The Business of Football
by Mike Mueller on Oct 13, 2010 11:00 AM CDT
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PrintWe as fans get caught up in the excitement of and passion for the game of football, especially the NFL. To those who we watch on Sundays, football is a serious business. From agents to allegations, CBA's and trades, what happens on Sundays is only a small part of it all.
The NFL owners and players are on a collision course for labor unrest.
One brave agent has spilled the beans on the seedy side of signing players.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Bears players are set to vote on whether to decertify as a union. What does that mean?
If there were no union, the NFL could not negotiate a salary cap, compensation, benefits and other things that are under the umbrella of the CBA because it would then be in violation of antitrust laws. The 32 teams currently can operate exempt from such antitrust laws.
This move could block a lockout and keep the NFL going next year. It's a lot more complicated than that, but both sides are digging in and preparing for a long fight, which may lead to a lot of court time.
Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post regularly discusses these ongoing negotiations and any new developments. You can read two good articles explaining the decertification of the union as a strategy here and here.
The other big news in the world of football is Greg Dohrmann's Sports Illustrated article about NFL agent Josh Luchs'sordid past and seedy dealings with many, many, many college and pro football players. This article is simply a must read for everyone.
We all speculate just how shady the agent/athlete relationships are, but Josh Luchs spills the beans on everything. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Turn on the lights and watch the cockroaches scatter. If we all want a clean, honest game, more needs to come out. (We can start by paying these kids over the table, instead of under it, but that's just my opinion.)
I love the NFL and I love the Bears. I hope the owners and players can reach an agreement. I hope more agents get exposed. I hope there's football in 2011. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams... I hope.
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Luchs can't be considered credible IMO.
What he is doing is the same as what guys facing time in prison do, snitch on others to save their own ass whether what they say is true or not, as long as they help themselves. Luchs is pissed because he got caught taking money from his employer and is banned from being an NFL agent. What a moron.
by lopey986 on Oct 13, 2010 11:12 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
If you get a chance
listen to the Mike&Mike podcast, they have their whole phone interview with Luchs.
He comes across as earnest and honest.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Of course he does...he's an agent
or at least was…“next question!”
Unreasonable people make life difficult...
by WisBearsFan34 on Oct 13, 2010 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions
At the end of the article, SI list all the people and their responses.
A lot of what Luchs alleges is corroborated, many no comments, and very few denials.
by Mike Mueller on Oct 13, 2010 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
That SI article was good
One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 13, 2010 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
I read the entire article, plausible, credible.
He;s got nothing to gain by spelling all this out. He’s already banned. Sour grapes, sure, who wouldn’t? He played around the range and got burned, his own fault and he freely admits it.
Speculation over this behavior has been about for decades. It’s really about time someone told the truth, or at least part of it anyhow.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire – he has the scars to prove it – IMO.
If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.
by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Oct 13, 2010 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Who's more credible?
The people not speaking because their lively hood depends on them not making waves (Kiper, current agents and players) or the person with nothing hanging over his head (blacklisted ex-agents and ex-players past the point of being punishable)?
----------
Is my mind a'goin on me or am I watchin you jibber jabber like some sorta jibberty box. Jibber Jabber on! Jibber Jabber on! -- Early Cuyler
Maybe but...
By writing this article he’s not saving his own ass, he’s out of the game. He might be saving some face to the public, but rightfully so if the article is true. Plus, unless I’m wrong his ban is over. It also appears that SI has done fact checking and it seems to be checking out for the most part. I thought it was a pretty great read.
Colt's fan friend - "This is our dog, we named her after Peyton Manning."
Boondocksaints812 - "You named her Bitch?!? Did you train her to lie down when you run towards her too?"
The fact that NFL is taking lessons from the attorney
who helped the NHL through the lockout makes me sad.
Surely there’s enough money for both sides.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
This concerns me too.
Everything the owners seem to be doing is bracing for a long fight, instead of putting all that energy into compromising on a deal.
by Mike Mueller on Oct 13, 2010 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Here here!
(We can start by paying these kids over the table, instead of under it, but that’s just my opinion.)
These kids (the student athletes) are responsible for massive amounts of revenue and its ridiculous that they’re not supposed to see any share of it.
I personally don’t think the situation is anything more than a scam that Universities have been pulling off forever.
When do we start paying them, then?
In certain regions, Friday Night Football is life. The football team funds the athletics for the entire rest of the school. Should those players receive a cash kickback?
