Since the Super Bowl on Sunday, a new question has arisen within the American football spectrum. Will there be any† football played in the year 2011? In March, the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the National Football League ownership and the NFL Players’ Union will expire. This expiration could result in a lockout that would mean no football next season.
There are several key factors that are causing this conflict. The first major issue is the extension of the NFL season. Currently the NFL has a 16-game regular season. Many of the team owners are seeking to extend the current format into an 18-game season. The major reason behind this extension is simple: more money. It is no secret that professional football is the most popular sport in America. Almost every game for every team is a sell-out and more games would mean more money for the owners and the league. Many players feel that the 16-game season is too grueling and hazardous to their health to be extended an additional two games. This concern is directly connected to another major divide between the players and the ownership over the NFL obligation to protect the long-term health of its players.
Studies have begun to show that concussions can have long term effects on a person’s memory and brain health. This season the NFL began with what the Huffington Post called a “crusade against concussions.” In addition to fining players heavily this season for hits that have been deemed illegal, players began to wear specially designed helmets. Even Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers was wearing a specially made helmet during the Super Bowl to combat concussions, having suffered two during the season.
This debate over player health and a longer season has created a major divide between the players and owners. Although the NFL has taken steps this season to combat concussions and illegal hits it makes little sense to extend the season and put the players through more wear and tear if the leagues goal is to protect their health. As long as the issues are not resolved it seems unlikely that a Collective Bargaining Agreement will be reached before March 2011. Although it may seem that the owners are only seeking to make larger profits it should be noted that the NFL is at a crucial junction in its long history.
The NFL has never been more popular or more dominant in the world of American athletics. The owners are trying to take advantage of this because they recognize that this may not be the case for long, particularly if a work stoppage takes place. Fans generally are unsympathetic toward work stoppages in professional athletics; after all, it is hard to be a fan of the National Football League if no one is playing football. I think I speak for most fans when I say that I hope the players and owners can find a common ground and resolve this conflict. Get back to playing football boys, or else none of you are going to be making money.