A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

[NorthCoast]

While we are all focused on the next six months and what it will bring to the Steelers, there are things brewing that should be of more concern (these comments were made a few months ago):

Sources: Jones fined at least $100KComment Email Print Share By Chris Mortensen
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a comment about revenue sharing and now he's sharing his revenue with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.



Jones

Jones has been fined at least $100,000 for violating a gag order on labor issues last week, according to league sources.

Jones stated on Sept. 4 that revenue sharing is "on its way out," while doing a media interview originally intended to support Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's quest for a new stadium.

Revenue sharing is considered a critical component of the NFL's pending collective bargaining talks since the owners exercised an option in May 2008 to terminate the deal after the 2010 season.



Goodell

The union has maintained that the owners' biggest issue is amongst themselves because of the revenue sharing model and Jones' comments seemingly emboldened that position.

Goodell had issued a gag order for all owners and team executives from discussing any aspect of the pending labor issues. Jones crossed the line, drawing a "six-figure" fine, sources said, as the commissioner distributed a memo Friday to all 32 owners, along with a reminder that the gag order remains in effect. Goodell did not disclose the specific amount of Jones' fine in the memo.


A league spokesman declined to confirm or deny the fine, labeling such an issue as an "internal matter."

Jones didn't apologize for his comments in a statement released Sunday.

"If my comments in Minnesota were viewed as being over the line, then so be it," he said. "The comments were made in an effort to assist a fellow NFL owner and his team's pursuit of bringing a new stadium to the fans of the Twin Cities. Having just completed the process of stadium construction, and knowing how much it means to an NFL market, this is something that I would do for any of my ownership partners. It just goes to show how intertwined labor issues are with the construction of new stadiums -- from a positive perspective."

When he was last heard from in Minnesota as the Cowboys wrapped up the preseason, Jones tried to send a message to assist Wilf's efforts for a new stadium. He made himself available to the Minnesota media as a favor to Wilf, according to a Cowboys source.

"Right now, we are subsidizing this market," Jones said. "It's unthinkable to think that the market you've got here, with 3.5 million people, and have teams like Kansas City and Green Bay subsidizing this market. That will stop. That's going to stop. That's called revenue sharing. That's on its way out."

[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4469721[/url]

Jones would like nothing better than to be the Steinbrenner of the NFL. This is his plan and this is the only way he can see the Cowboys returning to the big game. The Steelers, in particular, will suffer the consequences of this outcome. They will go from being a perennial contender to a second tier team in the span of a few seasons. Jones' ego will end what has been one of the most balanced leagues in sports. I hope Rooney can muster enough votes to veto the Snyders and Joneses.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

Does it have to be all 32 owners voting yes or no or does majority rule? Meaning, just because there are douchebags like Jones & Snyder, can they ruin the whole thing just to get what they want or could the majority of the teams vote one way whether Jones likes it or not and if he wants a team in the NFL, then he has to play by what the majority of the NFL owners want?

Seems pretty ridiculous if one or two douchebags can ruin the whole league.

[Chadman]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

[Jooser]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

You just wait until the Obama justice department gets a hold of Jones, Chadman! Evil rich people trying to turn a profit is just....well it's EVIL!!!!

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

You just wait until the Obama justice department gets a hold of Jones, Chadman! Evil rich people trying to turn a profit is just....well it's EVIL!!!!

Maybe Obama will initiate a government takeover of the NFL. Then, he'll fix the league by starting up a new "cash for clunkers" program--the government will simply pay off the
eight lowest revenue-generating teams to fold up, and a panel of hand-chosen bureaucrats will decide how their players get divvied up to all the rest of the teams.
There will follow a whole slew of new rules designed to make the game less violent.
In a couple of years, there will be player quotas for women and gays that each team will have to meet.

[Northern_Blitz]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

I think these owners look at the league the wrong way. Revenue sharing may hurt the Cowboys bottom line, but it helps the league (by creating a competitive league the people want to watch). With no league, there are no Cowboys. They are franchises, not stand alone corperations.

I think I'd be done with the NFL if there was no revenue sharing and it turned into the MLB.