It’s a slippery slope to start paying any student-athlete.
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
18 is the age and High Schoolers don't get paid unless their "likeness" is being used
For example; Tebow # jersey is sold, he should get a percentage.
It’s a slippery slope to start paying any student-athlete.
I disagree. I say it sets the standard for what’s rightfully their money to begin with.
Yes
but should they get paid and recieve a full scholarship? Most of those players have recieved tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships. Not to mention the recruiting process, the amount of money that goes to these kids to pick a certain school. And that’s not even mentioning the basketball programs. It’s kind of sad that even at it’s purest form(high school, college), sports in general is far from pure.
Barzini says "It is agreeg then, Trafficking will be allowed, but controlled"
And the Corleone’s (NFL owners) will share their influence
If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.
by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Oct 13, 2010 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
Fail, damnit.
If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.
by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Oct 13, 2010 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Herbie was on Mike&Mike
and pointed out that Title IX will keep that from ever really happening.
How do you ration money out? A lot of times the money brought in from bowl games helps fund things like girls’ softball.
I agree in theory with the whole make it legit and stop worrying, but there are realities that keep that from being totally plausible.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
How do you ration money out?
I stated a few lines above, a way of paying the players that have their “likeness” used.
IMHO, selling these student athletes specific jersey #’s or using their names to promote games (in turn boosting ratings & revenue) and not giving them a dime is theft.
A lot of times the money brought in from bowl games helps fund things like girls’ softball.
but there are realities that keep that from being totally plausible.
I understand and if the answer were easy, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.
With that said, I do believe a fair resolution can be brought to the table. Especially when one side of that table has all the money and the other side (though crucial to the sport) has none.
Not just scholarships
Add in meal plans, housing (which is just a wee bit better than your standard dorms), personal trainers, professional strength and conditioning training, being coached by some of the best minds in football, clothing, equipment, shoes, the list is endless.
Add all that to the chance to be put in front of millions to get exposure and the attention to be set for the rest of your life with one year of work (plus you know that pesky free college degree). I think they make plenty.
by TheMan1 on Oct 13, 2010 12:48 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I use to agree with everything you said, but
even when you add all that up, it’s still not paying them a fair wage imo. If each and every football playing university would open up their books and accurately account for every penny that comes in from football and can show that these players are getting all they deserve and more, then I’ll change my opinion. That day will never come. I think the university’s are making HUGE mountains of cash and the players, even with all that they receive already, are still getting the shaft.
by Mike Mueller on Oct 13, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions
The problem as I see it isn't caused by paying college players.
The problem is who doesn’t get paid. You run into a very slippery slope here. The QB gets paid cause hey, he’s the QB but what about the stud water polo player? Or how about the 8th guy on the basketball team? Captain of the track team get in on this money? Baseball players?
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
Considering the water polo team isn't the money generator that the football team is,
that stud still owes the university money on top of his scholarship! ha ha
I can’t dispute what you’re saying. The current system sucks to me. Change it up and make sure everything is as transparent as possible. It’s got to be better than what we have now.
by Mike Mueller on Oct 13, 2010 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions
I hate to use a baseball analogy
But the cleanest person to come out of the steroid era is Canseco. I think the Luchs article was great, and I think that instead of the college athletes receiving a scholarship and a portion of the profits, the team of players should receive (just tossing a number off the top of my head here) a split of 10% of the profits earned, and a portion off of every jersey sale. The cheer squads and bands would each receive a split of 1% of the profits (Keep in mind, these students would be participating at multiple types of sporting events)
This money would first go towards paying their existing student loans, followed by enough for four years of college, and once those had been paid off, it would go to the student.
Just an idea.
When you go to somebody's house, you don't crap on their floor. Being a fan of one team does NOT give you license to be a dick to fans of another.
Corollary: When people are visiting your house and behaving themselves, them being a fan of a different team is NOT a reason for you to piss in their beer.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
You sound like and agent. LOL
If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.
by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Oct 13, 2010 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Did I mention that in one point in my career I did marketing for Microsoft?
When you go to somebody's house, you don't crap on their floor. Being a fan of one team does NOT give you license to be a dick to fans of another.
Corollary: When people are visiting your house and behaving themselves, them being a fan of a different team is NOT a reason for you to piss in their beer.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
by Robert Rence on Oct 13, 2010 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions
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