NFLPA-What is going on?!?!? Lockout

 I want to make it clear that this lockout is NOT because players don’t want to play. This is happening because the players and owners could not come to an agreement. Honestly I believe it’s pretty childish and elementary

The NFLPA has been very instrumental in making sure the NFL players were getting benefits, receiving salary while injured, pensions and overall making sure they were being taken care of.  

For just a tad bit of history, on July 3, 1968, the NFLPA threatened to strike, and the owners’ decided on a lockout…sounds like the events of March 11, 2011!!

As we all know, the NFLPA decertified on March 11, 2011 at 5pm due to the inability to come to an agreement on the new CBA terms with the owners. Technically the NFLPA no longer exists. This decertification left the NFL open to lawsuits due to antitrust laws.  Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady are expected to file antitrust suits, maybe coincidence that they are 3 of the best, if not the best quarterbacks in the NFL!! Since the quarterback is looked at as the leader of the team, who knows what will follow.

When the current, well, expired CBA was voted on in 2006, the vote came back 30-2 to accept the NFLPAs plan. The players and owners are disagreeing about insurance for retired players, and taking the season from 16 games to 18 games. This will be done by erasing 2 pre-season games and starting the season earlier.

 

Right now the NFL is in a lockout- no trading, no free agents. The draft scheduled for April 28-30 will still occur but the NFLPA is urging the draft prospects not to attend, and just gather at home. I have a HUGE problem with this.  Most of the athletes have dreamed of getting dressed up and taking their family to draft day since they were children. Those 3 days determine how their career will begin. I believe EACH AND EVERY draft prospect scheduled to be at Radio City Music Hall should attend.

I do not know what football fans, including myself are going to do without an NFL season!!!

The NFLPA is very important in my field, and I am sure this lockout will not last long. The association will be back and be better than ever…at least that’s what we can all hope.

Here is some food for thought provided by NFL Lockout

*If there is a lockout, an estimated $160 million would be lost in each NFL city.

*The owners have negotiated TV deals that guarantee them revenues even if games are not played in the 2011 season.

*NFL owners want to increase the amount of games, therefore increasing each player’s risk of injury, but decreasing salaries.

*NFL owners are adamant in their desire to reduce the share of league revenue set aside for player salaries by roughly 18 percent ($1 billion) beginning next year.

*The average NFL career is only 3.6 years.  It takes 3 accredited years to get just 5 years of post career healthcare.