NFL Labor Issues Cast Shadow on Super Bowl: Shame on Roger Goodell

DALLAS--It's really a disgrace, a terrible tragedy for America's crowd-pleasing sport, stuck in a controversy and turned into an industry focused on inheriting and assembling massive dollars in profit. This is what the NFL prides itself on these days, sadly lacking character and integrity for what the sport signifies, brainwashed by, bluntly, the ill-advertisement of unreasonable propaganda.

All week, there has been heavy talk, as many envision a potential lockout by next season. This tumultuous task casts a shadow over the Super Bowl. And so, after a prolonged and relentless battle, a verbal altercation that has lasted for months without even reaching a consensus, the NFL is possibly doomed by a hideous storm.

In the modern era, battered by poor economic times, we are witnessing a peculiar crisis for the NFL, a profitable business in limbo for rancorous and absurd labor disputes that has suffocated America's most worshipped and popular sporting business.

At this point, the two parties are shamefully unsuccessful in constructing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, essentially a crisis upon which two sides lack caring, generosity and compassion in what the fans adore in the nation where football is our cultural perspective for sports.

As the deadline looms for finalizing a new deal, the mutual assumption of corruption is quickly a contamination, ruining the texture of the glamorous sport, but still football has survived the affliction of egregious economic downturns.

However, as it seems that America is on the way to recovery, the NFL is falling from grace, maybe by the poor decisions in recent memory, from the apathy during a severe disaster to the deal on the faces of the businessmen responsible for the reprehensible upheaval.

The time is now for Roger Goodell to stop his constant mannerism of lagging on a current issue, affecting the welfare of a game the population desires to see by next season, intrigued from the countless action, physicality and drama football offers.

It would be greed, not to mention mercenary, to not appease the fans or even owners who sells the city a brand of talented stars that usually exhilarates and lifts the spirit of a town filled with terrific zest.

Nearly two years ago, a moment when the owners voted unanimously to opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, it created almost national disturbance and could only cause additional havoc that could wind up being the league's first stoppage since 1987.

As of last decade, our country experienced a horrible recession and, as a result, unemployment rates ascended rapidly, foreclosures have skyrocketed and educational systems reduced. So many were deprived of their sanity, spirit and hope, with the fragile economy that destroyed our nation.

It seems strange at times to see the same thing happening in the NFL, a league that has reached the point of humiliation and political wars, fighting miserably over money. While each side is unbalanced and hasn't manipulated their leverage, even if the misgivings define the mess as the ugliest mayhem maybe ever in NFL history, there has been a legion of curable plots in hopes to repair the league's image.

Even if much of this crisis seems intact, the NFL has wrangled in verbal altercations, tried friendly maneuvers and tried to promote peace, unity and solidarity. Unfortunately, none of it cured a soul or even mended the differences in a weary dispute.

Plenty of owners and players, refusing to seek a fair share of profit, are in a continuous battle and haven't grasped a sense of common ground, but a sense of softness and un-intelligence. So pitifully, for an enthusiastic nation thrilled to witness what could be a remarkable classic by the end of Sunday, Super Bowl week is eclipsed by the labor talks.

This all could've been prevented if Goodell acted aggressively and didn't allow the insanity to publicly tarnish his legacy and the league's image. Regardless of the popularity and publicity it earns, given the taste of fans wants and needs, the NFL is badly endangered by the mishandling from an inept and baffled commissioner.

As long as there are a number of morons in charge, the NFL will be classified a nightmare, an industry money-hungry and concerned with committing fraud, encouraging fans to pay steep prices for tickets just to rest your rear-ends in a cozy seat at one of the venues.

By the time the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers walk onto the podium at Cowboy Stadium for the compelling media circus on Tuesday, the discussion won't only center on Ben Roethlisberger's troubled past, but also the soon-to-expire Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Shame on Goodell for not reacting much sooner nor proactively trying to reach an agreement that would relieve stress and burdens to re-energize the fans.

This week, nonetheless, the media is focused on labor issues, curious to know if the NFL will play next season instead of being delayed with an ugly lockout. The NFL and the NFLPA have prepared for the madness this upcoming week, and scheduled multiple sessions with reporters, still in the midst of an infinite battle that has gotten worse.

