The NFL Lockout continues as we wait a ruling in early June in the Appeals Court. Based on what I am seeing on social networks, and hearing on the radio I feel the fans are starting to get tired of this labor dispute. Both sides could be in the process of really upsetting their customers, which are obviously the fans. I feel it is time to turn up the heat on both sides, and make our voices heard a bit more. That being said, I think it is time for NFL fans to unite regarding the lockout.
 Patriots owner Robert Kraft is concerned that the longer the labor battle goes on, the more the players and the league will alienate the fans. (FILE:Icon/SMI) |
The NFL has passionate fans of 32 different teams. We might disagree about our clubs, but I think there is one subject we can all agree on. We all want football. I say the fans need to be even more outspoken then ever to put the pressure on both sides to get a deal done.
The more the fans discuss their displeasure, the more leverage we have in forcing the sides to negotiate a deal. I heard it yesterday on Sirius NFL Radio as fan after another fan voiced their concerns and feelings about the lockout.
Here in Boston, the local media has been attempting to have the fans pick a side between the players and the owners. I think many fans like myself don’t care about the details of this dispute or who ultimately wins the deal. I think most of us just want football.
The longer this situation goes, the worse the season could be in the end. I have heard the argument that as long as they start in September, everything should be fine. I don’t see it that way.
Right now the teams are missing important off-season activities which include mini-camps, OTA’s, passing camps and a conditioning program. They are also missing an opportunity to complete their roster with free agency.
How can the product on the field possibly be the same without a proper off-season? It has to be affected, and I think we will see it now regardless of when the the season begins. Time right now is being wasted as we wait for a court decision.
What both sides should be doing is seriously negotiating a deal. They have had court mandated mediation sessions, but honestly what is being accomplished with them?
It is time to put the heat on these sides, and let our voices be heard. I have a feeling that the sides are starting to feel it. Bob Kraft is quoted in Monday’s Boston Globe discussing the fans and his concerns. Here are Kraft’s quotes courtesy of the Boston Globe.
“The problem can be solved. I really believe that,’’ the Patriots’ owner said during an event at Gillette Stadium. “One of my concerns is we not aggravate our fan base, because they don’t understand and they don’t want to understand whether it’s the owners, the players [at fault], they just want to have football.
“We have to be very careful — and I think we’re coming to that point now — where we start to hurt ourselves collectively in the eyes of our fans. Because in the end, the fans just want football. They don’t want to hear about all of this meaningless squabbling.’’
I understand if fans want to pick a side, and I don’t have a problem with that. However, I think we all are in agreement that we want for there to be a 2011/12 season. It is in everyone’s best interest to start really negotiating to get a deal done now.
It takes two to make a deal, and both sides should compromise to make this happen. There is enough money to go around.
But, in this whole dispute I think it is the fans that are being forgotten by the players and the owners. We are the customers that allow them to make the NFL such a financially lucrative League.
I think we have to continue to show our displeasure in this lockout. Here are a few things you can do.
1) Talk About It On Social Media Networks – Twitter and Facebook are becoming powerful tools to get your message across. You can connect with other fans that feel this way. The chatter can build and get back to both sides.
2) Call Sports Radio Stations – I think this is a great way to get the awareness out about the lockout. Again, the more talk about the subject can get back to the players and the owners. They need to know that fans are upset.
3) Email Your Local Sports Writers – These writers can become the voice of the fans if they decide to write about the lockout. Let them know your displeasure with the process, and maybe they will write about it. The media is a great way to get the message to both sides.
4) Email Or Write your team – I say let the clubs know that their fans are not happy with the labor situation. If they believe their customers are very upset, they might act quicker than later.
Whether you are talking about it on the social media networks, or in the media itself, it is the time to really be heard. The fans do matter, and we should let the owners and the players know that fact.
You can follow me on twitter at Russ_Goldman.
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good post Russ!! everything is getting so out of hand now its becoming a joke!!
Right on the money Russ,
Just fix it already, I’m tired of the owners trying to say that don’t make enough and the players trying to paint themselves as one of us. Most of us don’t make an average of $2 million a yr, at least I don’t.
