TAR HEELS FACING MAJOR SANCTIONS & WE ARE CLOSER TO AN NFL LABOR DEAL IMO
Sadly we have yet another major football program that could be facing serious sanctions from the NCAA. The University of North Carolina was notified yesterday of the NCAA's preliminary findings & the news isn't good. If you'll recall just before last season began the Tar Heels suspended 7 players from 1 to 7 games. The NCAA told Butch Davis defensive tackle Marvin Austin, defensive end Robert Quinn & wide receiver Greg Little were no longer eligible to play at the collegiate level. They sat out the 2010 season, all three were selected in the 1st or 2nd round of April's draft, so there's little downside for the players who created most of these problems. Very soon all three will sign large professional contracts while their school will suffer severe sanctions. In the NCAA's letter they identified three players who received improper benefits, tho not publicly named, most likely it's these three guys. One received over $13,500 in jewelry & travel benefits, another over $5,600 & the third, right at $5K. Former assistant coach John Blake is accused of steering players toward agent Gary Wichard. Over $10K of the improper benefits were traced back to Wichard. Former tutor Jennifer Wiley was also mentioned prominently in the NCAA report. She is accused of failing to cooperate with investigators, academic fraud, paying $1,700 in parking fines for a UNC player & $3,500 more in improper benefits & payments. It should be noted that nowhere in the lengthy report was head coach Butch Davis mentioned. But once again we have players accepting diamond earrings, watches & first class travel on agent's tabs. No accountability, a problem we see in athletics as well as in our society.
An update on the Ohio State car controversy. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles cleared the two car dealerships that had sold 50 cars to Buckeye football players & some family members. Of the 50 deals, 49 were at a profit. The Bureau could not say whether or not non-football players were given similar considerations or deals. They also had no facts surrounding Terrelle Pryor's "car of the month" club. A total of 8 cars have been traced back to the former OSU quarterback. The NCAA continues to investigate the football program for a number of alleged violations.
Today all 32 NFL owners met in Chicago for nearly 6 hours & tho Commissioner Roger Goodell didn't give us much in the way of concrete news, a few other owners were more forthcoming. Goodell said the meeting was more informational, not intended for taking any votes. He & his bargaining team will meet with the players again on Wednesday & Thursday in Boston. The most positive reaction from several owners was there wasn't much negative response to any of the negotiations. It would take 9 owners to defeat any proposed agreement. "There's not enough opposition to stop the train, nothing close to 9 no votes right now" one owner told Len Pasquarelli of SportsXChange. Another said "if both sides are somewhat unhappy with whatever agreement we come to, it's probably a good agreement." Well said. IMO, we're getting closer.
A few of the high points that have been leaked out intentionally or otherwise include:
A new Thursday night TV package for every week instead of the NFL Network's 8-gamer, will be put up for bid in the 2014 TV package yet to be negotiated. The league wants to keep 8-games, be it at the start of the season or on an every-other-week basis. The players might give in as the NFLN promotes both the league & it's players.
Another previous sticking point has been essentially agreed to, teams will be required to spend "right at 100% of the mandated salary cap every year." Many teams, the Chiefs one of the main offenders, spent nearly $30 million less in 2010 than they did in 2009. No more with this CBA, everybody will have to spend more. It should be noted teams spend an additional $22-$27 million in additional benefits each season.
The revenue split is nearly set in stone. Before the owners took $1 billion right off the top & then split 40-60 with the players. In this new CBA, the players won't be receiving 60%, but the owners won't peel $1 billion off the top either. The players will receive a minimum 46.5% & a maximum 48% of all league revenues. The lower figure will only come into play if league revenues diminish with the current economic slowdown the country is experiencing. Both sides gave up something here, maybe the players gave the most.
Unrestricted free agency will be available for players who have completed four years service & their contract has expired. The "franchise tag" will remain in effect, the "restricted" tag is still being negotiated. FYI, the 2011 free agent market should be open for business within 8-days after a new agreement is reached & ratified.
The rookie wage scale is "still being tweaked." Goodell said "we have a lot of work to do & we've got to do it right."
What about NFL retirees? Their health & benefit package should double, sadly not until 2016. A helluva lot of these guys needed it last year, not 5-years down the road. Their pensions will be "at least doubled,' but that's not enough either. I really have a hard time with the way these former players are treated, it's shameful. The league & it's players need to be way more compassionate to the players who built this league. Before Johnny Unitas' death in 2002, he received just over $600 a month in pension benefits. He could barely walk & had lost the use of his right hand because of elbow injuries he sustained during his 18-year Hall of Fame career. Matt Cassel will make almost 6-times as much money this season as Unitas made in his entire life as a player, pitchman & color analyst. Yes I get the fact things change, but it's high time the inflated egos of today's players are brought back to earth. Yes many of them are damn good, some even fall into the "all-time best" conversations. But too many of them have no regard or respect for those who came before them, paving the way for them to make millions upon millions. The league has hardly done well by these retirees either.