If no deal is done, with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire on March 4, a potential lockout turns into reality and the NFL loses an entire season at the most.

And as the season comes to a close, probably in the darkness of the drama that has cast a hideous shadow on the league, if there's a labor stoppage in the end, Goodell announced he'll drop his salary to $1 a year.

The mess, particularly ongoing friction that grabs attention, clouds the festivities and the beautiful concepts of the coolest week in sports has foundered and startled our senses in such a saddened way. Where it stands is obvious, nearing self-destruction if Goodell refuses to cede his legacy and sacrifice ego.

This is likely an uproar unlike ever before, which has alarmed fantasy owners, draftniks, players and owners, but not Goodell, once a stern and intolerant commissioner after inserting his personal conduct policy created to punish rebellious players. He is the overseer, and the NFL sheriff, the man we were used to when he handed down harsh sanctions to instill in the minds of players that they have to lead by example.

Earlier in his term, he emphasized good character and dignity and, if so, then why doesn't he save the NFL from a heinous collapse in finances and popularity?

What the owners want is for the players to take the same cut, roughly 60 percent, dissimilar from the current deal in which owners earn a credit of practically over $1 billion for investment in expenses of an annual revenue pool approximately $9 billion before the rest of the money is divided.

The difference is, the owners are requesting for an increase of approximately $2.4 billion in credits, an amount they believe mirrors the adjustment of economic progress this era.

With the murky situation, in the middle of the chaotic, berserk Super Bowl week, the anxiety comes from the unknown. As of late, in previous weeks, NFL personalities such as Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie proffered their thoughts about the progress of negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

At this rate, the NFL is quickly approaching a lockout. For a while, there hasn't been a reasonable session, and without communication, it's pretty difficult to unanimously constitute a new deal.

It was only last year when the NFL produced nearly $9 billion in revenue, but has yet resolved its difference with the NFLPA. You'd like to think that the NFL isn't stupid to possibly risk huge profit for being too greedy and stubborn.

So the bottom line is, if there is no deal by the deadline, the NFL potentially loses an estimate of $120 million in revenue. It only gets worse, if this issue extends all the way until the regular season in September when the league could lose $1 billion.

The best thing the league has promised is to limit offseason workouts and reduce training camp, and create jobs for players by adding roster spots. Now that Goodell is willing to expand the season to an 18-game schedule, why not give the players suitable benefits at the end of their careers, why not finalize a deal with DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association?

The side with the leverage is Smith, who is worried heavily about long-term injuries and additional ailments from a longer season, unless Goodell talks with sense for once. The problem is, the sides aren't palatable.

It's too bad Goodell doesn't care, or else this wouldn't have hijacked Super Bowl week.

Roger Goodell Unwisely Cares About His Legacy, Rather Than Saving NFL

When Roger Goodell finally does care to save the NFL from itself, enforces a convenient policy that pacifies owners and players, declares a consensus rule and caters entirely to the league within his discretion, the NFL can return to prominence and reestablish itself as the much-respected enterprise.

Sadly enough, in the wake of political wars, animus disputes and lingering labor talks, it's the one theme amid a perpetual crisis that has gradually smeared the tenor of the richest sports league in the world.

In the midst of fragile economic times of the modern era, as the NFL still pockets revenue and rises into a primary sport, the delirious minds of fans madly devote their hearts and souls on worshiping their favorite NFL teams.

In truth, if there's a labor stoppage by next season, Goodell announced he'll drop his salary to $1 a year, a glaring indicator of ridiculously the commissioner's salary, wealthy by millions and can invest into businesses or even purchase estates in parts of the country. Almost a week away from the Super Bowl, and the potential lockout clouds the festivities in which the lovely romance toppled and overwhelmed our consciousness.

The corruption looms for a disoriented, chaotic and corrupted industry, ready to self-destruct if Goodell is unwilling to cede his legacy, which it seems more important other than saving the NFL from a grotesque downfall. To this day, the two parties have reached an outrageous point, engulfed in one of the wicked disputes in regards of the NFL's collective-bargaining negotiations.

