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

The NFL is a Disgrace!!!!

As both sides posture to garner public support, I can only blame one side: the owners.  While there is no doubt that the players make a good living the fact remains that most of them have a limited number of years to make money.  The owners???  Are you kidding me???  There is not one owner in the NFL that is losing money.  Including the tight-wad in Buffalo: the decrepit Ralph Wilson.  So why do the owners need to grab more???  The answer: greed!!!

The NFL is a 9.3 billion dollar operation.  The three other major sports (MLB, NHL, NBA) do not add up to that.  Massive television contracts that are spread out across all 32 teams, PSL's, exorbitant ticket prices and an increase in sales of NFL merchandise fattens the league's coffers and the teams that make it up.  Would a publically owned team like the Green Bay Packers be able to make it in the NHL, Major League Baseball or the NBA???  The answer to that question is: no!!!  None of those sports have a national television contract which divides the massive proceeds to all of its teams. 

I have been an NFL fan since I was 5 years old.  That was in the early 60's.  The sport evolved and it captured the imagination of the American sports fan.   But I have to tell you if it wasn't for fantasy football and gambling the NFL would die because the product is crap.  The sport is not exciting, its predictable and boring.  Parity rules the day and its a league with 40 year olds still playing quarterback and in some instances the most important player is your punter.

When the NHL cancelled a season I was sick.  If the NFL cancelled the 2011 season I wouldn't miss it in the least.  I would much rather watch a college football game for pure entertainment enjoyment than watching Jacksonville play Buffalo.  For the most part the pro game is boring.  

In my opinion, there should be a cap on rookie salaries.  Something should be done for retired players.  The 18 game schedule is another money grab for the owners.  And what about player safety???   I guess that doesn't matter since you have the built in farm system , the NCAA, to replenish your team.

I'm glad the players did what they did.  I have no sympathy for the Daniel Snyders, the Jerry Joneses, the Ralph Wilsons or the Randy Lerners of the world.  But take a look at the players when they are done playing.  Bad knees, bad backs, mental health issues, aches and pains.  You tell me who I should cry for.

Then again as the millionaires and billionaires fight, the guy with the bar/restaurant near the stadium will get hit big time with no games, the hotel/motel owners will see a dip in profits and the stadium workers will be hitting the government for assistance.  But who cries for them??  As Larry Fitzgerald said this past week, its a disgrace that we can't get this thing settled when people are hurting trying to make ends meet.  Fitz has always been one of my favorites and now even more so.

What I hope for:  There is no pro football next year!!!  Just think we will catch a break from not listening to all of the talking head experts like Bradshaw, Sharpe and Berman.  I'm liking it already!!!!