If you’re going to litigate, then do it about the long term effects of head injuries, long term health care for ex-players and fixing the ridiculous rookie salary situation by instituting a cap. Then I’m on board with you
[...] http://www.cafepress.com/FU_NFL [...]
Russ,
agree with what your saying; but most of your leverage tools are leverage on owners (particularly write to teams); not so much on players or not equal in any event.
hate to think about adding more lawyers; but what about starting a FANS’ class action lawsuit against BOTH PARTIES. Get a FANS REP at the table of the mediation with the objective of fastest resolution possible and full disclosure to the public of discussions.
The going assumption on both sides is that fans will continue to pay jacked up seat prices, seat license fees, and primarily that advertising $ will always be increasing to throw more $ their way. Nobody ever talks about making the live game experience affordable for joe blow.
Good article, Russ. Most of the fans-unite groups are extremely one-sided against the owners and behind the players 100% so I appreciate the attempt at the both-sides-behaving-badly approach.
The difficulty I have getting behind the players is because so far they have not even tried to negotiate a new CBA. First they won’t negotiate until the owners open their books, next they won’t negotiate until they hear the Appeals Court’s ruling on the lockout, and now they won’t negotiate until they hear Judge Doty’s decision on the TV money case. Even if they win that case then I’m guessing they’ll wait until the NFL’s appeal is heard and decided.
We’re talking additional wasted months of a cold-war stalemate here, before any CBA talk even makes the agenda.
The players’ fight is all about gaining leverage through the courts BEFORE they can negotiate a new agreement. They say they are only being used as a negotiating tool but these lawsuits, if successful, will negatively change the NFL. It’s bothersome that they’re willing to put the entire league on the line just to improve their bargaining position without regard to the fact that we the fans have proven (with our dollars and TV/Cable ratings)that we love this league exactly as it is and don’t want it messed with.
In addition, if the players win the triple damages they are seeking in the TV case, the players may have enough money to drag out the time before they “have to” negotiate, even longer.
Both sides need to stop the court cases and get back to negotiating a CBA. I’m not sure about the desirability of a fan rep at the table as I wouldn’t want one biased against a particular side. What is needed is a pair of neutral negotiators, whose only job is to come up with fair options, equitable to both sides, so a deal can be reached and football can be played.
Marima,
As always you knock it out of the park. Great comment by you. I think by waiting for a court case is hurting the game. The product on the field is going to suffer each day this continues. Get the lawyers out of the room and start honestly negotiating towards a deal. Forget about winning in court. How about winning on the field? That means getting back to the tables so you can get a deal done and everyone can move on.
Thanks Always
Hi Russ,
Nice article. All the fans need to do is quit buying Merchandise and Sunday Ticket. The owners and players would come to an agreement real quick if Patriot Pat quitting spending $150.00 for an authentic jersey and $350.00 to watch Sunday Ticket because he lives in Phoenix and is sick of wathcing the Cardinals.
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My name is Jerry Lowery. I am a season ticket holder with the New Orleans Saints. I was terrible upset when the Saints played the Colts in the Super Bowl, we, the fans got a measly 6% of the tickets. The Saints organization got 17% of the tickets but only passed 6% down to the fans. We support our teams 100% during the regular season and the owners show their appreciation by screwing us when it comes to the big game.
We are, after all, the reason there is a National Football League. Without us there wouldn’t be a NFL. The players work for the owners but the owners work for us. They treat us like we don’t exist, like they are doing us a favor by allowing us to pay for their tickets and support their sponsors.
Their are millions of NFL fans scattered out all over the whole world. There is an estimated 200 million fans that watch the Super Bowl. If we could get a fraction of these fans to support us financially we could have the means to negotiate with the owners for better fan conditions.
Yesterday I launched a website ‘profans.org’ . Please look at it and leave suggestions as to how to improve it. This is my site but I am willing to contribute it to the NFL Fan Organization. I need lots of help with this movement. I need the help of all of the 32 NFL teams fans, both the ticket holders and the armchair fans. Please help. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
Jerry