NFL: Why i hate the Players Union...(LONG)

[Yellow Snow]

This ^^^^

If your company came to you and said, "we want to change how we pay you. We want you to work more and make less." What would you do? In your situation you would probably take your skills elsewere (any self-respecting worker would) but where are the NFL players going to get another job playing football? Is Tom Brady going to say, "screw you! I'm going to play for $800/month in the Arena league!" ???? These guys are profesionals, and there is only one professional league out there. It's the NFL or bust, that's why they are fighting the owners.

Where are the NFL players going to get another job playing football? Seriously? Who says they NEED to get another job in football? Tom Brady can go back to school and learn a skill that will earn him a living outside of the entertainment business if he wants... heck, he probably already has a degree in something. It's NOT NFL or bust... it's the NFL or do something the players would really rather not do... play in a lesser league or get a real job. For the life of me I can't figure out why people think that playing football at a high level "entitles" anybody to anything. The players are the draw (along with the team in general), but that in NO WAY entitles them to anything more than what the owners are willing to pay them.

As far as my company coming to me and dictating a pay cut... companies all over America lay off workers due to "cost cutting", "an economic downturn", etc. I don't recall any private entity having to supply the books to the workers they lay off to "prove" they needed to downsize.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Just curious - can someone explain to me what the "union's" argument is in stating that the NFL Draft violates antitrust laws (which is the reason why they don't want draftees attending the draft in the first place)?

 

[Cyrocks]

As far as my company coming to me and dictating a pay cut... companies all over America lay off workers due to "cost cutting", "an economic downturn", etc. I don't recall any private entity having to supply the books to the workers they lay off to "prove" they needed to downsize.

Different thing all together.

Let's say your company was unionized (which the NFL is) and you were a member of the union. The union and the company were locked into negotiations and they can't come to an agreement. It then goes to an arbritrator, who will ask to see the books if the company says it can't afford this and that. The reason he asks to see the books is to make a judgement.

 

[Cyrocks]

Just curious - can someone explain to me what the "union's" argument is in stating that the NFL Draft violates antitrust laws (which is the reason why they don't want draftees attending the draft in the first place)?

I never saw this before. Not doubting you, but are you sure you heard it right?

If you did, then you are right, it doesn't make much sense.

 

[Cyrocks]

Except most of the owners aren't making their money off football. They are making it elsewhere. That is the issue here. The owners are seeing more andf more losses and want to reduce that loss.

Again, I asked this earlier. The owners refuse to show their books. So how do you know that they are seeing more and more losses?

I mean look at the television package these guys have -- they are on ESPN, NBC, FOX, CBS and the NFL Network. We Cyclone fans are giddy because perhaps Iowa State will get a piece of the new Big 12 Network, and that's only one television package.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I never saw this before. Not doubting you, but are you sure you heard it right?

If you did, then you are right, it doesn't make much sense.

They've been talking about it on Mike and Mike ever since the union "advised" the draftees not to show up at the draft - the stated reason given to them was because it wouldn't look good for the draftees (future union members) to show up at the draft when the union is arguing that the draft violates labor laws.

 

[CycloneErik]

Just curious - can someone explain to me what the "union's" argument is in stating that the NFL Draft violates antitrust laws (which is the reason why they don't want draftees attending the draft in the first place)?

My guess is that they would be using the same argument that was used for free agency, in that the drafting process undercuts the incoming player's rights to choose an employer and contract his services wherever he would choose.

I don't know, but that sounds like the free labor approach they would be taking.