Dan Rooney Speaks...

[sportscurmudgeon]

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

[tryfuhl]

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

[juskins]

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.

[Lotus]

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

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by juskins

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 agree, but the NFL is going to be one of those "too big to fail" entities in the not too distant future, so the owners are going for the gold. I was shocked last year when I found out the NFL asked the US Govt for a $2 billion bailout for operating costs in the summer of either '08 or '09. Think about it, they have their own TV network, NFL.com, shoot even a whole staff of frigging fantasy football writers. These idiot owners like Jerry Jones who build unnecessary stadiums with state of the art everything are in the red bigtime. They raise ticket prices too much in a quasi depression economy and they won't fill the seats, etc. Look for the NFL to get more bailouts in the future, and don't be surprised if sometime in the next decade we go to a 20 game schedule. The NFL simply needs to cut costs like every other corporation, but since it is probably the most popular diversion for America, they will get govt handouts. As for the players, just think of them as high paid gladiators, who can be replaced easily. When the bottom line is cash, people are usually low on the priority list, especially if they already are being highly compensated for just being entertainment for the masses.

[Hog1]

POWERFUL thread title....nice work!

[skinsguy]

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

[Lotus]

^ 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.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Lotus

^ 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.

I'm thinking the same thing. Something tells me it won't happen, but if it did, there would be two less preseason games.

[44ever]

Originally Posted by Hog1

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

[sportscurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Hog1

POWERFUL thread title....nice work!

Point taken...

[CrustyRedskin]

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!!!

[MTK]

I'm confident the 18 game schedule is very real and not just a bargaining chip. It's an idea that's been discussed for a few years now.