tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Francesa Nails It: The NFL Is A Disgrace!

On Tuesday I had the opportunity to watch Mike Francesa on the Yes Network.  Later that evening, the NFL was going to come out with its 2011 schedule.  As Francesa appropriately stated, it's kind of ridiculous that they had to devote a whole show on their own NFL Network to unveil their upcoming schedule.  A schedule that could be moot if reason doesn't prevail.

As the show went on, Francesa accurately (in my opinion) characterized the whole NFL situation.  "It's the haves and the have-mores."  And what he was referring to was not the players and the owners but the haves are the owners of the Bills, Bengals, Panthers, etc. and the have-mores are the owners of the Cowboys, Giants, Jets, Redskins, etc.  This is where the problem lies because the haves are pissed off that they are not making as much money as the have-mores.  But understand, the haves are making money.  Lots of money.

You need to know that I consider Mike Francesa an NFL guy.  He loves the NFL.  In fact, I would consider him a defender of the NFL.  This is a guy who used to be on the old NFL Today on CBS.  He has plenty of contacts throughout the league and that's why I enjoy his Sunday morning show during the football season.  That's why when he lays out his opinion on the lockout, like he did on Tuesday, it makes me know that my own perception of what was going on is accurate.

Several times Francesa referred to the NFL owners as pigs and that the whole thing is a disgrace.  I couldn't agree more.  As he accurately pointed out, the NFL is not losing money.  There are no NFL teams that are losing money.  This is not the NHL which had a shutdown for a year because  teams were on the brink of solvency.  This is not the NBA, where teams are losing money and a shutdown/lockout is imminent.  This is the NFL with an annual revenue take of 9.3 billion dollars.  That's more than MLB, NBA and NHL combined!!!!

In the end, the only ones suffering will be the fans and those businesses in the 32 cities that depend on the NFL season to make a profit.  But Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL cares about the fans.  Doesn't look that way to me.  The NFL gouges its fans.  Think about it.  Every new stadium has now what is called PSL's.  In other words, in order to have the honor of purchasing season tickets you have to purchase a personal seating license.  What a freaking  joke!!!!!  By the way, these PSL's are in the thousands.  Have you bought a beer or anything to eat at an NFL game???  Unreal.

Then let's look at the NFL Sunday Ticket.  First, you have to be a DirecTV subscriber which only gives you the privilege to purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket.  A purchase that is $335 for a 17 week season.  MLB Extra Innings and NHL Center Ice (which I subscribe to) are much cheaper and you get more games over a longer period of time.  It's a joke!!!

I'm in agreement with Mike:  The NFL IS A DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!