NFL fans are the most forgiving fans in all of sports.

NFL fans are the most forgiving fans in all of sports.

With week one in the books for NFL fans around the league, I couldn't help sitting back and marveling at how not one beat was missing from how rabbit fans showed love for their respective teams around the NFL. I found it hard to believe that there was not any sign of fan discontent with how the hold lockout situation was handle by the NFL owners or it's players union.

If you didn't know better you would never think just how close the NFL owners and players came to imploding in my opinion the most popular sport played bar none. There were no tv cameras showing fans holding up signs calling owners or players greedy and self-serving. I don't know if it was the fact that no regular season games were missed due to the lockout or that we as a nation were paying tribute to what happen to our country ten years ago on 9-11.

As we sit back and watch the NBA go though it's lockout knowing major league baseball may not be far behind, I'm left with the feeling if both of these sports go though the same contentious lockout the NFL went though there will be fan retribution. The last time we saw major league baseball go thought a work stoppage it took two guys pump up on steroids hitting mammoth home runs to bring back any interest to a game that many consider the number game in sport. Not even the iron man steak Cal Ripken Jr. had going at that time couldn't get fans onboard with baseball.

The NBA Is about to come face to face with the harsh reality they may go thought a lockout no one cares about. NFL fans were glued to their TV's everyday during the lockout taking in every bit on information they could on how it was going and when it might end. ESPN and other sports outlets have given very little coverage to this lockout, which tells me the power brokers in sports have no use for the NBA at all. Let us not forget that if Larry Bird and Magic Johnson hadn't come into the NBA when they did to help save a sport that was all but dead, Michael Jordan may never have become the greatest player ever to play the game and D wade and LeBron James might be playing NFL football.

While I do believe we have seen an impact of the lockout on the field this first week of play in the NFL ( a lot of bad play by secondary's around the league, tons of season ending injuries though out the preseason and week one of the season ) fans loyalty has not waiver one bit.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Out of season out of mind

Out of season out of mind

The one thing that American sports has on other country is that we have three main sports we can follow season to season. ( baseball, basketball, and football ) So with that being said it's easy to see why NFL football hasn't been at the forefront of a lot fans minds. Could you imagine what it might be like in Europe if soccer's was taken from there fans. Soccer's is a year around passion for their fans, so if there was a lockout in that sport there would be a huge fan uprising. Now I'm not saying we don't have year around die hard football fans in this country, ( i'm one ) but on a percentage basic most fans follow sports season to season.

I don't see fans really getting involved in this hold CBA mess until mid July when training camp is suppose to start. Then and only then will NFL owners and players feel the full anger from sports fans. It's nice to have other sports to fall back on, but this fight over the control of a billion dollars will not end until not only the die hard football fans, but also the seasonal fans let it be known now there's going to be a huge price to pay for greed and selfishness.

The NFL owners were counting on the out of season out of mind mentality from fans As they tried their bullying tactic on players with this lockout. Fans have a huge voice in how this might end and the time is now to let it be heard. This may be the only time that fans can make an impact on all three major sports; because after the NFL is finally done with their CBA negotiation's the NBA and MBL will follow with their's CBA negotiations over the next year. How fans deal with the lockout in the NFL will have a direct affect on the upcoming CBA negotiations in the NBA and MBL. Don't believe for a Second that theses two league are not paying close attention to fan reaction in the NFL. If out of season out mind works for the NFL they will try the same thing in their negotiations too!!!

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

NFL owners and players need to shut up and make this deal happen!!

NFL owners and players need to shut up and make this deal happen!!

The one thing the NFL lockout has showed us over the last 20 days or so is that owners and players have way to much time on their hands. There has not been a day that has gone by where someone from either side hasn't say something just plain dumb. Instead of letting the people they are paying tons of money to do their jobs of trying to find a meeting point to get a deal done and the NFL season back on track. But every-time Owners and Players have a mike is put in front of their faces they feel the need to take shot after shot at one another as if they want this war over money to never end.