That is what the fuss is all about, two parties that cannot resolve their difference, cannot reach an understanding to reduce the infighting madness and, in all likelihood, cannot avoid a ghastly lockout. It's certainly not alarming to Goodell, once the sternest and ideal commissioner for installing his singular conduct policy constituted to punish players of wrongdoings, structure and kindness.

He surely, in retrospect, has allowed too much latitude and has been very kindhearted to renegade players, even if an NFL star unlawfully committed horrific crimes or violated that said policy. What's so bad is he hasn't inflicted harsher punishments for players of late, allowing a number of troubled stars to get away with their sins.

On the issue of stressing the significance of morality to set certain barriers and rid the tension or detriment that poisons the industry and places a maligned image on the league, Goodell is anything but an enforcer. With that in mind, thus he once was the NFL Sheriff, we are merely accustomed to his intolerant and bigoted nature, the personality that has earned him an awful reputation. He would rather protect his legacy at the helm for the troubled business, he is by virtue stuck in a storm with the NFLPA, until each party reaches a settlement and constructs a new collective-bargaining agreement.

If nothing else, assuming that Goodell chooses to instead to fascinate populace by simply promoting the sport with strategy to market the one of wealthiest business in existence, it's very important he tries negotiating for a new labor contract or else he can destroy his legacy and endure devastation. The reality is, he has no inkling as far as rescuing the NFL from embarrassment or destruction, and if he ever was the guy who emphasized the significance of integrity and dignity, then Goodell is a different man now!

We can only assume that he's soft and feeble, unwilling to sharpen the landscape of the NFL, disengaged in taking command during his regime tantalized by his lack of aggressiveness and indifferent mental outlook on such an unidentified plague which affects his image. Now it's clear, upon hearing the latest mess surrounding his legacy, that he's neither powerful nor influential in a way to communicate with union executive director DeMaurice Smith.


As for NFL overkill, Smith has the leverage in the ugliest argument emanated to add dismay in the middle weary labor negotiations, until the NFLPA and NFL comes to an agreement in terms on a new labor deal. Unsure of the future status, he's still trying to enhance an 18-game season as a way for stockpiling profit, especially if the primary necessity is for ticket sells to balloon, for people to reserve hotel rooms, for alcoholics to overcrowd bars and lastly for the NFL to become a global industry.

That's what Goodell wants us to believe. Over the next few weeks, this is by far the biggest issue, and instead of overlooking the truth, he should be anxious to resolve the problems before its too late, before the league lose out in profit and protests presumably begin in the streets and madness invoke.

All week, his image took a dramatic fall when he spoke face-to-face with Smith in New York on Wednesday, when he on Capital Hill in the presence of lawmakers and congressional workers including former players and when he said "there's not enough communication" between both sides.

When he uses his flimsy excuse to tell the world that he's not the one to blame, he is almost laughable if he expects us to believe he's not the scapegoat. I don't care that he installed a personal conduct code to bust misbehaved players, he lost tremendous credibility. If Goodell thinks the league is saved, then he's in a sense of denial and disbelief, suddenly an inept commissioner with no barriers or a rational blueprint to serve as an antidote in the NFL.


If football ever was to move forward, vanquish the hurdles of prolonged fuss as the deadline quickly approaches that adds to the horror of a potential lockout and a brutal storm which can dismantle the welfare of the game, it's now the moment for Goodell to sacrifice his ego and toss out the prestige. Like it or not, the NFL is stuck in much disarray, surrounded by the torture that could possibly paralyze the league. What lingers is very frightening in a way, particularly for the fans forced to likely endure the long-suffering lockout.

Logic is, fans couldn't care less who is responsible for the labor negotiations, but just want to witness football next season. And since Goodell and Smith feuds in arguments, with kickoff for the Super Bowl a week from Sunday, the lockout debates provoke conversations for what could be the worst and scariest stoppage in sports history.

If so, instead of elevating his legacy, the messy predicament ruptures Goodell's legacy and popularity. That said, if the NFL become pedestrian simply for the stoppage capable of delaying and depriving a nation of fans paranoid by football, owners will lose money once the games are cancelled, players won't be lavished with enormous paychecks or any signing bonuses and the networks will lose billions.

