CosmicBills

Nothing confirmed but ... let the speculation begin.

Well sure. There's risk crossing the street. There's risk walking out the door every morning, or even staying in bed. There's risk in everything. But come on, the NFL prints money. It has for a very long time and will continue to do so as long as the owners don't do something foolish and prolong the lockout. They think they're invincible. That's how they're acting by even flirting with the idea of a prolonged work stoppage. The NBA and MLB took a decade to recover from their bitter work stoppages (if they even have recovered). The NFL can certainly fall into that trap. That's the risk. But it's a risk they're causing by their blind greed. They run a meat grinder. They don't guarantee contracts. A large chunk of their employees sacrifice their very lives to work for them (average lifespan of a 10 year NFL lineman is 55). They don't provide adequate (or any in some cases) health care or retirement plans for the employees who BUILT the league ... and now they're pushing the league towards a work stoppage for no good reason other than to make MORE money. The players aren't asking for more -- at least not in this case. This one is on the owners.

This is good news!

But there is. It's called the NFL. 50 years ago that certainly wasn't the case. The league wasn't what it is now. Hell, I'll even give you 30 years ago. But in the past few decades the league has exploded. It's by far the biggest earner in the entertainment business. Highest ratings by far of anything else that comes on the television. The TV contracts (all of which are long term deals) cover all your operating expenses including employee salaries. So your nut is covered without you having to do a thing and regardless to how you run your organization. There's zero risk. None. You just need 1b in your bank account to get into the game. Which, very few people actually have. Put it another way. You could replace every one of the owners tomorrow with anyone else in the world, regardless of their mental capacities or business acumen, and that team would STILL make money. That's not true of nearly every other business in the world. But guaranteed TV contracts in the billions make it the case. The question isn't if NFL owners are making money. It's how much MORE money do the NFL owners want to make? Me saying the owners are screwing the fans in terms of price gouging is more hyperbole than anything. However, make no mistake about it, the owners are the ones screwing the fans by imposing this lockout. They want MORE money on top of the record breaking profits they're already making. And they're willing to screw over the customers to get it. I know this is the american way, that's just business -- but have we learned nothing from the most recent economic crisis? Greed is not good.

You're not really getting the point behind the article -- it's not just that the NFL owners have more money. It's that they are making money and claiming they need more because their model isn't sustainable. Which, they refuse to prove. As for the above, every NFL fan is screwed by every owner. Every game. We still go because we don't have a choice. But from PSLs, to 10 dollar beers, to outrageous parking costs etc -- everything they do is designed to make the most money from the fans as possible. And that's their right (and job) as owners. That's what they should be doing. And it's working. It's far and away the most profitable sector of the entertainment industry. Moreso than movies, tv, music etc. Yet they want more. That's not good business. That's greed. They run a zero risk business (yes, the NFL is zero risk and has been for two decades). Most of them did nothing to build the league, rather they stood on the shoulders of the men like Ralph who DID take risks to make the NFL what it is today and lined their pockets. Now they want to stop the game to make even more. The players won't suffer. The fans will. So yes, the owners are screwing the fans by locking the players out. To see it otherwise is just silly in my opinion.

Oh, I totally agree.

Great Rick Reilly article ... "Their estimated combined net worth is well over $40 billion, which is more than the GNP of 150 nations. Paul Allen, owner of the Seattle Seahawks, has a 414-foot yacht called "The Octopus" with two helicopters, two submarines, a swimming pool, a music studio and a basketball court. He also has two backup emergency yachts. You're really worried about his wallet? Yes, many of the players are diamond-coated knuckleheads. But have you ever met Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder? He's worth $1.1 billion and yet, two years ago, the Redskins sued a 73-year-old grandmother for not keeping up on her season-ticket package payments. This man also got caught buying stale peanuts from a defunct airline and reselling them at games." Awesome. Let's side with them here. They clearly have the fans' best interest at heart. At least the players perform a function for the fans (they perform ON THE FIELD). The owners just think of ways to screw us out of our money. "For the owners to lock out the players at this time in American history is unconscionable. You don't like the players? Fine. There are still nearly 9 percent of Americans out of work. Think of the people who've lost their homes, lost their cars and can barely pay the rent. Watching an NFL game on a Sunday -- and getting ready for it all week -- is sometimes literally the only thing keeping them going. Do you realize what having no NFL season would do to the economy? According to the NFLPA, it's estimated it would cost each NFL city $160 million and 3,000 jobs. That's 93,000 jobs nationwide. For what? Another Aspen chalet? " Yes. The Owners are in the right here. Read the article. It's scathing. The fans that are actually on the owner's side in this are out of their minds. Seriously.

