NFL Labor Issues: Fans Offer Solutions To NFL Labor Dispute and Save Offseason

Petty principles show that the NFL and the players only pretend to covet the feelings of the fans. Millionaires feel cheated by billionaires and the fans are left without what has become a cherished family tradition.

The two sides argue and risk ruining what has become Americas favorite pastime. Jeopardizing the new flavor of Americana, that's as homegrown as hot dogs, hamburgers and BBQ.

So I implore you, the real NFL fans, to take the bull by the horns and demand resolution to the childish bickering and offer solutions to repair a relationship and preserve a tradition to a game that really belongs to us anyway.

If worse comes to worse, the NBA seems to be doing something right these days and at least with them we get more games for our economically challenged buck. 

Solution No. 1:  Set up the NFL version of the social security system, but do it right.  

Charge current players a small percentage of there salaries for a retirement account and place into an interest bearing account.  Since players for our childhood made considerably less than players today, and this trend is bound to continue for the duration of the NFL's existence, the higher salaries of current players will help support past players that built the monster that is the NFL.

These funds can help offset medical bills for retired players and wouldn't dent the pockets of today's owners and players too much.  This benefit will have to be limited to the player only (to be cost effective) and thus is not transferable upon a player's death.  

Solution No. 2:  Start a league-wide insurance plan that requires co-pays and monthly fees similar to a large company's insurance plan and have it cover all medical costs of the player for injuries with some exclusions and without loopholes.

Exclusions have to include non-football related injuries like cancer and other diseases, or self-inflicted injuries like suicide attempts or drunk driving.

Players should be given a thorough physical inspection by multiple physicians to determine the health status of the player upon entering the league.  ANY injuries to the body during or after playing MUST be covered for the life of the player.  

It must include coverage for rehab centers that treat pain pill addiction and mental health facilities that also help patients with concussion issues.

Big insurance companies will give discounts for buying in bulk exclusively from them and costs can further be reduced by offering free or discounted on field advertising, Super Bowl commercial placement, discounted player endorsements, promotional season tickets, etc.

Solution No. 3: Start a network of doctors, hospitals and other medical professionals and facilities nationwide that discount services to players for the NFL.  

This can be accomplished by prepaying for services on a monthly basis similar to prepaid legal services that allow a customer to pay a low monthly premium for unlimited use of a law firm for specific law services.

Solution No. 4: Rookie wage scale that includes an insurance option that pays a player a large lump sum of money upon player receiving a career-ending injury prior to new contract being signed at a value of future potential earning as determined by on outside independent mediator.

If you have any ideas to help improve my ideas or if you have any other original solutions, please leave them under comments section.  After accumulating an adequate number of resolutions, I will repackage the solutions and resubmit an updated article and send a copy to the individuals on both sides for possible use.  

All contributors used will be sourced in the article.  Thank you for your consideration and good luck.