Ok, this may be an unpopular position to take but I can’t for the life of me understand why the NFLPA would agree to a hard ten year deal? I do understand that the “goose that lays the golden egg”, or in this instance “gives away its golden egg”, is television. The networks want to invest in stability, the League and its players need that investment to go forward with their own financial obligations & responsibilities. Again, I get it. But to me that’s bowing to outside pressures and focusing on near term satisfaction.
The landscape in professional football, our nation’s economy, the leadership over both and ultimately an ever changing player pool will be substantially different in just five years, let alone ten. History shows us that the common length of a labor agreement associated with Collective Bargaining (regardless of the industry in question) is usually 3 years. Accepted definitions of a CBA commonly include the phrase “short term”. This is all but that.
Though it may look/feel good at the moment for all those involved, and it especially alleviates the very “short term” fears of no football, or delayed football in 2011, it could very well create nothing but “headaches” down the road. What I see from both sides is a situation that deems not wanting to be dealt with again in the not too distant future. Wonder what those players, not even out of high school yet, think about this “kumbaya” accord? Those that say “they’ll just have to accept it” don’t understand who they’re dealing with.
Anyone want to lay odds on if we get to 2021?