**Clarification:
The NFL's pension payments very calculated according to years of service & how soon you apply for it. A player was eligible after their 44th birthday. Because of extreme headaches, Hall of Fame wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes applied early & until he passed away in 202, at age 59, received just $300 a month. Players who retired before 1981 & delayed filing for their pension until after their 65th birthday, could have received just over $3,600 a month. Less than 10% of the retired players fall into that category. Quite a disparity from $300 to $3,600. It seems to me the league & the phoney union will try to wait these guys out, waiting for them to die off. Sorry, it's how I feel.
In today's "What the Hell Were They Thinking" quote, I give you NFL spokesman Greg Aiello who said something truly stupid. When asked about a study done by the Sports Business Journal that stated for each canceled NFL game, the local economy could suffer up to a $20 million loss. Aiello said "that's a fairy tale, there will be little economic impact if there is no NFL action next season. People will find other ways to spend their money." News flash for Aiello, thats what Major league baseball thought back in 1994 & they've never recovered the mantle of "America's Pastime." I'm sure cities, counties & states who have chipped in to improve, expand or to build new stadiums love hearing Aiello speak. They don't want people spending money elsewhere, they want these facilities used for football. Training camp locales would suffer terribly if this isn't settled. I can tell you Missouri Western depends on parking fees & scrimmage tickets during Chiefs' training camp to help fund their sports' programs. Think they care if people spend their money elsewhere? What about the stadium venders, ticket takers, ushers & parking lot attendants who moonlight 10 times a season during football? They do it to supplement their income, help for college tuition, Christmas, retirement, whatever, but they will miss that income. If people spend money elsewhere, you think it doesn't affect them? Aiello is in an important position with the NFL, he should be more careful running his mouth, discounting everything without understanding the financial impact canceled NFL games could cause.
The league is also shooting itself in the foot by arguing with the class action lawsuit brought by the 1,250 people who got screwed at the Super Bowl. They took off work, bought tickets & traveled to Dallas in hopes of seeing the Pittsburgh-Green Bay game. As you know they were herded into several standing room areas with limited or no-view of the field because the seats they had purchased simply didn't exist. The league offered two options that were basically fair with one exception. The lawsuit wants their plaintiffs compensated for the work they missed to attend the game. It makes sense, who would take off work to go to a game you can't see? We're talking 3-days work at the most, but so far the league has shown no inclination of making this right so the whole controversy will go away. Dragging this out makes the league look incredibly cheap & indifferent to fans who were wronged.
Also on the legal front, owners attorney Jeffrey Pash, one of those barred repeatedly from the bargaining table, tried to throw cold water on today's positive news leaks. "We're a long way from an agreement, people should understand that, there are a lot of unresolved issues we have to deal with before any agreement can be struck" Pash said. Why didn't he just say "I intend to disrupt these proceedings enough to keep my legal meter running full speed for at least another 60-days, my yacht needs a new propeller." Lawyers......you know I love 'em.
An update on the Ohio State car controversy. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles cleared the two car dealerships that had sold 50 cars to Buckeye football players & some family members. Of the 50 deals, 49 were at a profit. The Bureau could not say whether or not non-football players were given similar considerations or deals. They also had no facts surrounding Terrelle Pryor's "car of the month" club. A total of 8 cars have been traced back to the former OSU quarterback. The NCAA continues to investigate the football program for a number of alleged violations.
Today all 32 NFL owners met in Chicago for nearly 6 hours & tho Commissioner Roger Goodell didn't give us much in the way of concrete news, a few other owners were more forthcoming. Goodell said the meeting was more informational, not intended for taking any votes. He & his bargaining team will meet with the players again on Wednesday & Thursday in Boston. The most positive reaction from several owners was there wasn't much negative response to any of the negotiations. It would take 9 owners to defeat any proposed agreement. "There's not enough opposition to stop the train, nothing close to 9 no votes right now" one owner told Len Pasquarelli of SportsXChange. Another said "if both sides are somewhat unhappy with whatever agreement we come to, it's probably a good agreement." Well said. IMO, we're getting closer.
A few of the high points that have been leaked out intentionally or otherwise include:
A new Thursday night TV package for every week instead of the NFL Network's 8-gamer, will be put up for bid in the 2014 TV package yet to be negotiated. The league wants to keep 8-games, be it at the start of the season or on an every-other-week basis. The players might give in as the NFLN promotes both the league & it's players.
