by John Morse

NFL Lockout Affecting Player Spending

Scoring a lucrative contract is one of the most exciting aspects of entering the NFL for a collegiate prospect, but this year has really opened the eyes of first and second year players. With no training camps or off-season workout sessions, there’s no money flowing into NFL player’s bank accounts. True Capital Management in New York City is a financial advisor agency that has over 100 NFL clients and this year it is especially active. San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Matthews and Oakland Raiders defensive end Matt Shaughnessy are two clients coming off their 1^st and 2^nd seasons, respectively.

Senior Vice President of True Capital Management Mark Doman sets the record straight for those who believe all NFL players are financially set.

“Three out of every four players go broke,” he says. “Actually, it’s worse than that. The real number is closer to 78 percent,” said Doman.

As the uncertainty of the lockout continues, Doman has stressed to his clients that their spending must be conservative until football resumes. Doman maintained that his clients have been extremely appreciative and understanding of the spending changes.

Not all NFL players are as financially stable as others and besides the rookie contracts that could be reduced as part of labor negotiations; NFL contracts do not consist of much guaranteed money.

Read more on this overlooked aspect of the NFL labor negotiations here. 

Twins Stadium the Target of Bad Weather

The Minnesota Twins played for years at the Metrodome and as the name insinuates, the stadium’s ‘dome’ relieved the possibility of rainouts from threatening play. Already in the 2011 season the Twins have experienced two rainouts at their year old Target Field. What’s ironic is that playing in the metrodome these days wouldn’t do much good in preventing precipitation from falling on the playing surface. The Vikings Metrodome roof collapsed days before a matchup last season with the Giants and has now become the focal point of conversation in the off-season along with the NFL lockout.

As a result of the rainouts at Target Field, the Twins have offered fans a twin-bill doubleheader on the make-up day to account for the missed action from the cancellation.

Read about the Minnesota stadium situation and weather here.                     

Potential Lockout Extends Past NBA

As NBA lockout talks continue to swirl, we’ve seen the effects already as the Lakers failed to offer contracts to team officials for next season. We’ve seen the league pass out handbooks to prepare its players and we’ve seen the NFL lockout lifted, at least temporarily.

Despite all of that, one aspect of an NBA lockout that has not been discussed is the international game. Beginning with qualifying tournaments this summer, national teams would be affected from a lockout.

If there is no new collective bargaining agreement reached by the July 1^st deadline, national teams fear that they won’t be able to afford insurance for the NBA stars on their roster. An NBA player who participates in international competition is guaranteed pay upon injury, a reason why insurance is a key component. With no guarantee of the upcoming NBA season, there are no guaranteed contracts for players; and with no guaranteed contracts there is no insurance for national team play.

Translation: NBA players are running the risk of receiving no pay if injured in national play.

Read about the possible miscue with the NBA here. 

Sports Fan Pic of the Day:

Sports Blog of the Day: NHL Hot Stove

The twists and turns are over for the 1^st round of the NHL playoffs. For the Bruins and Lightning, it’s on to the next one.

This Day in Sports History: On April 28^th, 1960 the Lakers left Minneapolis for Los Angeles.

John Morse is serving as an SFC Sportswriter Fellow based in New Hampshire. He is finshing up a degree in Print Journalism at Hofstra University. John is a very passionate sports fan and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins are his favorite teams.

Sources within the NFL Players Association have told Sports Fans Coalition that NFL outside counsel Bob Batterman firmly rejected the NFLPA’s proposal that the players give back revenues in exchange for a stake in ownership, telling the NFLPA: “My clients aren’t interested in being partners with your guys.”

The NFL and NFLPA are currently in mediation, trying to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement and a split of over $9 billion in revenues. NFL owners currently take about $1.3 billion off the top, but they are asking for an additional $1 billion.

According to the NFLPA sources, the NFLPA has repeatedly proposed that the additional revenues that the owners are asking for be exchanged for a stake in league ownership. “Our guys would do it in a second,” one NFLPA source said. But the NFL refuses to even consider partial ownership, according to sources.

On Monday, Sports Fans Coalition proposed that any new collective bargaining agreement include provisions revising the rules on public ownership. NFL rules currently prohibit public ownership of teams (excluding the Green Bay Packers) and new stockholders in franchises must be approved by a ten-twelfths (10/12) vote.

The hostility demonstrated by the NFL towards the NFLPA is on par with how the NFL treats its fans. Clearly, the NFL views the players as its workers rather than legitimate business partners and views its fans as mere consumers. At the same time, the NFL is asking players to give back $1 billion and is asking fans to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars for new stadiums.

If the NFL wishes to continue to grow this game, it should do so in partnership with its players and fans, and not merely on the backs of them.

by John Morse

Unfortunately for fans, federal mediation hasn’t been able to immediately fix everything between the player’s union and owners.

As Thursday’s talks came to a close, it marked a seven day period that included over 40 hours spent in face to face negotiations. Although
improvement is being made, there will need to be a dynamic breakthrough when the two sides resume talks on Tuesday. At the very least, the two sides will look to reach an agreement on a CBA extension that is set for March 4th.

Colts Center, Jeff Saturday had this to say on the situation: “I think ownership—everybody — needs to know that we’re all committed to it and committed to getting something done.”

To get the full scoop on the up to date NFL lockout situation, click here.

Read the full story here.

by George Donnelly

Should the NFL experience a work stoppage when the collective bargaining agreement expires in March, both the players and the owners will be quick to play the blame game.  Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer has already decided to blame the owners for this current mess. 

I agree with everything in the article, but one crucial piece is missing.  While there is some disagreement over who is to blame in this fiasco, there is no doubt who will be hurt most by a work stoppage: the fans.  The very people that support the owners’ profits, the players’ salaries, and the construction of stadiums, will be shut out in the cold should the NFL and NFLPA not come to an agreement soon.

Read the story here.

Today, Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick and SFC Chair David Goodfriend sent the following letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith:

Dear Mr. Goodell and Mr. Smith,

On behalf of NFL fans everywhere, we are requesting that the leadership of Sports Fans Coalition be present for future negotiating sessions between the NFL and the NFL Players Association until such time as a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

We are not asking for a seat at the negotiating table — although we believe fans deserve one — but merely to be present in the room so that we may inform fans across the country about the state of ongoing negotiations and ensure that progress is being made towards an agreement that ensures a central consideration of fans.

As fans and taxpayers, we have invested over $6.5 billion around the country on NFL stadiums, in addition to the billions we have spent on tickets and NFL merchandise. We have transformed our urban centers with the promise that new stadiums would serve as an economic boon to the surrounding community. A work stoppage would be devastating to many cities, including local workers and businesses.

The NFL and other professional sports leagues also enjoy an exemption from federal antitrust statutes with respect to negotiating broadcast rights, which has enabled the owners and players to make significant revenues.

If the NFL and NFLPA cannot come to an agreement and a devastating work stoppage is the result, the public has a right to know why.

Hopefully, both sides can come to an agreement in the immediate future and this great American sport can continue to bring happiness to the many fans, families, and communities that enjoy professional football. Until then, the fans deserve to know that someone in the negotiation process is looking out for their best interests.

We will contact your offices to follow up on this request.

Sincerely,

Brian Frederick                                                   David Goodfriend
Executive Director                                            Chair
Sports Fans Coalition                                        Sports Fans Coalition