NFL Lockout: Roger Goodell Misrepresents Demand for 18-Game Season

The goings-on of this NFL lockout typically don’t warrant discussion. The drab back-and-forth between Roger Goodell, the owners, the players and DeMaurice Smith could put a screaming toddler to sleep.

It’s millionaires fighting billionaires. We have better things to do.

But The Tennessean recently reported the following quote from a conference call the Commish had with Titans season-ticket holders:

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“We do think [the 18-game season] is attractive to season-ticket holders. I hear that all of the time from our season-ticket holders. We have not abandoned our position on that. We do think it is the right thing for the game.”

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I almost spit out my coffee.

Here is what the NFL has said to season-ticket holders:

“Do you want tickets to 16 regular season games, plus four preseason games that don’t mean dog puke? Or do you want tickets to 18 regular season games, plus two preseason games that don’t mean cat puke?”

Hmm.

This would be like Ford selling you a truck, then making you buy a broken trailer to go with it. Then later, Ford says, “You want a slightly better truck—with GPS and better suspension? I’ll give you a smaller broken trailer to deal with and we can apply the difference in money towards a better truck.” You say “of course,” but then Ford turns around to the public and says, “See! People want bigger trucks!”

I get that there are PR games to be played, but this was really bogus. The NFL should not derive their talking points from an extorted market. (However nice it is to have season tickets.)

Roger-baby, since I know you’re reading, here’s another talking point you may hear all the time: Lower ticket and merchandise prices are also “attractive” to fans.