Don't forget the true Fan!

The NFL owners and players are in the middle of talks on a new collective bargaining agreement and once again greed rules the day. Both sides are so busy posturing and trying to manipulate the fans and media to choose their side of the argument that they are missing the big picture. Once again the fans are treated like dumb blind sheep who will follow no matter the price .

The NFL has been on top for decades now and its fan base is second to none. The NFL is one of the biggest money making industries in the world .Yet they let their fans take the fall every time .NFL owners have been charging the same price for exhibition football tickets as the regular season for decades . How can they justify this ? Greed is my only conclusion .

Roger Goodell has spun this 18 game schedule argument into its what the fans want! ?? Please Mr Goodell don't insult our intelligence . The owners want 18 regular season games as bait to fatten up their pockets so they can offer the networks more regular season broadcasts . They are already making billions off the networks. It has nothing to do with the fans. I mean you have no problem charging the fan outrageous prices for exhibition games for years so please spare us.

Roger Goodell and the owners claim all of a sudden they are worried about the players health but want them to play a longer season. Players bodies are already pushed to the brink as it is. How many key players can make it through a whole season of just 16 games with out a major injury? The answer is not many. 18 games are too many and will affect the quality of the league as many great players will have shorter careers .

Do you really believe that all of a sudden the NFL in the mist of the 2010 season decided to crack down on hits they viewed as illegal ,too physical ,or if a player is concussed just because they are worried about players safety ?

Or was it a case of we better gear up for this issue before the battle of the CBA or an injured player takes action in a court of law? The NFL knew that players health was going to be a big issue so maybe they decided to make it look like they are protecting the players from themselves . They had to know that the players have been programed to play physical ,hard , and hurt since grade school

The NFL celebrated such hits for decades and made a lot of money off the violent nature of the game. Praising players for playing hurt. Any one that has watched the NFL for any number of seasons has seen teams send players back into the game knowing that this player may have had his bell rung and may not be preforming with all of his faculties.

The players and their leaders are just as guilty . Many players are overpaid millions as a rookie and never even become an average player . While a role player that has been contributing for the team for years may never see those millions. Many players think the owners owe them money before they even play or prove themselves. Some think they are above being coached , and owe the fans or owners nothing. Off the field some of these players think they are above the law . Their actions are disrespectful not only to the fans but to the many great players who know how to conduct themselves on and off the field . Not to mention the many greats that paved the way for them so they could live such a fortunate lifestyle.

Don't get me wrong there are still plenty of great players and owners who do things the right way on and off the field and want whats best for the fans and the game. But my fear is that the bad may start out weighing the good and that the NFL may think its bigger than its fans. The true NFL fan is losing ground to the casual corporate fan. The average working man can no longer even afford to take his family to an NFL game let alone be a season ticket holder . NFL merchandise has just gotten so expensive that its truly ridiculous in these economic times. Look at this years Super Bowl ticket and seating quagmire . You charge people thousands of dollars for seats that you can't provide not to mention the money spent for rooms and time and memories that they can never get back. The whole thing is inexcusable.

The American people are going through one of the worst economic times of our generation . We look to the NFL to take our minds off our problems . Only to now have this Billionaires vs. Millionaires pitty party. If the NFL owners and players are smart they will end this as soon as possible. The NFL is now America's favorite pastime . They need to remember that baseball once was in their shoes till baseball became greedy and thought they were bigger than their fans.

The owners and players need to both see the error of their ways and give and take .Stop this foolishness before you both kill the golden goose. .Remember the true fan that helped build the NFL into the powerful brand it is today. For with out us you both have nothing.

I hope you enjoyed my latest post and don't be afraid to leave a comment ...Later Steeler Nation.