There has been way to much time spent on name calling and false actuation, than throw in words like slavery and cartels used to describe theses CBA negotiations you can see why both sides should just shut their mouth's and let the people who supposedly know what their doing work on getting a deal done, instead of putting out their fires. As long some owners try to portray players as spoil little boys asking for more candy which by the way is a blatant lie ( players were happy with the deal they had in place ) theses two sides will stay a billion dollars apart.

The only thing we should be hearing from both sides is we're doing all we can to end the lockout. As their June 3 court date approaches to finally put to rest the legality of the owners imposed lockout of it's players, there should be only one thing on both the owners and players minds; how they might come together to ends this lockout. Not what can I say to get under the other side's skin.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

It's official NFL Owners and Players have lost their minds

It's official NFL Owners and Players have lost their minds

Now that we have the true first casualties of the NFL lockout ( the rookie symposium having been cancel ) it has become apparent that common sense is no longer apart of NFL football. The Owner have decided with all their wisdom to do the moronic by not taking care of the future of the NFL by not holding the rookies symposium. How hard can it be to get theses young NFL hopeful together to show them the do's and don't of the NFL. To let them know they are a part of the future growth of the league, not an inconvenience to be dealt with at a Later date.

The one true fact that has come out of this hold CBA negotiation is the NFL owners and it's current players have taken a very selfish stand with no regard to what the future of the NFL may look like. First the NFL players union ask these rookies to stay away from the draft to show solidarity for a union they have not yet jointed, taking away any joy that might have come from that day. And than owners knowing they could have relocked the doors after the draft, put their taint on the draft experience by closing the doors before day two of the draft even started.

This was never going to be a pretty situation from the start, the NFL and it's owners along with the players union knew they had a responsibility to this rookies class coming in for months. And with that responsibility come some kind of common sense. There should have been a plan in place knowing this lockout might still be going on at this time. Theses rookies deserve better treatment than their getting knowing they are the future of the NFL. The owners and players of the NFL have been saying all along this fight their having is not about money, but for the betterment of the game. So it's time both sides use a little common sense and understand the 2011 rookies class they are overlooking needs to be more involved for the betterment of the game.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Timeline for NFL rookies.

Timeline for NFL rookies.

With NFL Owners and Players going through mandated negotiating again this week, there's a whole class of NFL drafted rookies and free agents rookies who are still waiting for a call from any NFL team that might want them, knowing the timeline for them is getting to the point of no return. This is the time of the year when rookies and free agents looking to hook up with a new team should be at training facility's around the NFL learning and show casing their skills for coaches. But instead here they sit waiting and watching with the rest of us tying to get some since of what the timeline might be for them to either start or continue their NFL careers.

I may not be a NFL coach, but as a long time die hard NFL fan I've seen enough football to know that the timeline to get theses rookies into camp so coaches might get some kind of production out of them; has gone past the halfway point. With June 7 being the next date for Owners and Players to continue their face to face talks, and both sides still taking a hard stand on their main talking point ( money ) the timeline for this year's rookies class could very well get push into the 2012 NFL season.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Permanent stay in place, time for NFL Players to cut their losses and make a deal.

Permanent stay in place, time for NFL Players to cut their losses and make a deal.

Now that the NFL Owners have gotten what they wanted with their win in court, and can now keep doors permanently locked to NFL Players this might be a good time for Players to take their best lost. With the three Judge panel voting 2-1 in favor of the Owners, it has all but seal the fate for the lockout players. with this loss and the Judges all but guaranteeing NFL Players another setback if the case comes back to them in June, the debunked players union need to know the Owners smell blood in the water. As I stated in my earlier post, the Owners are in it to win it. They have the money, now they also have time on their side as well.

