Dan Rooney Speaks...

Remember the old EF Hutton ads? The slogan was "When EF Hutton talks, people listen."

Dan Rooney, Steelers' owner and US Ambassador to Ireland, is like EF Hutton. In the past, Rooney has been a key player behind the scenes in getting things done with regard to CBA negotiations and TV negotiations. [ASIDE: Al Davis was also a key intermediary in CBA negotiations because of his personal relationship with Gene Upshaw.]
Here is a link to an article by Sam Farmer in the LA Times. Farmer covers the NFL as a whole - - since there is no local team in LA - - and does a fine job there.

I think there is great significance that Dan Rooney has chosen to make some public remarks about the CBA negotiations at this time as deadlines are imminent. His absence from the league - - now that he is the US Ambassador to Ireland - - probably made progress more difficult. Now that he is speaking on the matter - - and possibly devoting some of his attention to it - - perhaps things will move forward.


Steelers owner Dan Rooney impatient with lack of progress in talks with players - latimes.com (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nfl-labor-20110122,0,6953464.story)

Unlike many owners, the elder Rooney is staunchly against expanding the regular season to 18 games, which is an issue in the current negotiations. Many players feel that would be too punishing to their bodies and would significantly shorten their careers.

"I would rather not get the money" than expand the regular season, Rooney said.

"You have a system that works, so why add them?" he said. "Now the people usually say, 'The preseason doesn't work.' Well, look at the preseason as the preseason and try to work that out. Don't say you're going to start messing with the full system."

Amen

Does anyone else, other than me, think that the NFL front office is trying to cause more player turn over by extending the 16 game schedule? Isn't it true that the NFL commissioner represents the views of the owners?

The bottom line is monetary profit and a diluted product on the field.

I hope that Rooney gets more involved. His is a voice of intelligence and reason.

POWERFUL thread title....nice work!

Is our current 16 game season too much in your opinion(s)?

^ I'm not sure that the whole 18-games season idea is not much more than a bargaining trick by the owners, used to gain extra concessions from the players. I know that there are statements out there to the effect that the owners are serious about the 18-game season, but then again, it wouldn't be much of a bargaining chip if it were portrayed otherwise.

POWERFUL thread title....nice work!

LOL, yeah it's more than "Interesting" It really speaks to me. j/k

Thanks for the update Sportscurmudgeon, hopefully things will start to move forward soon

When Dallas was trying to hide the most unkept secret in the NFL (Hiring Jason Garrett), one of the radio stations down here kept saying in a promo "Will Jason Garrett be the new head coach of the Cowboys, or will the Rooney Rule produce a Dark Horse".

At first i thought it was kinda tackey but realized it was pretty darn funny!!!

POWERFUL thread title....nice work!


Point taken... :embarrass