Source: Under no circumstance 18 gm schedule

[manchild24]

Players Association boss DeMaurice Smith announced Wednesday that the players will under no circumstances agree to an 18-game NFL season.
It's common knowledge that the players don't want 18 games, but this is the first time Smith has said it so publicly and adamantly. According to SI's Jim Trotter, an extended regular season is "off the negotiating table." Said Smith, "18 games is not in the best interest of our players' safety, so we're not doing it." We don't want an 18-game season, either, but we also worry about the players overplaying their hand. They got a big leg up with Judge Doty's $4 billion ruling on March 1, and now appear to be pushing most -- if not all -- of their demands to the max. We'd bet heavily against an agreement before Friday's extension deadline

 

[EmpireWF]

If the union can stand up and keep the 18 game schedule off the table, props to them.

There's no doubt the favorable judge ruling in their favor has propped up their spine. There is no legitimate reason for them to agree to the 18 game schedule after all. It can only add more hazards to their health while the league nets hundreds of millions of dollars more.

What's the upside for the union?

 

[Diivox]

Way to go, NFPLA. I completely agree. There is no reason to take an 18 game schedule. the 2 extra games were only there to justify the owners making more money. Preseason doesnt mean shit. The owners could go, hey, we took more money from you, but you're getting 2 extra game checks (and the owners would probably make a fuckton more money off 2 more regular season games than they would those 2 preseason games they gave up, if their team is competetive).

but from a medical perspective, its retarded. i'm not going to into medical stuff cuz its boring but the links are everywhere at how bad it is for men to play football, and this information is only going to get more detailed and profound moving forward.

As a Packer fan who watched his team barely survive all the crazy injuries, it's retarded. The Packers were lucky to have so much talent at reciever, so they survived Finley's injury. James Starks was the solution to Ryan Grant's injury. Desmond Bishop to Nick Barnett's. my team got really fucking lucky in a way I can't recall happening anytime recently. 2 more games that mattered and I don't know how my team overcomes the toll of playing professional football.

From a competetive standpoint, you look at a team like the Colts. they routinely put the brakes on when they lock up their division. That shit is an insult to ticket holders. Last season we got very lucky, and the younger people will forget how often we've engaged in the debate of meaningless games (thankfully, only 16 games limits this, I can't even imagine what the hockey and baseball guys go through when divisions are already decided and their team is already totally fucked with months to go.)

Take the Chicago bears and put them in the NFC west. last season? they lock the division up with 6 or 7 games to go. OK so its chicago, and people will never miss games. But let's look at the Cardinals. I am a strong advocate for my locals here in Phoenix to stop selling out that fucking stadium. last season was stupid, Bidwell didn't even try to build a good team, but the stadium is still new so it sold out all season. Let's say in the new CBA they go to 18 games. Who the fuck is going to drop 500-1000 bucks to take their whole family to see a shitty team in week 17? Point is: it's really bad business for the owners too.

There are so many different reasons that the 18 game schedule is a steaming pile of shit, and I don't know a single one that supports it. I'm getting the feeling that, with the concessions in regards to the rookie wage scale as well, plus with public opinion turning on them, the Owners have severely overplayed their hand, the NFLPA is on it's way to doing so much better than anyone anticipated.

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

The Packers players are fawked...they can't negotiate now. lulz Nah jk

I never liked the idea of an 18 game schedule anyhow.

 

[NAHSTE]

Good for the players for holding strong, fuck the slimy suits. I think this has been the easiest collective bargaining dispute ever in terms of choosing sides.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Thank god. Now cut the preseason to 2 games.

 

[Aso]

Thank god. Now cut the preseason to 2 games.

Whatever happens there will be 20 games total.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Whatever happens there will be 20 games total.

I know it's only a pipedream, but I wish it would happen.

 

[killgod]

I never wanted it - I prefer 16 games, but arguing about player safety as why they can't is just pussy talk. They are playing off the buzz about concussions which is thrown in fans faces every 3 seconds.

 

[SHOGUN]

Great news.

16 games is perfect.

 

[NAHSTE]

I never wanted it - I prefer 16 games, but arguing about player safety as why they can't is just pussy talk. They are playing off the buzz about concussions which is thrown in fans faces every 3 seconds.