It was the Players who wanted this to play out in a courtroom and now that it has backfired I hope they see the writing on the wall and realize the longer this plays-out the smaller their piece of the pie gets. Unless the NFL Players are really willing to forego paychecks to stay in this fight, they need to find a way to stop the bleeding. I don't think the Players understood the Owners knew they were going to look like the bad guys no matter where this thing played itself out. So when you're in to win it, I don't feel the Owners were under any disillusionment they would come out of this looking anything other than greedy and self-fuss. I don't think the NFL Owners are right, but I do think they have the best hand in this game. I'm not telling the Players to just fold and give into the Owners demands, however I do believe it time for them to count the chips they have in the pot and maybe think real hard about making a deal while there's still money in it.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

NFL Owners could win this fight if Judges rule in their favor.

NFL Owners could win this fight if Judges rule in their favor.

I've been told the man with the gold makes the rules, if ST Louis Judges grant Owners the permanent stay in their lockout hearing players will be at the mercy of the men who have the gold. The one thing NFL Owners have on their side is time, they have deep pockets and if they win in court there's the strong possibility they win on the field without taking a single snap. The players union took a huge risk when they decided to decertify and fight the Owners in court as individuals; because without the stay being lifted they don't have the luxury of time on their side.

In my opinion this will be the week that defines this labor negotiation. If NFL players are forced back to the negotiating table knowing there's no chance of football business without an agreement; I see no way they can outlast the Owners. The fact is without the lockout being lifted players have no ability to get paid, and as we have seen though out this has been a fight over money.

If the ST Louis Judges do rule in the Owners favor this week and this turn into a waiting game, I don't see players being able to forgo paychecks in order to stay in this battle. In this billion dollars game of chicken being played with the NFL Owners, NFL players may be force off the road if this ruling go's a-grist them this week.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

What will be the fallout from this lockout?

What will be the fallout from this lockout?

The one thing we can all agree on is there will be an NFL season in 2011, the thing no one can foresee is what the fallout will be when an agreement is finally reach. Business is business, but when egos are involved who know's what damage will be left in the wake of this storm? Even if the Judges in ST Louis rule in the players favor this week and tell Owners to open their doors for business, there's going to be lasting scars from what now looks like a one sided fight.

At the end of any labor disagreement there is always some hard feeling on both sides, but there seem to be a totally difference atmosphere surrounding this particular labor situation. This is not a case of a league trying to save itself from financial ruin, ( aka NBA Basketball ) this is a league making money hand over fist and NFL Owners not like-ing the way the money is being spit. ( let us remember they sign this deal that they are now trying to run from )

The fallout thus far has hit mainly rookies draftees and rookies free agents trying to find teams that might give them a shot at their dream of playing NFL football. The rookies drafted are like nomads on an island with no where to go. They have a team no contract and without a signed contract, no safe way of working out with their new teammates. Coaches are caught in the fallout because trying to set their teams up for next season and as of this point not having worked with their rookies class; who know's what help they can be. The biggest fallout from this will be with the fans, how will fans really react to the Owners greed. People seem to think, for every fan that walks away there will be another one there to take his or her place. I say let's think about this for a moment, we are talking about second and third generation season ticket holder who give their kids and grand kids these tickets to go to a lot of theses game. And in today's economic climate how many of theses young families can afford to take over season tickets if mom and dad or even grandparents say their done with the NFL?

At the end of the day we all know there will be NFL football this season, there's to much money sitting on the table for there not to be. But even if this lockout Last another week or so, the damage already done may never be able to be un-done in a lot of fans eyes. If the Owners win their stay appeal and the Judges grant them the right to keep the players lockout until a settlement is reach; there's no telling how intense the fallout from this storm will get.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

What is the end game for NFL Owners?

What is the end game for NFL Owners?

Can anyone out there tell me what the Owners want to end this lockout? I for one am very confused as to what it will take for theses guy to open the doors and let coaches and players get back to their jobs of trying to win football games. Has it come down to a billion dollars or nothing? With all the interviews we've seen Rodger Goodell give on this lockout situation, I still have not heard what it's going to realistically take to end it.

