This is good to hear after last Thursday's meeting was canceled over a fundamental dispute of how to split the league's "$9 billion revenue pie." Owners of the NFL teams want a larger piece of the pie, while players want roughly half of total revenue. If the league, players, and owners do not come to an acceptable compromise before March 3, there is a very high possibility of a lockout of the players by owners of the NFL teams. A lockout could mean that there would be no 2011-2012 NFL season, which would surely disappoint many NFL fans. No '11-'12 season would also mean that more than 1,500 players would be out of a job, not to mention hundreds of team and league personnel.
However, things are looking up for the parties involved. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has experience in dealing with professional leagues and their respective player unions. The FMCS has dealt with the MLS, NHL and been involved in disputes between the U.S Soccer Federation and its players.
Although there are a number of issues that these labor talks involve, I believe that the issue of a 18 - game season is one of the more important ones. The league is pushing for a longer season as a way of increasing revenues, television views, etc. The NFL players union opposes a longer season because of the toll it would take on the athletes both physically and mentally. A longer season takes its toll on all players and league/ team personnel. Recently, league officials have been cracking down on "hard hits" during NFL games and have been dishing out hefty fines to players who make tackles while "leading with their heads" or dangerous hits in general as a way to promote player safety and health. I find this hypocritical in that, the league is pushing for a longer season while advocating player safety. It does not take a genius to conclude that a longer season could be detrimental to the health of all players. What do you guys think? Would you enjoy a longer NFL season? General comments?
5 comments:
Of course fans would love a 18 week schedule because that means 2 more weeks of football. I think we get a very informed explanation from Mr. Silton on Friday 2/25. (look at calender and thank you for posting something sports related.)
NFL fans would definitely enjoy a longer season. As a football fan myself, I felt like this season was short but still unforgettable. With the 18 game season, that will push and encourage teams even more to win and do better to play in the Super Bowl. Furthermore, it'll give some teams *cough cough 49er's* a better chance to make it to the postseason. Also, in addition to Cris's comment, thank you Lewis for posting something sports related :)
Even though I can see why players would be wary to play an extra two weeks of games for health concerns, Like Josh, I wouldn't mind the 49er's getting another two weeks in their chances to make it to playoffs.
The revenue issue I think is extremely selfish of the owners, the players deserve what they're asking for because they are the ones working for it. For the owners to push for things solely so they can increase their own profit is ridiculous, it's not as if they're doing so badly. Maybe a different approach, like the franchises focusing on playing well and making the most of a regular season. That would be good enough for me.
Just saying as a football athlete, as the weeks go by I know how it feels like when you just want the season to be over. I feel how the players feel in not wanting an 18 week season. For high school, we only have 14 weeks, an extra 5 max if you make play offs. But that doesn't account for the spring training pratice, all of summer practice, and all the off season work outs when football is over. I feel as though it will be very bad if the season was expanded in the NFL because it would lead to a lot more injuries and most of the players will feel like they are done with football. But I would enjoy watching more football on my weekends, but I still don't think it is worth sacrificing the health of my favorite players. I also hope that the conflict ends soon because I don't know what I would do if I couldn't watch football next year since I wouldn't be able to play in college.
Although I think player safety is crucial in order to prevent injuries from football, a longer season would be nice for football fans, and it would also help generate more revenue for the NFL. But ultimately I think it's the players' choice whether they want to play for 2 more weeks. I also don't think that safety should be the sole reason for rejecting this option of two more weeks; the players should compete in the NFL because football is a sport that they are passionate about. The players in the NFL have been playing football for long enough that they should be well aware of the risks they are taking while playing football. I hope that the players see the 2 extra weeks as an opportunity to play football, not 2 more weeks to risk the possibility of injury.
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