2011 NFL Lockout: Why NFL Fans Should Want the Owners to "Win"

Let me just start out by saying that I think both the owners and the players are approaching this all wrong.

The owners should not be requesting as much money as they have without proof that they need it. Now, I have heard the argument that no employer owes their employees a look at their books—the NFL is a special case.

The owners need the players to survive. The players offer a set of skills that are irreplaceable. As such, they can demand more rights than any other group of employees. Either the owners need to lower their demands or they need to offer proof that they are in need of this extra money.

The players are wrong because of their ridiculous litigation strategy. I understand their desire to get additional leverage to use against the owners, but this strategy has put a halt on negotiations for months. Like Roger Goodell keeps saying, "this disagreement will end at the negotiating table, not in the court room."

The reason why I have to side with the owners on this one? The disastrous consequences that will occur if the players win the lawsuit.

If the players win, a precedent will be set. Owners of professional sports teams, in any sport, will be unable to lockout their players without facing anti-trust charges. Owners will lose all leverage in negotiations.

The end-result of all this will be lopsided CBAs where owners will be unable to operate their franchises profitably. This is exactly what we don't want. Owners are responsible for the long-term health of the league. They sell the tickets. They maintain and build the stadiums. They negotiate the lucrative television contracts. Without the owners, you get backyard football.

Sure, if the players win in their lawsuit, the lockout will end and we will have football this year. That's great, but it's also short-sighted.

It's best for the fans for the lockout to continue as long as it.must. We may have to take our lumps this year, but the league will be much healthier for it in the long run.