NFL's Union Leader Says Lockout `Near Certainty' Next Season

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-26/nfl-s-union-leader-says-lockout-near-certainty-next-season.html

By Curtis Eichelberger - Nov 26, 2010 4:00 AM CT

The executive director of the National Football League players union said a player lockout next season is a “near certainty,” and that it would cost the U.S. economy an estimated $5 billion in lost wages, taxes and other revenue if the entire season is canceled.

In an interview on “Political Capital With Al Hunt” airing this weekend on Bloomberg Television, union chief DeMaurice Smith said if NFL owners lock out players in order to get concessions in a labor dispute, it would be devastating to local communities as the country struggles with a 9.6 percent unemployment rate.

“The magnitude of the loss would be at the very least about $160 million to $170 million per team-city,” Smith said. “That is a conservative estimate of the economic impact.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello challenged Smith’s numbers, saying they came from union projections rather than a government agency, investment bank or noted economist.

“It is a series of numbers pulled from thin air in a misguided attempt to inject politics into the collective bargaining process,” Aiello said in an e-mail. “There is a fair deal to be done and soon if the union will bargain with the same fervor it displays in creating economic fairy tales.”

Owners Vote

NFL owners voted unanimously in May 2008 to opt out of their labor contract with the players at the end of this season -- two years early. The players were satisfied with the agreement and wanted to complete the contract.

FULL story at link.

[napi21]

1. I'd like to know what concessions the NFL is asking for.

I'm as much of a football fan as any of you are but if the NFL is requesting concessions on pay, I can sure understand why. I know most of the players have a 10 year playing life but many multi millions per year really is a bit much.

[Botany]

3. "I know most of the players have a 10 year playing life ... "

No, most NFL players have less than a 3.25 year career .... running backs even less.

The only money that a player is guaranteed is his "upfront bonus" his multi year contract
is only good for one season and if the team does not want to pick him up for another
season even if the player has a 5 year contract they (the teams) can drop him after any season
is over.

Most NFL players and NBA players are broke w/in 3 to 5 years after leaving the game.

A lot of NFL die very young too and or have a lifetime of handicaps and brain damage.

[napi21]

4. You may be right but al the players I'm familiar with play a lot longer

than 3.5 years. I'm originally from Pgh and there's a long list of Steelers who played a very long time. I even have a cousin who played for 2 dif. NFL teams and although he only played for 5 years, he's far from broke now.
As to the injuries...they all know the things that can happen to them because of their chosed profession and have made concious decisions to play FB anyway.

None of that deserves multi millions a year IMO.

[tularetom]

2. It's a total certainty that I won't notice if the season is cancelled

If things keep up like they are by next year the average NFL fan won't have a pot to piss in.

Attendance will be way down and contracts will be renegotiated everywhere.

And there will be a lot of resentment at millionaire players and billionaire owners.

But I won't care. I gave up on pro football a few years ago.