Let's not forget that the war chest, the TV Insurance fund was basically outright theft from the players. The owners got caught trying to steal (more) money from the players by essentially claiming income (of which 60% after the first billion is the players) as if it were a loan. The Owners got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Kinda like this whole fiasco. The Owners are unconscionable. They really are.

You assured us there wouldn't be a lockout. I mean, you told everyone who said otherwise that this was not the owner's fault. This was the players going on strike. Not the owners locking the players out. Isn't it time to admit that you were ... how do the Greeks put it? Oh yeah, wrong on pretty much every level?

I have never seen a guy argue so much without really thinking about what he's saying or understanding the issues at hand. It's amazing. And I thank you for taking time out of what I assume is your incredibly busy schedule of yelling at the grass for growing too loudly to share your inane, completely vapid and totally ridiculous view points with the rest of the group. It's like watching someone's brain fall down a flight of stairs. So thanks! I look forward to more wonderfully inept posts in the months to come. By the way, the players won't decertify until there's a lockout. There's this thing called cause and effect. Look it up. But I forgot, you're right because you said so. Everyone else in the media, NFLPA, and ownership is wrong when they call this coming labor dispute a lockout.

I'm a huge fan of Russel too and thought the older chick made a poor choice overall. BUT I love how Rob is playing so I'm not too broken up about Russel going home (I don't think he can beat Matt in a challenge).

For you that might very well be true (I'm not trying to attack you). But 90% of the detractors reach for Russel because of race. Try sparking a conversation about Newton with some folks. You'll be amazed at how quickly the topic turns racial. It's amazing. Even on this board. During the season at the height of the pay for play scandal, any discussion about Cam turned racial (or at least contained severe racial undertones) within 10 posts. That's not to say the people doing it are racist. It's just interesting to see how quickly it goes that way. The comparison is always to Vince Young, Russel, Mike Vick, A. Smith etc. Whether people want to admit it or not, there's still a huge stigma attached to being a black QB in the NFL by fans (and, it seems sometimes, coaches/GMs/Owners).

Are ya still standing by your firm stance of a few weeks ago that this will be a strike and not a lockout? Just curious.

Balderdash. The Russel comparisons started WELL before that comment was made.

She must. Because she isn't that good of an actress ...

Because Nix is a relic. A dinosaur. The game has changed. The way teams are built has changed. The Pats get it. The Bills don't.

Love the blog ... but you really wanted The Kids Are Alright for screenplay? Did you read it or just see it? Just curious.

anywhere, but then again I only searched the front page. It's funny if you haven't caught it. Safe for work despite the title -- but it is 7 minutes long.

Damn you. That was good. I should'a gotten there sooner.

I won't beat the dead horse for too long -- but the Spiller pick was a disaster of epic proportions. I said it on draft day (and many times since ... 'cause I have no life) and it's still true today. It's not a bad pick because of the player, but what the pick represented: placing too high of a value on a RB when they have been devalued in the modern NFL. It was a loud and clear statement to those who were really listening that this front office is dangerously out of step with the elite franchises in the NFL. Nix was an inside hire and doesn't represent true philosophical change from the regimes that got this team stuck in a 11 year playoff drought. But people like him. And it's hard not to because he comes across very well in interviews. He speaks his mind (something I respect) and does so in a down home kind of way. This proclamation about not trading back, while not new for Nix, is just another sign that he isn't the right man for the job. This team needs new blood. It has for awhile. I firmly believe that Nix just doesn't have the chops to get the job done here in Buffalo. And that just plain ol' sucks.

What's with all the acne/pot marks on their faces in the later mug shots? What drug does that? Meth?

But ... but ... he talks with a folksy southern accent and speaks his mind! Nix MUST know what he's doing!

I like Quinn. A lot. If they take him I think it'll be a happy coincidence more than anything. I doubt very much they hired Wanny because they had Quinn targeted. The two aren't related but could end up being a blessing ...

The most interesting bit in this article to me is the revelation that Nix doesn't believe in trading down ... So, there goes that game plan.