The Owners are the ones who order the lockout, so they should be the ones who let NFL fans know what they need to lift the lock out. The Players have come out and let it be known they were happy with the deal they had in place, Owners gave notice two years ago they were opting out of the deal. There's a dollar amount that will get this deal done and I think the time has come to let everyone know what that amount is.

It's time the Owners let their end game be known and leave all the rhetoric to the politicians. No one is buying the betterment of the game speech anyway. Trying to take back something you gave of your own free will is bad enough, but doing it at gun point makes you look like a thief. If Owners want any kind of fan support they need to put away the gun ( this lockout ) and go back to the negotiating table with a total open door policy. Since this is suppose to be about making the game better for the fans, it's time the Owners and Rodger Goodell let the fans in on their end game. Fans know it's aways been about the billion dollars, so open up and let everyone know what it's going to take for this to end!!!

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Let's hope this on again lockout is only temporary.

Let's hope this on again lockout is only temporary.

After going through a NFL draft that will be remembered more for the stupidity surrounding it than the many great moments it gave us, let us cross our fingers and hope the Judges in ST Louis put the final nail in the Owners coffin this coming week, so this draft is not a total waste. What started as a weekend of hope for not only fans, but well over 200 new draftees into the NFL, quickly turned very surreal with the word that the lockout was back on. 32 first round draft picks got exactly one day to enjoy the thought of becoming apart of in my opinion the greatest game played, before they found out what being an NFL player ( today ) was all about. On Friday when the NFL and its Owners let fans and Players know the lockout was back on, it tainted the whole draft weekend. Even the draft Analysts had a hard time containing their discontent with how this draft was going to end on such a sour note.

It was great seeing all the smiles and tears of joy that each Player and their families had on their faces as these young men names were being call; but in the back of my mind I'm thinking by the end of next week all this happiness might be replaced by weeks of legal wrangling by NFL Owners to keep the doors locked. So as next week's court date approaches and the draft class of 2011 who now have to sit a wait for their official welcoming into the NFL fraternity; let's hope that this draft weekend was just a minor victory for the Owners and the Judges ruling this week tell's them, their game is over and it's time to get back to work.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

What does this mean?

What does this mean?

Now that judge Susan Nelson has ruled the lockout unlawful, will the NFL go back to business as usual? I don't see an easy end to this lockout, I think this has been anticipated by the Owners and Rodger Goodell, which means get ready for one hell of a ride. I can't see the Owners rolling over on this issue, they want the money so I think their all in regardless of the damage it may cause. Because this fight has always been about the billion dollars, I find it hard to believe we will see business as usual until the Owners and Players come to some sort of an agreement ( Now ) on how to spit the billion dollars.

Opening doors to the facility's without coaching and training personnel being there mean's nothing. The Players got permission to go into an empty building, not back to work. I'm not trying to be the Grim-Reaper on the Players tiny win in court, I call it tiny because I don't understand what it really mean's. My son see's the Owners as very smart business men who just want a fair deal for both sides; and will see they can't win in court and make a deal. I sure hope he's right, because up to now I've seen no brightness on either side in this hold negotiating process.

Just remember as the Owners, who are trying to appeal the Judges lockout decision and the Players who as of now can go back to their training facility's, it was a victory for the Players but just a small one. I caution fans to not run around giving each other high five's yet,because this is far from over. This is round 4 of a 12 round fight.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Is anyone thinking about the Coaches in this lockout situation?

Is anyone thinking about the Coaches in this lockout situation?

With NFL fans having to stand and watch like innocence bystanders while the Owners and Players treat theses CBA negotiation like drivers in a car accident fighting over who going to take responsibility for the wreck. Fans must not forget there are head Coaches and their assistant Coaches standing there right beside them on the side of the road, watching with the same anticipation of how this might end and when might they get back to the business of running their teams.

