Gang of 9

to add,i was just checking the salary cap situation,and think its kind of ironic that just about every team deemed small market is way under the cap.maybe instead of marketing,this is how the owners make extra money.any thoughts?


What you point out reflects the smaller amount of financial resources these teams have to begin with from their management, as well as the much smaller wealth to be found in their areas in general.

The point I want to make is that its important for teams to want to make the league stronger for everyone. How can we make this the best league, the most competitive league? A "we're all in this together" attitude makes for a much more interesting league for fans to watch.

The more there is an everyone for themselves attitude, then strife from all quarters threatens everyone's enjoyment of being a fan.

Right now for example, as the owners struggle over this issue, the labor agreement is in jeopardy. This sort of strife could lead to the Redskins having to release half their players. Not fun.

I think what will eventually happen is that the deal will get done in time.

When you look at all the "players" involved, the new ESPN set-up for Monday Night football, Sunday night games airing on a new network (NBC), the NFL network making a big push to get their hand in the cookie jar, and even the scouting combine is starting to be a big offseason production. My point is that someone will step in and help broker a new deal. There's more at stake than just the teams themselves.
A lot of moving parts here. Consider the money that goes into producing the Super Bowl alone.

I think the Gang of 9 just want that dollar figure to be a very reasonable one and one that all parties can obviously agree on. They are essentially sending a message right back at the NFLPA saying we won't just be pushed around by a bunch of "Union guys". There will be intense negotiating, but it will get done.

This is just my opionion....and it's only worth two cents on any given day.

Oakland_Red
Are you saying that right now everything should be split totally even in the league?

No, I said we aren't talking about a completely even distribution, just a fairer proportion to keep the competitive balance equal.



Oakland_Red
Are you saying that right now everything should be split totally even in the league?

No, I said we aren't talking about a completely even distribution, just a fairer proportion to keep the competitive balance equal.

That's part of the fundamental disagreement with the owners opposing this, they feel it's already fair enough.

oakland red what smaller amount of financial resources are you referring to?the main revenue sharing that keeps all of the teams on a semi equal playing field is the tv deal.this is mainly what the salary cap is based on?so just because a team doesnt have the luxury boxes,or the strong fan base in terms of merchandise is only a very small part of the equation.if you put in 12-13 hours a day and build your product up to be one of the top 3 in the world,would you want to share with someone sitting on their ass doing nothing to better their situation?

That's part of the fundamental disagreement with the owners opposing this, they feel it's already fair enough.

Fair enough to have a competitive even playing field? That is the barometer to me. The other 23 teams feel that things are getting out of balance. The gang of 9 I think agrees that it is out of balance, but in their favor, so they prefer that.

I think that the idea that the gang of 9 would actually sue the other teams is disturbing, and if things go down that road, then the NFL will deteriorate.

The NFL can have these disagreements, but at the end of the day, we rise or sink together. Is the NFL the banner or is it the teams for themselves?

Perhaps an analogy would be in the founding of our country. The states worked together to form a Union, the United States. Will the NFL be the United NFL teams, or will it be a Civil War?

Heh, maybe I'm not David McCullough, but there's a comparison there somewhere.

oakland red what smaller amount of financial resources are you referring to?the main revenue sharing that keeps all of the teams on a semi equal playing field is the tv deal.this is mainly what the salary cap is based on?so just because a team doesnt have the luxury boxes,or the strong fan base in terms of merchandise is only a very small part of the equation.if you put in 12-13 hours a day and build your product up to be one of the top 3 in the world,would you want to share with someone sitting on their ass doing nothing to better their situation?


Some teams will have all sorts of revenue streams due to the greater wealth of the people in that area, the stadium deal, the original wealth of the ownership group, etc.

Green Bay and Wisconsin can't make their state have more wealth. So they cannot ever make as much money as the Redskins with all the local media deals, stadium situation, merchandise, original ownership wealth, etc.

Yet, Green Bay adds immeasurably to the quality of the league. They add character, an illustrious history in their case, the interest of fans from their part of the country. All of these things make for a much better league, and in effect make the Redskins more valuable. Because everyone would be diminished if Green Bay no longer fielded a team, or had a team that compared to the Brewers.

im not argueing that point.my point is that teams like the packers,while i agree add alot to the league,are already being handed a ton of money by the tv contract that basically covers the salary cap for them.why should they be handed more "free" money?have them go out like the snyders and the jones' and EARN it

Fair enough to have a competitive even playing field? That is the barometer to me. The other 23 teams feel that things are getting out of balance. The gang of 9 I think agrees that it is out of balance, but in their favor, so they prefer that.

I think that the idea that the gang of 9 would actually sue the other teams is disturbing, and if things go down that road, then the NFL will deteriorate.

The NFL can have these disagreements, but at the end of the day, we rise or sink together. Is the NFL the banner or is it the teams for themselves?

Perhaps an analogy would be in the founding of our country. The states worked together to form a Union, the United States. Will the NFL be the United NFL teams, or will it be a Civil War?

Heh, maybe I'm not David McCullough, but there's a comparison there somewhere.

Well I 'aint so sure the United States was all for the people. I think if you censored a few ethnic groups, they would hardly agree that we came together without injuring quite a few groups. Not the best analogy, but I do get the spirit of what you're saying:)

You mention it's disturbing that teams would sue the NFL? I think it's just as disturbing that the Federal Government would take Bill Gates and his company to court, (which by the way, the Seattle Seahawks have been indirect beneficiaries of his genious) and watch other so called software giants bring legal complaint after legal complaint against them. It's interesting that the NFL and the Gang of 9 are really operating on the same basic business tenents as many major corporations and our government encourage.

I really don't want to get all tied into a knot over this, I think they'll figure it out.