over again after the 94 strike.
May 7, 2011 12:07:16 AM

buwish said:
It would be idiotic for all involved- players and owners- to have the whole season canceled. Like you said Dave, there is just too much money involved for all parties. Not to mention how much money all would lose with the league's credibility hit with the fans for the 2012 season. It would be like baseball all over again after the 94 strike.


Now we are in May and still no resolution. If I had to bet I'd say late July early August.
Dave
May 7, 2011 7:42:56 AM

The thought of a lockout does still scare me, but honestly.... there's just too much money to be had for the players & owners not to come to some sort of an agreement.

I wouldn't be surprised if they left it to the last minute, and then the owners finally decided that they can make some concessions to a few of the more outrageous demands and we have a season.

I have been on the players side for most of the lockout & discussions, but in terms of the players demanding to see all of the financials doesn't seem right in my mind. It would be like going into your bosses office and demanding for all of the company's financials. Even though the players are in a union, in the end they still are employed by the owners.

Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers for a season!
May 7, 2011 1:48:58 PM

JordoR said:
The thought of a lockout does still scare me, but honestly.... there's just too much money to be had for the players & owners not to come to some sort of an agreement.

I wouldn't be surprised if they left it to the last minute, and then the owners finally decided that they can make some concessions to a few of the more outrageous demands and we have a season.

I have been on the players side for most of the lockout & discussions, but in terms of the players demanding to see all of the financials doesn't seem right in my mind. It would be like going into your bosses office and demanding for all of the company's financials. Even though the players are in a union, in the end they still are employed by the owners.

Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers for a season!


Agreed and that's why I'm thinking early August for a settlement.
Maybe I will walk into our CEO's office Monday and demand to see the company's financials. I wonder how that would work out? :) 
Dave
May 7, 2011 2:05:53 PM

In regard to seeing the financial info, it should be kept in mind that owning a sports franchise isn't like owning a private company like a mom and pop store or something. Sports franchises are more or less "public trusts" IMO. I'd personally like to see some in depth financial info, but nothing that would spill the deck.

I agree with the August prediction. When it gets down to crunch time, I think both sides will start to take things seriously. However, it wouldn't shock me if it dragged out until week 3 or 4 of the pre-season comes about. Everyone hates pre-season.
May 18, 2011 1:44:06 AM

Another win for the owners today? We shall see.
Dave
May 18, 2011 3:21:37 AM

At this point I don't care who wins, so long as one side gets enough leverage over the other (legal or otherwise) to finish this thing off.

Funny how MLB is on top of it all with 17 seasons of labor peace.
May 18, 2011 11:34:51 PM

buwish said:
At this point I don't care who wins, so long as one side gets enough leverage over the other (legal or otherwise) to finish this thing off.

Funny how MLB is on top of it all with 17 seasons of labor peace.

Yeah, imagine that when they were the first league to have problems. (see Curt Flood)
May 21, 2011 8:49:02 PM

It's interesting to see that the NBA, MLB, and NHL players unions have gotten behind the NFLPA. Probably won't pressure the owners into caving, but at least they are together on the issue.
May 22, 2011 1:44:58 AM

buwish said:
It's interesting to see that the NBA, MLB, and NHL players unions have gotten behind the NFLPA. Probably won't pressure the owners into caving, but at least they are together on the issue.


Agreed - very interesting.
Dave
May 24, 2011 3:08:44 PM

Yes it is interesting, but they almost don't have a choice. If they don't stand behind the players of the NFL, and the owners end up getting everything they wanted.... then the owners in other leagues such as the NHL, NBA, MLB might see this as an opportunity to re-negotitate more in their favor.

I think it's very important that the NFLPA stand firm here, because it could have long-term consequences on all professional sports leagues. Even if it does mean not having a season this year. ( Which I would be devastated by :(  )
May 25, 2011 1:51:05 AM

Im sorry but i dont buy the whole,
"I have been on the players side for most of the lockout & discussions, but in terms of the players demanding to see all of the financials doesn't seem right in my mind. It would be like going into your bosses office and demanding for all of the company's financials."
The NFL is in the entertainment business, things run a little differently, just ask Jack Nicholson when he made 60+Million from the first Batman movie.
The owners were crying that they dont make enough money, we ALL know thats a lie so the players simpy asked them to prove it. Then look how the owners back down and refuse to prove their claims. How can you possibly defend such actions? Most ALL businesses can be researched to find out what they make so the whole "i cant look at my bosses books" argument is pretty silly and is NOT relative to this situation. If the owners were really doing badly, they would be selling their franchises.
May 25, 2011 2:58:14 AM

cobra5000 said:
Im sorry but i dont buy the whole,
"I have been on the players side for most of the lockout & discussions, but in terms of the players demanding to see all of the financials doesn't seem right in my mind. It would be like going into your bosses office and demanding for all of the company's financials."
The NFL is in the entertainment business, things run a little differently, just ask Jack Nicholson when he made 60+Million from the first Batman movie.
The owners were crying that they dont make enough money, we ALL know thats a lie so the players simpy asked them to prove it. Then look how the owners back down and refuse to prove their claims. How can you possibly defend such actions? Most ALL businesses can be researched to find out what they make so the whole "i cant look at my bosses books" argument is pretty silly and is NOT relative to this situation. If the owners were really doing badly, they would be selling their franchises.


Just a thought but selling their franchises to who in this recessed economy? I agree that both the owners and players might have to cut back on financial expectations and if we want full disclosure lets go public and see how that works on Wall Street. I'm in for a few hundred shares of the NFL.
Dave
May 27, 2011 1:09:11 AM

You'll be hard pressed to find anyone willing to buy a major pro franchise at this point in time. All the major league's are looking at diminished profits and it just isn't worth throwing half a billion of your own money at something like that. If I were that rich, I wouldn't. Diminishing returns.
May 27, 2011 1:41:53 AM

stillerfan15 said:

Maybe I will walk into our CEO's office Monday and demand to see the company's financials. I wonder how that would work out?

Actually, in most businesses, you can. It's the "Annual Report".

The difference here is that the NFL teams (except perhaps the Packers) are privately owned. And here, I'm ambivalent. We, the taxpayers are on the hook for many, if not all, of the new stadium projects. Arlington, Texas comes to mind.

If the owners expect me to help finance a new stadium, they should let me look at the books.
May 27, 2011 2:12:14 AM

jsc said:
Actually, in most businesses, you can. It's the "Annual Report".

The difference here is that the NFL teams (except perhaps the Packers) are privately owned. And here, I'm ambivalent. We, the taxpayers are on the hook for many, if not all, of the new stadium projects. Arlington, Texas comes to mind.

If the owners expect me to help finance a new stadium, they should let me look at the books.


Yep I work in Arlington Texas and I pay more taxes for lunch now. Just part of the system I guess.
Dave
May 27, 2011 5:46:44 AM

Agreed. If the taxpayer is financing stadium projects, part, if not all of a pro franchise's books should be public. I'd want to make sure that my money is being used properly, amongst other things.
!