Caught in the middle of this tug-of-war, with a chest containing a billion dollars going to the winner; you have to ask yourself how is this affecting the coaches around the NFL who can't take a side in this argument. With their pay checks being tried directly to both sides of the fight, how can they do anything but sit back and hope for the best. Knowing this CBA deal will get done and regardless of which side claims victory they must stay neutral with any hope of being able to do their jobs. To voice an opinion one way or another could be a career Ender.


p> In my opinion this has to be the toughest position to be in regardless of your standing in the coaching community. From the more establish coaches in the league ( Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers and Mike Tomlin Of the Pittsburgh Steelers ) to the not so establish ( Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys and Mike Munchak of the Tennessee Titans ) Having to take the position that silent's is bliss.

Let us not forget that while the Owners and Players sit at the negotiating table trying to decide how the cash is going to be spit; Coaches along with their assistants are still on the job planing for the draft and how they can help not only Ownership but also their Players make a smooth transition back to the game of football. And all this knowing there's a possibility Their paychecks may take a hit if this lockout go's into late summer. I for one would have a very difficult time concentrating on the job at hand, knowing there's a chance I might not get paid for the hours I'm putting in. ( and not really being in a position to voice my opinion )


As we fans who can voice our displeasure with the lockout on talk radio or in blogs like mine to relieve our frustration regarding this whole lockout mess. Let us not forget, there's a groups of coaches standing silently on the sideline hope-ing when it's over, the damages is minimal so they can get back to to the jobs of trying to win football games.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Can an " Elite Quarterback " be develop or is he just " that guy "

Can an " Elite Quarterback " be develop or is he just " that guy "

With the game of NFL football at the height of it's popularity and no ceiling in sight, the Quarterback position has become the most debated in football. In my opinion the NFL Quarterback position has to be the hardest to play in all of sports. In a sport that is totally Quarterback driven, you might be hard press to come up with a list of ten QB's ( out of 32 teams )who will hit anyone's Elite list. With such a high premium put on the Quarterback position to carry a team, you have to ask yourself, why there are so few team's in the NFL with the capability to develop a championship caliber QB. The first thing you might hear is players don't work as hard at the game the way they use to. I don't believe that to be true, professional football player probably train harder at their sport than any other. People might say it's all the money players make, it give them no incentive to work at their craft. While I think there might be a case to be made with some players, I think the number is very small. You don't play this game without some love and passion for it.

Where as I don't think money is the reason Quarterbacks fell to make the impact we as fans feel they should. I do feel money is the main reason their development is hinder. NFL Owners and General Managers feel they can't let that kind of money sit on the side line and learn the game at a more gradual pace. The Quarterback position is the one position on any team where a longer learning period is needed. There have been very few exceptions of Quarterback who have started their rookie year and became Elite QB's. ( Troy Aikman, Payton Manning, Dan Marino to name a few ) Theses three guys had that " it factor " the first day they step on the field. Troy and Payton took a pounding their first few years, just tying to stay alive while learning on the job. Dan Marino looked like a polish veteran right from the beginning, one in a million, you may never see this kind of Quarterback again.

Without the time that is needed to sit behind and watch a veteran Quarterback go though the day to day riggers of being an NFL Quarterback, these young QB's are eaten alive. I believe it take a minimum of three years to develop an NFL ready Quarterback, a guy who learn's the position inside and out.This mind you is not an Elite Quarterback, this is a QB who might not lose his team a lot of games. We have seen this type of QB win Super Bowls ( Trent Dilfer, Rob Johnson, Doug William, Mark Ripen ) the one thing these Quarterback have in common, they learn the game from the bench. These were veteran QB's who had the opportunity to develop their skills to the point where they could lead a team to and win the Super Bowl.

The term Elite Quarterback is used to loosely for my taste. The real question is what make's a Quarterback Elite? I know it can't be winning a Super Bowl, Dan Marino was one of the most Elite Quarterback's in NFL history ( no SB ring ) Ben Roethlisberger on the other hand has been to three Super Bowls and won two and there's a lot of so call experts who don't think he's Elite ( I'm not one of them ). My definition of an Elite Quarterback is every time he go's on the field the opposing team know's he can win, Big Ben fits that definition. There are only a few QB's in the NFL today that give me that feeling.They are ( Payton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger ) these are the only QB's I feel have that " it factor " in the NFL.

