Oh I agree Foster.. the middle ground on this should be rather simple.. however the above forgets about one key element that applies pressure in this, but isn't talked about much.
The agents.
I think one of the main sticking points is the Rookie cap.. and how that impacts the agents.. and the pressure they are applying behind the scene.
The other major concession.. the 18 game regular season... and whom pays for it.
The Owners currently collect full revenue for the tickets sold for the "meaningless" preseason games.. however the players don't collect normal game checks.
The players will want to be paid and the owners already have tapped that local revenue stream.. so either the costs will be passed down via ticket increases or the NFL as a whole will have to chip in with the additional TV revenue to supplant the increase in costs.. either that or the Players take less.
Then one could dig into the retired benefits angle.. and make another topic post.
In the end.. we the fans foot the bill but are really just pawns at this point. Pawns with pockets that will be pillaged further.
"pack93z" wrote:
18 games is going to be more palatable to both sides with a true 50/50 split, coupled with whatever number they come up with for roster size and game-day actives.
Rookie cap savings would enure to existing union members just as much as to owners. At a fixed 50/50 split, the NFLPA would find it virtually impossible to defend the continued escalation in rookie compensation amongst it's own membership. As to the agents, the $$$ would go to the vets, so it isn't like the agents aren't going to see it---they would merely see that cash in a "shifted paradigm", if you will.
They can also decide EQUALLY on the responsibilities to the retirees--- Owners and players can eat that burden 50/50 also. The NFLPA will get a lot less noisy on THAT one when they get to suck on the financial realities as well.
...And make all of the owners open the books. IMO
These players are not poor, and the existing model is not equitable for the players themselves- the rooks are sucking WAY too much out of their "side" of the financial pie. That is SO obvious, to me at least.