NFL Labor Negotiations 2011: Why the Owners Get the Nod over the Players

For the NFL, the last seven days of negotiation have been a defining moment in the history of sports as we know it.

The players have made it very clear that the evil and greedy owners are trying to break their backs and their bank accounts.

More money, better health care plans, and 16 games—they want the respect and status that only being a superstar in the NFL can bring them. They want the owners to recognize that without their talent, there would be no NFL.

The biggest problem with the players getting all this airtime and support is that the other side of the argument doesn't get its seat at the table.

Players conveniently forget to mention that the league average paycheck is $1.7 million per year. If that's not enough to afford health care for the players and their families for the rest of their lives, then somebody is not being financially responsible­.

In fact, the league minimum for 2011 will be $340,000. I don't think I'm the only one who watches the NFL that thinks that 340 grand could relieve a lot of stress.

The league minimum should not only net health insurance, but a nice retirement. This includes those that play the NFL average of 3.3 years. Heck, this includes those that play in the NFL for one year!

The public acts like rookies just finished playing for free at their universities. Remember, the players good enough to go to these high profile FBS and FCS schools are mostly on scholarshi­ps.

Such scholarshi­ps include a free 4-year education, free food, free housing, free tutors, and free weight rooms.

That's not playing for free.

Just the fact that someone is willing to offer them not only all of those opportunities, but the chance to make a minimum six-figure salary as a 21- or 22-year-old man, should be seen as a Godsend.

One problem the owners have with these rookie players—who may not play even one down for their organization—is that they're making generations of wealth on their first contract.

JaMarcus Russell signed a $61-million contract with $31 million of that guaranteed. So, even though he didn't help his franchise win, he still gets to walk away with $31 million pocketed. JaMarcus, his children, and his grandchildren are going to be just fine.

Let's not even start on injured Sam Bradford's rookie contract. History proves that the owners have been very generous.

The main issue surrounding these negotiations is that the players believe they are partners in the NFL. It's the equivalent of saying a software engineer at Microsoft is partners with Bill Gates.

What would Mr. Gates say if his employees not only demanded to see his books, but insisted they get a percentage of his revenue? What would any CEO of a company do if asked by their employees or union workers to show them their books?

This is America. That's not how our society works. If we don't require this kind of full disclosure from other businesses (and the NFL is a business), then why are we asking it of NFL owners?

These players are not partners, they are employees. If the players had the business minds that their owner counterparts had, they should have no problem creating a league that can directly compete with the NFL.

But most of the players don't have the business minds that their owners have.

That's why these owners got into the NFL business—they know they want to make a lot of profit from their business, and have every right to continue to do that as businessmen.

It's not unreasonable to request a rookie-wage scale. It's not unreasonable to try to make more profit.

The only thing even remotely unreasonable is going from 16 to 18 games. However, that can be fixed the second someone comes up with a better way to make up the revenue without the bump in games.

Obviously, these negotiations will require give and take, but we need to stop focusing only on what the owners can give. If the players can put their egos aside, everyone can have football next year. Otherwise, the players' stubbornness and arrogance will absolutely result in a 2004 NHL scenario.

The funny thing about that NHL lockout, though? It did not go in favor of the players.

In fact, there were a lot of people humbled as the NHL proceeded to rip apart the union and build it up from scratch. The NHL came out better for it, and is far and above more popular now than it was before the lockout.

Of course, the NFL is an entirely different beast then the NHL. But if this doesn't get resolved fast, there will be many sad faces and hung heads come Labor Day.

Not to mention, the victims of the lockout will reach far and above the self-centered athletes we watch each Sunday. The casualty count could reach upwards of 100 million!

If this lockout happens, expect there to be a surprising spike in the Nielsen ratings come kickoff time for UFL football.

I hope you all have Versus included in your TV packages. It's going to be a long Fall.

Bradley Lord is an every once in awhile contributor to BeacherReport.com. He is a long time NFL fan (Go Raiders!) will try his best to write here more often. He currently resides in West Texas with his wife and two dogs.