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View Full Version : Lockout Would Be Awful, Could Aid 2011 Steelers



stillers4me
02-18-2011, 07:59 PM
The NFL is currently the most popular sports league in U.S. history, coming off a record-breaking season in revenues and an epic Super Bowl between two storied franchises that was viewed by an estimated 111 million Americans. Yet a possible labor strife (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2011-02-14-nfl-nflpa-q-and-a_N.htm) will likely result in a lockout on March 4, which could then extend into the summer and threaten the 2011 season.

Usually the blame in these pro sport labor breakdowns can be attributed to both greedy billionaire owners and millionaire players. But in this case, the owners hold most of the negotiating chips (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2010/10/nfl-lockout-affect-potential-steeler-free-agents/) due to guaranteed TV revenues regardless if games are played. As a result, they are making absurd demands upon the players, who have careers that average less than three years and the lowest annual average salaries for professional athletes (http://www.ehow.com/about_6464393_average-salaries-professional-sports.html) from any of the four major U.S. pro men’s team sports.

(Unfortunately such attacks on unions are now commonplace by the filthy rich who are soiling this country’s soul by attacking teachers, firefighters, all employees in the public-sector and good ole-fashion blue-collar workers, the kind who historically permeated Pittsburgh. Back to the Steelers, though.)

Some of the Steelers-related articles published since last Sunday’s Super Bowl loss to the Packers (no shame in that setback) have focused on the team’s upcoming free agents, lumping three potential free-agent types in the same category. But if no CBA is reached until July or later, there may be no unrestricted free agency before the 2011 season, with teams possibly having the right to sign any of their own players back for one year at 120 percent of their 2010 salary (http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localsports/02-14-2011-Steelers-offseason-priorties). Teams would also have exclusive negotiation rights for long-term deals with their players...................

read more @ http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/lockout-awful-nfl-aid-2011-steelers/