Making Things Difficult

 For those not familiar with who Jerry Richardson is, he is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1959-60, catching passes from the great Johnny Unitas. His career was mediocre, grabbing 15 passes for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns in two years, including a score in the 1959 championship game. After 35 years away from football, he became the second former player to have a majority ownership of an NFL franchise when his home state of North Carolina was awarded the Carolina Panthers. George Halas was first with the Chicago Bears.

He is among the owners participating in labor talks with NFLPA reps on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The meetings have halted between the two sides, partly because of the actions and words of Mr. Richardson the day before Super Bowl XLV. Players say he seemed annoyed just having to be there the weekend of the Super Bowl. He ripped Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, causing some of the other owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to become uncomfortable. It appears he just has a very negative attitude toward the players and their requests, and the CBA situation in general. Taking steps back when you should be moving forward is not the way to get next season going on time. Something has to give, and it needs to be Jerry Richardson giving up his place at the negotiation table.

The NFL cannot afford a lockout, not for any length of time. Remember what happened to hockey when the NHL lost the 2004-05 season? They're only now beginning to recover from that. So, what we are talking about is a $1 billion that the owners want the players to give them off the top of $9 billion estimated revenue the NFL piles up every year. They already get $1 billion off the top, and now they want to double it. Something is wrong with that. Just a thought, but why can't both sides agree that money is not the main issue with the CBA? The issue is player safety, and the fact that the owners want to add two games to the season, while dropping two games from the preseason. They say it's the same amount of games, so it's not an added safety hazard. However, taking away two light-hearted preseason games and replacing them with two more meaningful games in which players are giving up their bodies is hardly the same thing. Get rid of Richardson, and a deal gets done. But, I don't make those choices. Here's to hoping someone in the owners circle has some common sense.