NFL Shutdown in 2011?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.jocklife.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=news/extranetNewsDetail.cfm&newsItemID=9741

Updated: 11/17/2008 9:50 PM

The thought that there might be an NFL lockout or work stoppage anytime soon in America’s most popular sport is possible, also scary but unfortunately inevitable if the current threat from NFL owners persists.

Recently, during a testimony, NFLPA interim executive director Richard Berthelsen said he expects the NFL owners to lock out players in 2011. “Every indication, at this point, is that that’s what the NFL owners want to do,” Berthelsen was quoted by SportsBusiness Journal.

The fact that owners are threatening players with a potential lockout in the foreseeable future is disheartening. But because the economics does not seem to favor the people who write the athletes checks, there will be a need to sit down and properly discuss the issue behind every strike or lockout; money.

Every NFL player has a stand on this issue, because it relates to their livelihood, their career and most importantly, their paycheck. “What’s my opinion on that? Not good. I don’t know why the owners would want to go that route. We are out there putting our bodies on the line. I don’t see why we shouldn’t get paid for it,” said New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas.

Thomas considers his NFL job similar to the everyday blue collar person, except for the big checks though. Thomas like most players, do not foresee their daily job in the NFL heading in that direction. “I think both sides recognize that we only win by coming to a sort of agreement which might be exactly what either sides want, but we are still on the field,” said St. Louis Rams linebacker Chris Draft.

Thomas adds, “This is a job, a 9-5, we are watching film and helping them bring in money with the fans buying their products.”

FULL story at link.

[electricD]

1. putting their bodies on the line

hmmm...I'm an electrician. I put my body on the line every day too. I wonder if one day I'll get a signing bonus on my union negotiated contract. Better yet, I wonder if any one will buy a product that has my signature endorsement.

Give me a break, the ONLY way to make the NFL more profitable is NOT high priced players w/ endorsements, it's making it to where people can actually afford to go see the game. I mean, I love football but, DAYUMN IT!! HOW does some one justify a 4 to 8 million dollar contract or more for playing 4 to 5 years? I realize that those players are what brings the crowd to the stadium but, I don't see people cheering me on at work when I hook up a live circuit without getting my hair fried off my head either.

Maybe I should just buy an electric chair and bring the crowds in that way. I'm not saying that my job is as entertaing as football but geeze, play the damn game already and stop whinning about getting gipped on your contract because you could have gotten $6 million instead of $5!!