And because football is such an economic remedy for mostly every community, unemployment rates will inflate as a legion of jobs such as restaurants, bars or concession stands and stores won't create many job opportunities, but will probably downsize in employment rates. The issue is, Goodell hasn't taken none of this into consideration and still is inactive, unwilling to request more money to players, but in the meantime, owners are discontent in spending ridiculously on players and would like to spend less on their star players.

Either way, in the end, one of the sides have to compromise and, if so, it reduces the turmoil if Goodell takes command in his attempt to save the NFL from any financial collapses or fiascoes. These days, for sports of course, there's no national holiday greater than the Super Bowl, an event that takes place on usually the first Sunday in February, a moment in the season when people host a large-size party to come together collectively and feast on junk food as they rest near the television with their eyes glued to the world's biggest game, rooting on the favorites and catching an emotional high.

Now, just imagine if there's no Super Bowl in the near future, or nothing to relish on Monday nights. If this happens, in which the NFL could be labeled the self-righteous, hypocritical business with all the hysteria and turbulence that has demolished the perspective of football in America where it is ultimately a rite and has turned into a typical brand name.

As of recently, he is comfortable with his manipulation, a strategy that worked efficiently in his favor when he created and enforced the NFL's conduct policy. But now, there's no guarantee that his plans will dominate this time, and if not, Goodell's monumental legacy is disintegrated. If the dispute is handled in court, the situation only becomes worse for the bargaining issues, including the 18-game proposal and rookie wage scale.

Goodell, even after he inserted rectitude and a strong reputation for the NFL while on the throne, is eternally in a stressful position, well, somewhat. So there was Goodell, unsure and baffled of what is ruining the league, pledging to lower his salary only if there is a work stoppage after the current collective-bargaining agreement expires in March.

In the upcoming months, abandoning the mess is hurtful, even if the two sides try to relieve the situation that has been lingering for months and counting with all the ramifications. Every last bit of, Goodell's top negotiator, Jeffrey Pash's salary will be reduced, too, if the league essentially topples in the next few weeks.

This is partly what happens if a business is mishandled or run poorly, and potentially if there's a lockout, Goodell will lose $10 million that he makes annually and Pash can lose nearly $5 million. This is the disaster of a nightmarish dispute, a pointless disagreement and it turns into an absolute joke. Every NFL franchise is worth over $1 billion, and the average player is worth $1.7 million.

Whatever it is, it's the most distasteful war of the beginning to a repulsive lockout maybe, a standstill that can evoke an outcry.

Kill the Golden Goose, Goodell: Save NFL or Encounter Ugly Lockout

For all the foolish nonsense of a potential lockout by 2011, Roger Goodell will make enemies if he doesn’t reach an agreement any time soon. Things are animous currently, in which football could suddenly face a hideous relapse.


By any means, why would Goodell allow owners to kill an entire season? Why would he cost the league millions after failing to pacify owners? The commish isn’t an idiot and he won’t screw things up, to make matters worse.

If so, the NFL becomes a travesty and a contemptible war among owners and players. But to stay above the fray, Roger Goodell is liable if a season is suddenly postponed with the failure of reaching an agreeable deal.

Amid a recession, industries have downsized a large amount of jobs and crippled and shut down completely, but the NFL is the most enticing and exciting industry, so Goodell doesn’t have to dismiss employees or force teams to reduce in luxury taxes.

Please understand, the National Football League isn’t that stupid. Owners realize there’s an enormous amount of profit that could be lost.

Imagine losing out on an entire season—venues are shut down, and fans are spending Sundays at church, or home relaxing, or working on chores before starting a long week of work.

Imagine owners losing out on millions, and Goodell being known as the commissioner who failed in a prominent role. Thus far, he has been successful in handling issues by instituting a player’s conduct policy.

And props to an intolerant Goodell, who played the role of a police officer on certain occasions when he inflicted harsh penalties on players for their foolish actions on and off the field. But he isn’t nearly as powerful when staring directly at the NFL Players Association, an empire that has seized control, and is currently overpowering Goodell.

What we are looking at is a powerful democracy, while Goodell is a puppet on strings. As of now, the league remains in limbo, and could be in worst shape by tomorrow.

