[Bette]

The most pressing issue facing the NFL owners at their meeting isnt the length of the players' hair, forceouts, or even cheating. Its the state of the NFL economy.
Math, finances and union bargaining are not among my strong points, so bear with me. If anyone can make it clearer, please do.
Some owners wish to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement. The immediate effective would be to make 2010 an uncapped year. Owners like Jerry Jones and Dan Synder would have a field day and small market teams would give away and would soon be gone. Teams like the Green Bay Packers maybe. It would be the end of football as we know it.
Another part of the financial issue is the fact that the NFL has a debt of 9 billion dollars, more than any other league. Much of this debt is tied up in new stadiums. Goodell says margins are tight and interest rates could go up and this could have a significant impact on clubs.
Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen says that their labor deal isnt working. The Broncos have cut 8 front office positions but they wont cut resources in their football operations.

NFL economy threatens to disrupt the game - USATODAY.com

The country's economy is hurting bad, but teams are building stadiums and many of them are raising ticket prices. Players are getting paid outrageous sums of money. Can the average Joe afford to shell out the kind of money needed to attend these games. Is this the point where the NFL cuts its own throat?

[Dusty]

If the salary cap is gone football will be destroyed. I mean this is such an important issue that I really don't know what else to say. Bette is right in that so many teams would just not exist anymore, the Green Bay Packers would be football's version of the Florida Marlins at best! I wonder what some folks on here who are lot smarter than me like Gotham, Lefty and Empire (ok maybe not Empire! ) HA! HA! Just kidding Emp!! Seriously what do all the football fans think of this? This problem seems to threaten the NFL to it's very core. Thanx for bringing this up Bette.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bette

The most pressing issue facing the NFL owners at their meeting isnt the length of the players' hair, forceouts, or even cheating. Its the state of the NFL economy.
Math, finances and union bargaining are not among my strong points, so bear with me. If anyone can make it clearer, please do.
Some owners wish to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement. The immediate effective would be to make 2010 an uncapped year. Owners like Jerry Jones and Dan Synder would have a field day and small market teams would give away and would soon be gone. Teams like the Green Bay Packers maybe. It would be the end of football as we know it.
Another part of the financial issue is the fact that the NFL has a debt of 9 billion dollars, more than any other league. Much of this debt is tied up in new stadiums. Goodell says margins are tight and interest rates could go up and this could have a significant impact on clubs.
Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen says that their labor deal isnt working. The Broncos have cut 8 front office positions but they wont cut resources in their football operations.

NFL economy threatens to disrupt the game - USATODAY.com

The country's economy is hurting bad, but teams are building stadiums and many of them are raising ticket prices. Players are getting paid outrageous sums of money. Can the average Joe afford to shell out the kind of money needed to attend these games. Is this the point where the NFL cuts its own throat?

They don't need the average Joe per say...they need 70,000 above average Joes to buy season tickets and a few corporations to buy boxes

[Dusty]

Well not to be pessimistic or political but the pointless Iraq War has cost this country almost 100 billion dollars and it's just going up so yes, we are headed for a recession and the economy is lower than a snakes belly. Still the NFL has weathered recessions before but with this financial trouble now I don't see any other option but to let Jerry Jones, Dan Snyder and their ilk go wild raiding teams rosters and we can wave goodbye to the Packers, Seahawks, Falcons, Bills, Chargers to name a few. The NFL's doom seems imminent.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

They don't need the average Joe per say...they need 70,000 above average Joes to buy season tickets and a few corporations to buy boxes

So you dont think the average Joes and Josephines who buy their kids and grandkids NFL jerseys and other assorted NFL goods, are not the basis of the popularity for the NFL? Do you believe that the above average dudes and dudettes with lots of money in their pocket do more for the ratings and revenue than the rest??