by Jerry Keys

"There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up." - Oscar Wilde

Maybe it would have been more poetically fitting for it to happen next year, being the 25th anniversary of the last NFL strike. It may be 2012 before we see NFL action again, as both sides play a chess game of "it's your fault." The NFL saw two work stoppages within a five year span but lived in a quiet harmony for over two decades. On March 11th, the "NFLPA decertified when negotiations with the NFL over a new collective bargaining agreement failed to resolve the labor dispute."

The average career for a player in the NFL is slightly under four years. One issue on the table is a rookie salary cap. Most rookies would not be affected by this, it is mainly aimed at the high first round picks that are inked for more guaranteed money in their first five years than a player who just retired and spent fifteen years in the league. Another issue is an extended season (16 to 18); which in my personal opinion will never happen. My belief is the owners wished to throw this on the table and make a soft stance on it to bargain for a reduced revenue share for the players.

The first work stoppage in the NFL occurred during the 1982 season. Play ceased after Week 2 and seven weeks were wiped away. The final seven games were played and a special "Super Bowl tournament" was installed. Instead of the (then) five team playoff format for each conference, an eight-team system was initiated. No team received a first round bye. The defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49'ers failed to reach the playoffs.

Five years later there was another work stoppage. Again after Week 2, games were cancelled. The difference in '87 was the owners decided to use replacement players. Week 3 was cancelled but weeks 4-6 were played by "scabs." Some veterans crossed picket lines immediately, others did so before the strike ended (several big names of the day: Steve Largent, Randy White, etc). The three games counted in the standings and the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants did not reach the playoffs (the Giants lost all three scab games). Food for thought: If an agreement is not reached and games are lost, will the Green Bay Packers not reach post-season action?

The owners stated they would not use replacement players if the strike went into the 2011 season. That was stated in March…let's see what they do come July. The replacement players irked many fans in '87 and most sided with the players (unlike '82). The player's union held together in '82 but was fractured in '87 when a number of players crossed the picket lines. How solid will the player's union be in August? Would the owners resort to threatening "scabs" to 'just see' how solid the union is? As one reporter mentioned during the '87 strike, "There were about eight players picketing and the others practicing across the street."

Most fans will quickly agree, there is more than enough revenue generated by the NFL to make the players and owners happy. Several top representatives of the player's union have stated, "Once you give that money back to the owners, you will never see it again." The players will feel the loss of revenue long before the owners; therefore the longer the strike lingers the more likely the owners will call the player's hand. This most likely will not occur until the summer.

One theory I would personally recommend is a mandatory personal seat license (PSL) for every NFL team. About half of the teams already have PSL's. After each team has a PSL in place, instead of funneling all the money to the owners, pool all the team's money and divide it equally…to the players. While the owner's catch their breath from fright, they should remember how the original NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle proposed equal dividends for television revenue. Short memory? I am not surprised.

Every NFL fan is aware when they attend a game, a certain price is paid for entry. Some attend one game; others attend as many home games as they can. For a reduced price the fan who would wish to see all their team's games can buy season tickets. One catch to season tickets is the fan will pay the same price for their team's eight home games as they will the team's two home games during the pre-season. Numerous fans have complained it is unjust to gouge fans into paying the same price for the pre-season games since the team's starters may participate in the game for possibly one quarter.

Some team owners have sympathized with fans and stated they could simply 'not' buy season tickets. Quite the bold statement if the owner knows there is a waiting list for season tickets which may last ten years before a chance to buy. In some cases, if a father signs up on a waiting list and foresees his death before a chance to buy season tickets; he can will his place in line to his children. A waiting list spanning generations, if that is not true commitment what would be?

Season tickets are quite expensive, especially if the seats are in sought after areas. To make matters worse for the die-hard NFL fan, they must also pay a PSL 'to buy season tickets.' According to an article (http:// www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2008/07/new_york_giants_ personal_seat.html) a PSL can be outrageously priced. With all 32 teams having PSL's, and the revenue divided amongst the players, everyone would be happy…well, except maybe the fans.

A reason why I think this would be a great idea is it would show the players how many 'die-hard' fans would by-pass the tickets and pay a small tab at the local sports bar to watch the game on TV. In addition, the lost ticket sales would hit the owners in the one place they can feel…their wallets. Three of the four major sports organizations in the U.S. has had a work stoppage since 1994; the NFL has the longest tenure for no games lost-for now.

As player's salaries escalate, more and more fans simply see the strike as a "billionaires (owners) v. millionaires (players) square off." No matter which side wins, it always seems to end up costing the fans. Not the players, not the owners…the fans. It is human to make mistakes; it is not wise to not learn from those mistakes. One goodwill gesture would be for both sides to put aside their differences for the first two weeks of the '11 season (since the other two work stoppages were after Week 2) and give the "Joe the NFL Fan" a chance to express their thoughts; similar to major league baseball in 2002. The fans spoke out quickly…there is a good chance they would again.

"We are all born brave, trusting and greedy, and most of us remain greedy. " - Mignon McLaughlin


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