On the positive side, the NFL is the most compelling and thriving league in American sports, but unfortunately the market dominating during a competitive age seems incapable of settling an ongoing issue that is gradually unraveling.

Although the game has hit a financial crisis, the NFL is still in good health. On Sunday, more than 106 million people had their eyes glued to the television watching the Super Bowl, which set a staggering record as the most-watched program in television history.

Owners are taking $1 billion off the top of total revenue, but the league is urging players to decline their share of remaining revenue from roughly 59 percent to 41 percent.

And while there’s a new television contract created, owners are expected to earn $5 billion if there’s a lockout in 2011, an insurance policy to keep a fair share in the pockets of wealthy NFL owners.

As baffling as it sounds, the NFLPA is speaking as if there will be a lockout, advising all players to save 25 percent of their salary.

Franchises are declining to reveal their average profit margin. Owners are infuriated about non-salary cap systems, especially when NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith proffered that it’s unlikely the league will formulate salary cap systems if there’s none established in 2010.


All the hoopla about the Collective Bargaining Agreement, rookie wages, uncapped seasons, and labor deals is making NFL devotees cringe. This is a league that has become America’s trademark, a league truly embraced for the dramatic contests and athletes in general.

As the highest enterprise in the country, the last thing to anticipate is a distasteful lockout. But now, it’s a business immune to problems other major leagues have faced in the past, skipping out either an entire season or half a season.

The NBA was highly viewed as a likable association until encountering a lockout in 1999, which almost lasting an entire season. Before degenerating completely, the NBA reestablished its credibility when an influx of superstars began contributing and lured in viewers.

An entire season was delayed when MLB had ended the ’94 season on the downside in late August—an ordeal that toppled its stature until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa saved the game with a remarkable home run race, which is now marked with asterisks since the heinous steroid revelations.

The NHL hasn’t recovered after taking off an entire season for an awful lockout in the ’04-’05 season. Even though the league is surviving on the resurgence of two sensational stars in Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL is still dealing with a financial crisis and lost television deal—and accepted a deal with the Versus network after ESPN refused to televised games.

Maybe the NFL feels it won’t have to face similar problems, but it remains unknown. It’s hard to tell where the National Football League will stand following a lockout.

Currently, the two sides are fighting about $8 billion in profit, and if there’s no settlement anytime soon, matters may turn ugly and end an entire season before it resumes.

Smith said owners want the players to take an 18 percent pay cut, for an annual average of $340,000—including a steep request in which players are allowed to accept only 41 percent of applied revenues. Yes, the NFL is stuck in a storm. And to weather the storm, Goodell must step in, as he has in many situations.

At the annual State of League news conference on Friday, he constantly drifted away from the ongoing topic, an issue that kind of highlighted and heralded much chatter leading up to the big game. He’s ashamed to dwell on a serious controversy that could later tantalize the most prominent league in all of major sports.

It seems to me owners are asking for a lockout, angry of all the unfairness transpiring within a wealthy market. During economic downturns, I think the last thing fans want to see is a lockout, as the game of football takes those watching in their living rooms away from reality.

Certainly, we want to believe Goodell isn’t that naïve or stupid to allow owners to take a gigantic step towards a hiatus—an awful hiatus which would be damaging for a league that manages to produce high TV ratings and ticket sales at local venues. The average franchise is worth $1 billion dollars, and fans are willing to pay for expensive tickets.

Owners are richer, gaining profit by the minute. Players are earning huge contracts, even if they under-perform. But greed and ego is happening at the same time, and Goodell has to take accountability before all things fail by 2011.

Sure, players are ticked off having to accommodate a system where their money isn’t guaranteed as in Major League Baseball. Sure, owners are upset about the guaranteed money dished out to players. Oh, get over it.

There’s an uncapped year looming, but there shouldn’t be a NFL lockout if Goodell pleases both sides, as well as Smith—the union chief who seems to believe a lockout is inevitable.

There’s some truth to his belief that both sides are unwilling to compromise over labor disputes. And even worse is, if next season is played without a salary cap, and the collective bargaining agreement expires, owners may stage a lockout of players and replace their teams like during the last labor stoppage in ’87.

If nothing is done, things will get ugly.

Come on, commish.

I repeat, come on, commish. Save your sport.