It's not buzz, it's legitimate scientific evidence based on years of medical research. You are being obtuse if you think it's a "toughness" issue.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I wouldnt have minded 18 games, because I have no problem with adding two more Sundays of sitting on my couch for 9 hours watching Sunday Ticket to my slate. As a fan, i'm all for it.

As for player safety, boo hoo. 14 games, 16 games, 18 games, doesnt matter, guys are going to get hurt, and these men know that they are likely shortening their lives by CHOOSING this profession. CHOOSING. As a fan, safety is not my problem. I would consume two more games, lose two more weeks of fantasy football, and not think twice about player safety. And guess what? So would you.

16 is fine, but 18 would not have made the sky fall like people seem to think.

As for this dispute overall, I think it's criminal that the players are making $.60 out of every $1. Show me a business where the owners make less than half the money. Would you stand for that as an owner of a business? I know I wouldnt. No wonder they want two more games.

Lets not lose sight that players are employees. There arent many businesses that are willing to run a labor percentage of 60 FUCKING PERCENT. I understand it's apples/oranges, but really it isnt when you think about it, but most businesses try to run lower than 30%. And these owners are just looking for something closer to 50/50.

I dont think the owners are trying to be unfair. I agree with them on the rookie wage scale (which will only benefit veterans anyway), I agree with them on the 18 games (which will create addditional game checks and additional jobs through more roster spots). These men arent billionaires by accident, everything they want will make everyone more money.

 

[killgod]

It's not buzz, it's legitimate scientific evidence based on years of medical research. You are being obtuse if you think it's a "toughness" issue.

It's a fuckin buzz word regardless of the fact that's it's happening or not.


Player safety is more about respect the players have for each other rather than the amount of games they are playing.

All it takes is ONE PLAY to cause a concussion. Doesn't matter if the season has 1000 or 2000 plays, all it takes is one. It's how the players are playing the game that's the issue, but because concussions are hot topic buzz in sport right now, they are leveraging that to their advantage in the financial war vs the NFL.

This situation is about money, not player safety.


Riddle me this, if the NFL said fine....you're worried about player safety? Lets drop it back to 14 games to help you out.....and cut your paycheques by a percentage to accomodate. I wonder how many NFL players would agree?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

It's a fuckin buzz word regardless of the fact that's it's happening or not.


Player safety is more about respect the players have for each other rather than the amount of games they are playing.

All it takes is ONE PLAY to cause a concussion. Doesn't matter if the season has 1000 or 2000 plays, all it takes is one. It's how the players are playing the game that's the issue, but because concussions are hot topic buzz in sport right now, they are leveraging that to their advantage in the financial war vs the NFL.

This situation is about money, not player safety.

I agree with this.

The headhunting rules and the helmet to helmet rules that everyoine bitches about will cut down the concussions dramatically. Dirty players or retards who cant grasp the new rules will eventually learn how to hit to avoid the fines/suspensions.

Nobody like it, but it's something the league needs and we just need to learn to live with it. Only a small percentage of mouth breathing hillbillies watch football to see guys hit dirty and get hurt.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Shit, just get rid of helmets. Dudes are gonna be terrified to go head-first and maybe actually learn how to tackle.

 

[EmpireWF]

Shit, just get rid of helmets. Dudes are gonna be terrified to go head-first and maybe actually learn how to tackle.

Not helmets, football would suck because there'd be no hits.

You get rid of the facemasks.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Not helmets, football would suck because there'd be no hits.

You get rid of the facemasks.

How does that help? Facemask to facemask hits are solid as hell.

You can still have badass hits without helmets, you just lead with the shoulder. Football would be played a lot slower though.

 

[EmpireWF]

If you take away the facemasks, players won't be launching themselves like rockets with their faces out in the open.

 

[bucky]

Shit, just get rid of helmets. Dudes are gonna be terrified to go head-first and maybe actually learn how to tackle.

And....Change there uniforms to pink lingerie, have them grow boobs or MUCH better, draft players who already have boobs.

Call it the Lingerie Football League (LFL)

Grown men watch and salivate......

Profit.

 

[BrntO4Life]

And....Change there uniforms to pink lingerie, have them grow boobs or MUCH better, draft players who already have boobs.

Call it the Lingerie Football League (LFL)

Grown men watch and salivate......

Profit.

Sounds both good and familiar. I'll take it.

As long as they keep the athleticism.