If Teddy Bruschi is right, this won't ever get done

[CatMan72]

You're acting like NFLPA doesn't have smart reps and lawyers just as pricey as owners

The smartest lawyer in the world can't overcome the leverage the owners have over the players right now... the owners can survive a year with no income, how about the players?

[CatMan72]

Wrong. Players were getting 60-40. Owners wanted them to take 40-60. The Union offered 50-50 split and owners walked.

Wrong, the players have been getting 50% for several years now, so the 50/50 offer was only an offer to keep things the way they are.

According to NFLPA spokesman George Atallah, the players received 51.87 percent of all revenue in 2002. In 2003, it dropped to 50.23 percent. In 2004, it was 52.18 percent. In 2005, 50.52 percent. In 2006, it was 52.74 percent. In 2008, it was 50.96 percent. In 2007, it was 51.84 percent. In 2008, it was 50.96 percent. In 2009, it was 50.06 percent.

Read more: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/10/report-cba-talks-broke-down-after-union-proposed-50-50-split/

[CatMan72]

My overall impression is that DeMaurice Smith is in WAY over his head right now...

I'm not sure he realizes that the owners can make the players come out looking like the bad guy in all this by making a "best final offer" which the union would either have to accept or choose to strike.

[pantherfan49]

The players are overpaid EMPLOYEES. What point are you player lovers going to get, NO employees should be getting the % of operating revenue they are getting?

They aren't opening the books because legally they dont have to. American Airlines didn't have to open books to the TWU when they made them take cuts or else. No company has to and the Courts nor Congress will make the NFL.

Yep, though the NFL isn't a typical business because replacement employees aren't readily available like they are in most business settings.

For most businesses, if you are paying more than 40% of revenue to your employees, you aren't going to be in business for long.

[chef17]

I think the star players make too much money, but the lunch pail mediocre guys deserve the money they get. Julius Peppers shouldn't get a $100 million dollar contract. The whole thing is fuged up. Guys like him already make a poo ton from endorsements. They play a game for a living. Yes I know they sacrifice for that game, but a 100 million dollars?

Give me a $10 million dollar deal and I would make that last a life time. Players need to get smart with their money. The owners are billionaires and are greedy as hell too. Why not take all that extra money and pay back the cities that built your gazillion dollar stadiums.

I agree with this. But you can't fault the players for it. If an owner is willing to pay me $100 million I damn sure would take it. The owners just need to stop paying as much. If a player demands more money let him sit out. When they realize they won't get what they are asking for, their price will go down.

[mav1234]

Wrong. Players were getting 60-40. Owners wanted them to take 40-60. The Union offered 50-50 split and owners walked.

total != football revenue.

[carolinarolls]

bring on the replacements

abolish high contracts forever

limit rookie contracts

[Cyclonus]

Fug 'em. Lock them out. I'll watch replacement players. Sure I'll miss the star players for a while. But I like football more than I like the individual players.

[Mr ocho nueve]

If only the players knew how fortunate they are. I'm not talking about all the players. I know there are good guys in the league, and alot of them. But on the business side, these guys make more in a couple years than most of us will make in a lifetime. On top of that, I can probably say most players don't have college debt, assuming most got scholarships. It's just stupid if you ask me. I wanna beat the hell out of the guy in charge of the players.

[pantherclaw]

So a 50/50 split was proposed (which was the same as a year ago) by the players, and the owners are being greedy. Love that logic.

[Pimpdaddy]

My employer pays me a salary and benefits and if I don't like it I can work somewhere else, thats the beauty of America.

Look, the owners put up 100% of the money, take 100% of the risk, pay 100% of the expenses and collect 10% of the profit. Its a business and they are saying here is what you will be paid, if you don't like it go work at McDonalds which most of the players know they are underqualified to do so. I think there should be some kind of extended medical benefit for players because the abuse on their bodies really doesn't show up until later in life, that should be mandatory. But the owners should be able to set the salary and share profits how they want. The players need to wake up and realize this is a pretty good gig given the alternative which is actually working for a living.

[Cavscout]

Screw the NFLPA. The players make too much money as it is. Bunch of dumb jocks. I hope the owners take them to the cleaners on this one.

[BBQ&Beer]

Bull poo. Who says they are so unique? If we poo can every NFL player in the league right now and did nothing but draft and bring in scrubs from other leagues, in 3 years no one will know the difference.

That arguement is pure agent driven and NFLPA driven bull poo.

Congrats. You just posted the dumbest thing I've ever read on this forum.

They are that unique. That's why they make millions to "play a game". That's why they make millions to "play guitar". That's why they make millions to "stand in front of a camera & talk". Etc... Etc...

And yes that's why they "own pro teams".

Now then why is it that that last "they" don't "poo can" all of those players & rebuild with the draft & scrubs who didn't get a chance? That "they" remembers when MLB was king.

Note that I'm not saying that the players are right. I saying you posted an idiotic argument.

[Gazi]

So a 50/50 split was proposed (which was the same as a year ago) by the players, and the owners are being greedy. Love that logic.

Total revenue split last year was 60-40 in the favor of NFLPA. I'm talking total revenue here so save your stats. How is 50-50 now a good proposal to start?