When I was a kid, I really loved baseball (I was a huge Blue Jay fan). Unfortunetely, the league is structured so it is virtually impossible for the Jays to ever make the playoffs. Now, I can't bring myself to watch a game on TV, and I only go maybe 1 game a year because I can get tix for like $20. It's not worth getting emotionally invested.

[NorthCoast]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

I think these owners look at the league the wrong way. Revenue sharing may hurt the Cowboys bottom line, but it helps the league (by creating a competitive league the people want to watch). With no league, there are no Cowboys. They are franchises, not stand alone corperations.

I think I'd be done with the NFL if there was no revenue sharing and it turned into the MLB.

When I was a kid, I really loved baseball (I was a huge Blue Jay fan). Unfortunetely, the league is structured so it is virtually impossible for the Jays to ever make the playoffs. Now, I can't bring myself to watch a game on TV, and I only go maybe 1 game a year because I can get tix for like $20. It's not worth getting emotionally invested.

At least you get it NB. There is a well-known theory (Prisoner's Dilemma) which basically says that if two or more non-cooperative parties attempt to optimize their own decision, then NONE of the parties will win.

It really comes down to the value of the business. Why are football teams the most valuable sports franchise in the world? The answer is because the audience is there for it. Why is the audience there? Because it is a quality product with competitive balance. It is television that drives the value, without it, teams aren't worth near what they claim today.
Now turn it into a league of 'haves' and 'have-nots' and you end up with the Steelers = Pirates and the Cowboys = Yankees. What the Joneses fail to understand (mostly because of ego and greed) their maximum franchise value can't improve be attained unless there is balance.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

You just wait until the Obama justice department gets a hold of Jones, Chadman! Evil rich people trying to turn a profit is just....well it's EVIL!!!!

Sounds like you mock Obama, but presumably are in favor of the very thing you would mock him for - preventing the richest owners from seeking the maximum profit, which would be to the detriment of other teams (read: Steelers).

I don't think it can be both at once - protect the smaller markets but let the rich owners do what they want. If that's the case - which one do you want?

[Oviedo]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

You just wait until the Obama justice department gets a hold of Jones, Chadman! Evil rich people trying to turn a profit is just....well it's EVIL!!!!

Sounds like you mock Obama, but presumably are in favor of the very thing you would mock him for - preventing the richest owners from seeking the maximum profit, which would be to the detriment of other teams (read: Steelers).

I don't think it can be both at once - protect the smaller markets but let the rich owners do what they want. If that's the case - which one do you want?

You can actually do both in the NFL as long as you put the mechanisms in place to protect those teams not trying to buy championships. That is where MLB has failed. Some ideas:

1. Keep the cap. With a cap you can make all the revenue you want but you can't spend it
2. Set up a realistic compensatory draft system unlike the joke in MLB. For example; Have teams forfeit picks for the number of FAs they sign based on the status of the pick, e.g. Pro Bowl player you lose Round 1 pick for each one signed and the team you got that player from gets yoiur pick.
3. Let teams protect a certain number of players on their roster and if you sign a player from a small market team they get to select a unportected player from your roster or get a draft pick in return.
4. Allow teams that lose a free agent to get additional roster spots either on the active roster or on the practcie squad.

Big market teams may get more money but there are ways to avoid the disaster that has occurred in baseball.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

You just wait until the Obama justice department gets a hold of Jones, Chadman! Evil rich people trying to turn a profit is just....well it's EVIL!!!!

Sounds like you mock Obama, but presumably are in favor of the very thing you would mock him for - preventing the richest owners from seeking the maximum profit, which would be to the detriment of other teams (read: Steelers).

I don't think it can be both at once - protect the smaller markets but let the rich owners do what they want. If that's the case - which one do you want?