Aaron Rodgers is the only QB on my list who got the chance to sit and watch the game being played by a veteran for a extended period of time. And if not for Brett's on again off again retirement talk he might still be sitting. I believe sitting helped Rodgers become the Elite Quarterback he is. Time.... Time..... Time is what it take's to develop an NFL ready Quarterback! The approach a majority of Owners and GM's take with the most important part of their team's blow me away. It put to much pressure on coaches, their team's, and most importantly the young Quarterbacks they bring in to lead their team's.

If money is the underline reason for the under development of an NFL Quarterbacks, than money should be the main reason team's take a more diligent approach to this position. Most of the team's in the NFL go though QB after QB tying to find that guy, a ton of money spend hoping there's a diamond in the rough coming out of college football. I read a very amazing take on this subject on the ESPN Webb sight the other day.( and by amazing I don't mean good ) John Clayton had a Q&A on his blog sight, a fan of the New England patriots ask John if the Pats should draft a Quarterback to develop as Tom Brady's successor? John said no because it might upset Tom ( wow! John miss the whole football field on this answer ) if there's a right time to draft a young Quarterback and develop for future it's now for New England. They have a great QB and the time to let a young man sit and watch how it's done.

As we have witness with this lockout, NFL football is a business, so any Quarterback who gets upset about a smart business move has no loyalty to his team. ( he can't play forever ) I believe if more time is taken with the development of young Quarterbacks, we might see 15 to 20 team's with a real shot to win a Super Bowl instead of the 4 to 5 we can count on each year.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Accountability

Accountability

I think as fans prepare for what could be a long and bitter lockout in the NFL, it might give us time to sit back and think of the many reason why the state of football has gotten to this point. With words like greed, selfishness, and arrogance being use to describe owners and players for their part in this fight over who's king of the hill. Both sides tying to hold the other accountable for the negotiation going sideways, fans also need to take some accountability for their part in this getting out of hand.

We as fans spend millions and millions of dollars a year on this sport and wonder how it has gotten so far removed from reality. ( accountability ) I'm not saying fans can't show their full support for their team, I love the game of football and I also support it with my time and money. What I am saying, we can't put that kind of money in the pot and expect greed, selfishness and arrogance won't come into play.

It's not only the money we spend a year that help's promote greed, it is the win at all cost mentality that fan have to see their team win. Yes I read a lot of the comments fans make on blogs, they want their team to pick up this guy or that guy knowing it could cost stupid money to get this guy. This go's on with every team in football, paid the money we want to win. The harsh reality is we are not talking about a few thousand dollars, we're talking millions. I think these guys ( Owners and Players ) have a right to make as much as they can get, that's what this country hang it's hat on free enterprise make as much you can how ever you can.

I'm not telling fans to not spend their money on football, tickets, concussion, parking, pay for view channels, and all the merchandise, (these are the things that has turn the NFL into a Muti billion dollar business.) just remember as we watch these preceding play out in a court room over the next few months, it's just not the Owners and Players who need to be held accountable for having a court decide how to spit a billion dollars ( because regardless of what they are saying on TV or in print, this has always been about the billion dollars ) We as fans need to take some accountability for the greed,selflessness and arrogance that going on in football.

Ajjones

At

Ajstakeonthenfl.blogspot.com

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Generational Gap On Lockout Argument

Generational Gap On Lockout Argument

With the Owners and Players engaged In what looks to be a lengthy lockout, and fans clearly being divided on witch side has the claim to the billion dollar prize at the end of the rainbow. The one thing this lockout has proven to me is age defines who's on who's side. It seem to me most of the fans under the age of 40 see the CBA negotiation though the eyes of the Players. Their doing all the hard work, putting their bodies and lives on the line every time they go on the field. I hear younger fans saying if it were not for the Players there would be no money to fight over. Now, I see older fans siding with the Owners, who believe they took the risk of ownership of a NFL franchise. That owners have the right to make as much as they can off their investment, and opening their books to the Players is a joke. The fact Players make way to much money.