Another previous sticking point has been essentially agreed to, teams will be required to spend "right at 100% of the mandated salary cap every year." Many teams, the Chiefs one of the main offenders, spent nearly $30 million less in 2010 than they did in 2009. No more with this CBA, everybody will have to spend more. It should be noted teams spend an additional $22-$27 million in additional benefits each season.
The revenue split is nearly set in stone. Before the owners took $1 billion right off the top & then split 40-60 with the players. In this new CBA, the players won't be receiving 60%, but the owners won't peel $1 billion off the top either. The players will receive a minimum 46.5% & a maximum 48% of all league revenues. The lower figure will only come into play if league revenues diminish with the current economic slowdown the country is experiencing. Both sides gave up something here, maybe the players gave the most.
Unrestricted free agency will be available for players who have completed four years service & their contract has expired. The "franchise tag" will remain in effect, the "restricted" tag is still being negotiated. FYI, the 2011 free agent market should be open for business within 8-days after a new agreement is reached & ratified.
The rookie wage scale is "still being tweaked." Goodell said "we have a lot of work to do & we've got to do it right."
What about NFL retirees? Their health & benefit package should double, sadly not until 2016. A helluva lot of these guys needed it last year, not 5-years down the road. Their pensions will be "at least doubled,' but that's not enough either. I really have a hard time with the way these former players are treated, it's shameful. The league & it's players need to be way more compassionate to the players who built this league. Before Johnny Unitas' death in 2002, he received just over $600 a month in pension benefits. He could barely walk & had lost the use of his right hand because of elbow injuries he sustained during his 18-year Hall of Fame career. Matt Cassel will make almost 6-times as much money this season as Unitas made in his entire life as a player, pitchman & color analyst. Yes I get the fact things change, but it's high time the inflated egos of today's players are brought back to earth. Yes many of them are damn good, some even fall into the "all-time best" conversations. But too many of them have no regard or respect for those who came before them, paving the way for them to make millions upon millions. The league has hardly done well by these retirees either.
**Clarification:
The NFL's pension payments very calculated according to years of service & how soon you apply for it. A player was eligible after their 44th birthday. Because of extreme headaches, Hall of Fame wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes applied early & until he passed away in 202, at age 59, received just $300 a month. Players who retired before 1981 & delayed filing for their pension until after their 65th birthday, could have received just over $3,600 a month. Less than 10% of the retired players fall into that category. Quite a disparity from $300 to $3,600. It seems to me the league & the phoney union will try to wait these guys out, waiting for them to die off. Sorry, it's how I feel.
In today's "What the Hell Were They Thinking" quote, I give you NFL spokesman Greg Aiello who said something truly stupid. When asked about a study done by the Sports Business Journal that stated for each canceled NFL game, the local economy could suffer up to a $20 million loss. Aiello said "that's a fairy tale, there will be little economic impact if there is no NFL action next season. People will find other ways to spend their money." News flash for Aiello, thats what Major league baseball thought back in 1994 & they've never recovered the mantle of "America's Pastime." I'm sure cities, counties & states who have chipped in to improve, expand or to build new stadiums love hearing Aiello speak. They don't want people spending money elsewhere, they want these facilities used for football. Training camp locales would suffer terribly if this isn't settled. I can tell you Missouri Western depends on parking fees & scrimmage tickets during Chiefs' training camp to help fund their sports' programs. Think they care if people spend their money elsewhere? What about the stadium venders, ticket takers, ushers & parking lot attendants who moonlight 10 times a season during football? They do it to supplement their income, help for college tuition, Christmas, retirement, whatever, but they will miss that income. If people spend money elsewhere, you think it doesn't affect them? Aiello is in an important position with the NFL, he should be more careful running his mouth, discounting everything without understanding the financial impact canceled NFL games could cause.
The league is also shooting itself in the foot by arguing with the class action lawsuit brought by the 1,250 people who got screwed at the Super Bowl. They took off work, bought tickets & traveled to Dallas in hopes of seeing the Pittsburgh-Green Bay game. As you know they were herded into several standing room areas with limited or no-view of the field because the seats they had purchased simply didn't exist. The league offered two options that were basically fair with one exception. The lawsuit wants their plaintiffs compensated for the work they missed to attend the game. It makes sense, who would take off work to go to a game you can't see? We're talking 3-days work at the most, but so far the league has shown no inclination of making this right so the whole controversy will go away. Dragging this out makes the league look incredibly cheap & indifferent to fans who were wronged.
Also on the legal front, owners attorney Jeffrey Pash, one of those barred repeatedly from the bargaining table, tried to throw cold water on today's positive news leaks. "We're a long way from an agreement, people should understand that, there are a lot of unresolved issues we have to deal with before any agreement can be struck" Pash said. Why didn't he just say "I intend to disrupt these proceedings enough to keep my legal meter running full speed for at least another 60-days, my yacht needs a new propeller." Lawyers......you know I love 'em.
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