You can actually do both in the NFL as long as you put the mechanisms in place to protect those teams not trying to buy championships. That is where MLB has failed. Some ideas:

1. Keep the cap. With a cap you can make all the revenue you want but you can't spend it
2. Set up a realistic compensatory draft system unlike the joke in MLB. For example; Have teams forfeit picks for the number of FAs they sign based on the status of the pick, e.g. Pro Bowl player you lose Round 1 pick for each one signed and the team you got that player from gets yoiur pick.
3. Let teams protect a certain number of players on their roster and if you sign a player from a small market team they get to select a unportected player from your roster or get a draft pick in return.
4. Allow teams that lose a free agent to get additional roster spots either on the active roster or on the practcie squad.

Big market teams may get more money but there are ways to avoid the disaster that has occurred in baseball.

These sound like wonderful ideas, and support my gut feeling that unbridled capitalism in the NFL is the death knell ( is a "knell", anyway?) of the smaller market teams - some regulation is necessary for a healthy NFL. Or, at least, for a healthy Steelers!

[Chadman]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

I think these owners look at the league the wrong way. Revenue sharing may hurt the Cowboys bottom line, but it helps the league (by creating a competitive league the people want to watch). With no league, there are no Cowboys. They are franchises, not stand alone corperations.

I think I'd be done with the NFL if there was no revenue sharing and it turned into the MLB.

When I was a kid, I really loved baseball (I was a huge Blue Jay fan). Unfortunetely, the league is structured so it is virtually impossible for the Jays to ever make the playoffs. Now, I can't bring myself to watch a game on TV, and I only go maybe 1 game a year because I can get tix for like $20. It's not worth getting emotionally invested.

Completely understand & agree with what you say- but Chadman's point was you can't look upon Snyder, Jones et el & say they are doing the wrong thing. As far as business goes, they are in it to maximise their profits. It makes sense they would want to push to get the most revenue they can.

In the end, a resolution must be made that doesn't JUST assist the low market teams, but ALSO the high market teams. You can't penalise Jones, Snyder & co for being successful.

And from the little understanding that Chadman has of it all, it would seem that the biggest problem comes from the Player's Union having too much power over where the money is distributed.

Yes, the players put their bodies on the line to play, but it's what they love to do. And it's the owners who have to pony up the cash for them to play. They risk millions of dollars in this game- that's not an easy thing to let slide.

[Mel Blount's G]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

not to defend the jones' and snyder's of the world, but the nfl really is a business to these guys- so it is not only inevitable, but also understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

there has to be some knd of amicable resolution put in place to keep the lower revenue earning teams competitive, but you can't look to lambast the rich owners trying to get the better deal for themselves.

in the end, pretty sure we'll get a resolution before the nfl shuts down.

I think these owners look at the league the wrong way. Revenue sharing may hurt the Cowboys bottom line, but it helps the league (by creating a competitive league the people want to watch). With no league, there are no Cowboys. They are franchises, not stand alone corperations.

I think I'd be done with the NFL if there was no revenue sharing and it turned into the MLB.

When I was a kid, I really loved baseball (I was a huge Blue Jay fan). Unfortunetely, the league is structured so it is virtually impossible for the Jays to ever make the playoffs. Now, I can't bring myself to watch a game on TV, and I only go maybe 1 game a year because I can get tix for like $20. It's not worth getting emotionally invested.

Yeah, same here. Also contributing to a decision like this for me is the trend of goodell et. al. changing it to a "pansy game" with the introduction of new rules. A, lsothe potential of another football league, a alternative to the NFL, being created holds some hope for me if the NFL deteriorates too much

[Djfan]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

If a market decideds to build itself by sharing revenues, it is much different from the Government doing this.

I agree that if the revenue sharing is gone I'm done. I grew up a Padres fan. It just gets old.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

I understand their desire to earn more, but do not agree with them. Jerry Jones entered a league with revenue sharing...he knew that. He has no right to expect that to change. It is like buying a house next to a garbage dump then expecting the city to move the dump.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: A Serious Problem Looming for the Steelers

understandable that they would look to be part of a system that produces the most financial return for them.

I understand their desire to earn more, but do not agree with them. Jerry Jones entered a league with revenue sharing...he knew that. He has no right to expect that to change. It is like buying a house next to a garbage dump then expecting the city to move the dump.

Nice analogy, except Jerry Jones is somehow the dump too.