While i'm not as surprise there's a huge age gap regarding who's right in this contentious labor dispute. I am left with a shocking feeling of disbelief at how the money has no bearing at all on the younger fans opinion on the CBA dispute. It's hard to believe any fan can think a player is worth anywhere near 20 million dollars a year to play a game. This is where the generation gap can really be seen. Every young fan I talk with has no problem at all with the absurd amounts of money being pay to professional athletes. It's leave's me wondering how did we get to this point where the talk of insane money can be tossed around like it's nothing!?

I personally think the money has gotten way out of line on both sides of this argument. When we have to sit back and watch these two sides fight it out in court on how to spit a billion dollars. It take's much joy out of the game. It looks to me the money has gotten into the way of the game. I'm not a hater, I love the way this game has grown in my life time; ( I am 54 years old ) But at the end of the day it's still just a game, that both sides needs to understand, has gotten financially out of control.

We have players signing franchise tag contracts that in some cases may pay a player 20 million dollars a year. Than there's an owner who single-mindedly destroyed what should have been a tremendous Super Bowl experience for over 2000 fans; with his need and greed to hold a record ( in spite of mother nature's contribution ). Now I know your asking yourself what dose this have to do With the generational gap? Here it is, both sides of the gap see Jerry Jones ask a greedy egotistical owner, out for the money. Young fans see's a player about to make 20 million dollars a year as getting his do. I know, these are the times we live in, but man! how can this not bring a smile to your face.

As life has taught us, there will always be some kind of generational divide on sports issues and how they might be handle. It's my hope, that Owners and Players along with fans young and old will see this as an opportunity to bring common sense to the table on this particular issue. So the game of NFL football is the only thing to debate ( who has the best team, who's the best Quarterback in the NFL, or witch team will win the Super Bowl ) this is something both sides of the gap can agree on.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Time for all the dumbness to stop!

Time for all the dumbness to stop!

For months we have listen to the Owners and Players tell us how they wanted to get a deal done, I hope by now you have figure out, that was never going to happen. The players were never going to ok giving back a billion dollars to the Owners-no matter how far the books were open up to them. The Owners who started this lock-out process three years ago with the TV deal they signed had one thing in mind, get out from under a bad deal they'ed signed with the Player.

Both sides needed us to believe that Football not Money were the main talking points of the CBA negotiations. How growing the Game was at the top of their list, Player's health, taking care of the Players who came before them, but at the end of the day they could not get pass the Money!!I I'd like to believe something other than Money has been talked about, I don't think so!!!

I don't want to be misunderstood, I know professional football has become big business. The CBA give both; Owners and Players a way to protect their interest, but this dumbness has tainted the game. Fans feel they need to take sides in a fight over how to split a billion dollars. There is no side to take in this fight, they're both wrong for lying to Fans about their true motive for walking away from the negotiating table ( Money! ) nothing more, nothing less, ( just the Money! )

As Fans we need to step away from the dumbness of this fight, greedy people trying to sell you on the idea that they're looking out for the future of the game ( not their own pocket books). If the Game really came first in these talks they would have iron out the so called easy talking points ( rookie salary Capp , 18 game season, past and present Players Heath care, free agency. All of these thing could have been laid in stone ( this could have help bridge the gap between the two sides about the billion dollars). The Money had to come first.

There are times when you can see a clear cut bad guy in negotiations, this is not one of them. The Owners and Players knew for months this lockout was going to be a reality. They put a game plan in motion on how to handle the lockout ( war chest of TV Money for the Owners, a so call decertification as a way for Players to sue as an individual to stop the lockout ) no way to take a side here,They both had bad intentions from the beginning. I'm not saying both sides don't want to see an end to the lockout, what I am saying,until both side come clean on why the lockout came to be ( Money ) we won't see an end to this dumbness for awhile.

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