Best Pro Bowl Fix Ever and 7 Ways For NFL and Roger Goodell To End Strike
NFL owners and players have to realize that there is more than just money at stake in this fight. Show the fans your appreciation for their loyalty by putting your petty principles aside and place the desires of the fans ahead of your own. Sympathy is hard to come by when millionaires feel cheated by billionaires while risking our 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 and BBQ.
Hopefully some of my ideas or the ideas of my readers can help bridge some of the gaps. It would be a shame to miss a single day.
NFL Sponsored Money Management Training (Required for Rookies)
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Teach rookies the value of planning for the future and teach them how to avoid the pitfalls of fame and overspending. By teaching skills to help players plan for future medical issues, down economy, profitable and crafty tax secrets, you ensure that the use of league sponsored benefits for retired players doesn't suffer from over stress and that players are well prepared for a lifetime of good financial decision making.
This training program should be mandatory for rookies and continued education should be offered periodically with some form of mandatory continuing education sprinkled in. Annual updates to tax laws and financial benefits should be given to all players and family in easy to understand lament form.
Rookie Pay Insurance if Players are Seriously Injured Prior To Contract Extension
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Create a rookie wage scale insurance plan with an option that protects players during the restrictive phase of their initial NFL contract, in the unlikely case of that the player suffers a career ending injury.
Add another voluntary option to the insurance policy that offers additional protection in the event that a less serious injury reduces the free agent value. (Certain minimum guidelines should be followed to avoid excessive claims and maximize effectiveness of program.)
Establish a set of criteria that help determine the reasonable potential future value of players considering factors such as; where drafted, position, scouting reports, on field performance, etc.
If the NFL finances the coverage instead of accepting competitive bids, then the profits from unpaid premiums collected can be added to the retired player fund to offset future costs, collect interest, and increase efficiency.
Create Player Review Board To Rule On Legality of Hits Before NFL Involvement
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Beautiful hits like Atlanta's Dunta Robinson against Philadelphia's Desean Jackson should not be legislated out of football.
Receivers need to fear defenders when they come across the middle, especially when the game or the season is on the line. Players are taught to separate the man from the ball (Mike Golic original) and if player safety is really the purpose of the NFL, then it could be just as easily argued that a receiver would be better protected if prohibited from running routes across the middle of the field.
Keeping players healthy is definitely needed for the continued growth of the NFL, but their needs to be an adequate balance. Create an advisory board to determine if a players' actions merit NFL discipline. The members of the panel should consist of former NFL players, coaches, or media that are not likely to be influenced by current players or the league (wealthy quarterbacks, defenders, coaches, etc.)
Members of the board should be rotated regularly to avoid corruption. Board members that erroneously rule in favor of players, as determined by appeal, are to be removed from their position.
Fines that are collected by the league should be used to offset the cost of treatment for retired players with injuries suffered as a result of playing and in the most need of financial support as determined by a predefined formula. An official appeals process should be established if the NFL disagrees with the ruling and automatically disqualified from future membership.
Future statistics will be incomparable to current records if the NFL continues "protecting it's investment" by adjusting the rules of the game. Today's' game is already a faint reflection of the NFL from 20 years ago. Certain league records set in the past 15 years are already tainted and should be listed with an asterisk.
Imagine the final stat sheet of Dan Marino if he played under today's quarterback protection policy.
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NFL Fines Collected Are Used To Offset the Cost of Retired Player Benefits
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There is no doubt that some former players will mismanage money, do to lack of proper education, and be left unprepared for future medical and mental expenses.
Use collected fines to build the "retired players fund" and combat out of pocket expenses for the financially neediest players. We have to plug all the cracks that our NFL veterans have fallen through, tragically being forgotten and left broken, donating their brains to science as a last attempt to help their teammates.
To help eliminate cracks in the system that former players might fall through and to help improve the science behind certain traumas for preventative measures, the NFL should use fines collected from players to help support this cause.
With players ruling on the legality of hits and the NFL not profiting from the levied fines, corruption risk on both sides will be limited and public perception should improve. Shortages in financing and deficits in player benefits will be eased.
Funds should be kept in an interest bearing account payouts should be prioritized so that the most financially needy patients and the most in need of treatment receive support first.
Create League-Wide Insurance For Current & Retired Players
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Create a league wide insurance blanket or join an already established insurer to cover the medical bills of the player only (some family coverage exceptions can be made if applicable.) Charge a small premium to current players and require co-payments from retired players. (Aid may need to be given to financially challenged retired players.).
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.
Exclusions have to include non-football related injuries like cancer and other diseases, or self-inflicted injuries like suicide attempts or drunk driving. Coverage 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
Reduce Costs By Giving Discounts For In-Network Treatment
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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.
Facilities must be easily accessible for patients. Out-of-network treatment must be allowed and can be discouraged by significantly reducing out of pocket co-payments for in-network treatment
The Best Pro Bowl Idea Ever and 18 Game Schedule
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Play 18 games to offset the increased fees associated with the additional benefits being offered. Add a bye week following the last regular season game so teams can heal and prepare for the playoffs.
To increase the popularity of the Pro Bowl (and income) the game needs something extra worth playing for. To promote competition, the NFL awards the winning conference, from the previous Pro Bowl, two extra playoff spots to be issued the following season as seeds 7 & 8, or 9 if applicable.
Seed 7 - Next highest seed using the NFL's current tie-breaker procedures.
Seed 8 - The longest lasting playoff out of teams in previous years playoffs but failed to make the playoffs this season. (winning Pro Bowl Conference ONLY)
Seed 9 (if all playoff teams from last year repeat) - Next highest ranking seed next in line according to tie-breaking procedures.
Give all division winners a bye week after the last regular season game to allow players to heal from the extended season. The remaining teams play during this bye week. Donate a portion of the additional profits to help fund retired players benefits.
Seed 1 - 1st & 2nd round bye
Seed 2 - 1st & 2nd round bye
Seed 3 - 1st round bye
Seed 4 - 1st round bye
Seed 5 - plays seed 8
Seed 6 - plays seed 7
Conclusion
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I've put a lot of work into this article and have financial estimations that are inappropriate for use in this media at this time.
If additional depth and explanation is requested, email me on the side and we can work it out.
Fans and media, please add your solutions, improvements, and rebuttals. After reviewing your comments and ideas, I will repackage the final draft and resubmit to multiple parties close to this case. All contributors will be sourced in repackaged article.
Thank you sincerely for for your consideration and for respecting me enough to read this article and leave your comments. I really do appreciate it.
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