Rock out with your Lockout

[RobH4413]

How pumped do you think Ted Leonsis would be if there was an NFL lockout?

I would definitely contribute all of my time to MLB (shudder), NBA, and NHL if their was no NFL. I love watching the my Caps, O's, and Wizards... but really... I'd take the Redskins over all of them combined.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

It's kind of comical though that you'd go back to sports you left because of lockouts and strikes because your upset with another sport locking out.

I have to fill my time with something...I tried women's volleyball but it wasn't satisfying. I will probably stick mostly to college football and basketball.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by saden1

I use to watch the Orioles and Caps on the regular...then they had strikes and with that I left and never really cared for either sport again. The NFL will get the same exact treatment if they strike.

I truly applaud your free market consumerism. I wish I had the intestinal fortitude to do that with sports. I love 'em too much though. Otherwise I would have given up on the sorry group of legacy killers we call the Redskins nowadays a long time ago. Boo me.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I truly applaud your free market consumerism. I wish I had the intestinal fortitude to do that with sports. I love 'em too much though. Otherwise I would have given up on the sorry group of legacy killers we call the Redskins nowadays a long time ago. Boo me.

It helps being in the West Coast. It's an effort for me to watch them and I'm not interested in expanding effort for a bunch of millionaires squabbling about who should get more millions.

[Alvin Walton]

I only watch baseball when I have trouble falling asleep.

[SmootSmack]

The attendance drop wasn't even 1%. I had thought, largely based on people I spoke with, that we would have a resolution by October and the first month of the season would be cancelled.

But, lately I'm hearing that a lot of secret meetings are taking place and it's quite possible this will get resolved much much sooner than that. As in by March

Here's hoping

Go players!

[hooskins]

SS is your blog linked in your signature?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by hooskins

SS is your blog linked in your signature?

Yes

To be clear though, it's not mine. A handful of us share the responsibility for it.

[hooskins]

The NBA is closer to a lockout than the NFL, Rob. You might lose that, as well, for a longer period of time.

[DM72]

There WILL NOT be a lockout. These guys like spending way to much. They'll eventually crack.

[BleedBurgundy]

Buster doesn't mind scab players as long as they get the shoulder stripes right.

Personally... if they take a year off, nbd. I'll spend more time having fun and less as a Sunday afternoon masochist.

Sent from my Evo using Tapatalk

[ethat001]

Let's dispel some of the myths here. On average - 80% of NFL players are nearly bankrupt within 2 years of leaving the league, their careers only last 3 years, and have a median salary of $790,000 per year. Only a few are like Peyton Manning/Tom Brady/Haynesworth.

First the facts:
- NFL Average salary: $2 million / year (nfl salaries)
- NFL Median salary: $790,000 (nfl median salaries)
- Career of an NFL player: avg 3 years (nfl career)
- Firefighter/Teacher - median $41,000 (salary firefighter or salary teacher)

So:
- teacher/firefighter $41,000 x 45 years (20yo->65yo) = $1.85 million, after 15% tax: $1.6 million
- NFL player: $790,000 x 3years = $2.4 million, after 35% tax: $1.6 million

My point is that although the NFL players make a lot of money per year, their career is OVER after they retire. They are thus compensated for a lifetime - and it is similar to what others make over a lifetime of work. So teachers are "millionaires" too - over their lifetime. Sure, NFL players can get other jobs after their NFL careers, and this means they will probably make more over a lifetime -- but it's still hard for them to support themselves & million dollar house going from the NFL to working at the grocery store. At least the firefighter or teacher gets the money over a lifetime, so they can more carefully invest it -- most NFL players are 20-something and waste much of the money & crippled by divorces.

In fact, most NFL players declare bankruptcy -- 78% of players are nearly bankrupt within 2 years (sports illustrated, or other reference).

Not to mention the fact the average lifespan of NFL players is only 55 years - they usually die young of heart disease ( espn - nfl lifespan, cbc nfl lifespan).


Second, even if they make a little more over a lifetime - they probably deserve it. In our society and capitalism, people are rewarded for what they do. It is MUCH MUCH harder to become an NFL player, and they are compensated as such. People (ie. all of us) are willing to pay to watch them - if we did not value what they did, we wouldn't pay $4000 a ticket to the Superbowl.

[CRedskinsRule]

Good stats ethat. A few questions:

1) in terms of 78% being bankrupt shortly after leaving the game - what does this prove to you? I ask since you quoted the stat. For me it says that regardless of the amount paid, many players will poorly manage their money. And would lead me to the suggestion that maybe less focus should be on salaries, and more on retirement care and follow up.

Same question about the average lifespan. I don't see that much as an argument for or against the player's union, as much as a need for greater education of the player's on healthy after football lifestyles.

I don't think anyone, players, owners, or fans, are saying players should be paid at the same rate as a teacher, or policeman, etc. However, no teacher starts at 41000 at 20 y.o. Most teaching positions require at least a BA degree, and higher paid positions certainly require MBA or better. Although policemen may start at 20 y.o. I also doubt that most teachers or policemen work for 45 years as the stress and general environmental factors would drive those who make it 20 years to seek retirement somewhere along the lines.

One last hypothetical (and truly this is not anywhere near reality), given your statement

At least the firefighter or teacher gets the money over a lifetime, so they can more carefully invest it -- most NFL players are 20-something and waste much of the money & crippled by divorces.

what would you think of a proposal that a significant portion of a player's salary be put in a fund, and paid out over a 10-year time frame, thus hoping to reduce the number of bankruptcies and give players more time to prepare for their after-NFL career.

[SirClintonPortis]

Teachers are paid less because their "firm", aka government, doesn't get as much money coming and/or has to spread out the money coming in to more recipients and expensive goods such as asphalt. The government can only get income from its tax base or loans from other governments. It's often not a very willing transfer of money to the government.

NFL has a ton of money distribute to its employees because people always spending a giant-ass amount money to satisfy their football fix, other companies want to put their advertising money into the NFL because they believe that they'll grab a ton of consumers, etc.

[NFLLockout]

I wanted to invite all of you to check out the NFLPA's Super Bowl ad. The players want only one thing, let us play!

Check it out on Youtube by pasting this link into your browser: youtube.com/watch?v=Jl9BpUgYljQ