Eagles owners Jeffrey Lurie and team President Joe Banner, wrote another letter and sent it to the team’s fan base. They laid out what was going on at the NFL owners meetings and the status of the negotiations of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The proposal by the owners to the players which they praise, includes a slick maneuver. They don’t talk about how owners will take a larger percentage of the money, they figure in the larger amount of money that’s expected to be coming in in the near future, then they proclaim that the players will be making $2 billion more over the next four years.
The key to everything right now will be what the judge decides after she gets the case on April 6th. Who knows how long she will take to render a judgment after she gets the case next Wednesday? Hopefully, she will take in account that making a ruling regarding the injunction request by the players a week or two prior to the draft is necessary.
The league has to realize that they poured water on this year’s NFL draft which is followed feverishly by NFL fans. They need to get back after the judge makes a ruling and get a deal worked out.
Here’s the letter from Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Banner:
We know you are interested in the status of our labor negotiations and preparations for the 2011 season. Having just returned from New Orleans earlier this week, we wanted to take a few moments to give you a report.
The focus was on football as well as the status of our efforts to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.
Football first: we had vigorous discussions on a range of football matters with special emphasis on player health and safety. We are, as you have read, moving the spot of kickoffs to the 35-yard line and allowing the kicking team only a 5-yard running start to the kickoff. We modified instant replay so that all scoring plays will be checked by the instant replay assistant in the booth and reviewed by the referee if necessary. We are also continuing to discuss how to best limit hits to the head and expand protection for players in a defenseless position. NFL football will remain a tough sport, but we are committed to making it safer and reducing injuries. We prioritize having a peaceful workers compensation mediation if ever there will be.
On collective bargaining, we reviewed the status of the union’s litigation as well as the current work stoppage. We want to assure you that we want this resolved. We believe we offered a fair proposal that would pay the players an estimated $19-20 billion over the next four years, 2 billion more than they made over the previous four. There would be no pay-cut for players, only a slowing in the growth rate of their compensation. The proposal included a wide range of other improvements for both current and retired players. Contrary to what you may have read, we offered to provide to a third-party accounting firm the 2005-2009 club-by-club operating profits, along with audited financial statements, so that the union would know the league’s profitability in those years and the number of clubs that have experienced declines in profits.
We are very disappointed that the players chose to not respond to this offer and instead, went to court.
We know that we will have a collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union at some point. Commissioner Goodell has called on the NFL Players Association to immediately resume negotiations. The owners support the Commissioner and are ready to meet at any time to come to an agreement. We have great respect for our players, admire what they do, and the sacrifices they make.
We will continue to keep you informed and we truly appreciate your support of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Lurie, Chairman & CEO
Joe Banner, President
Eh you know I really just can’t figure out where my dog fits in this fight. On one hand, I have very little sympathy for the billionaire owners. I mean, it’s the players putting their bodies on the line that makes them successful. But then again, the players are already making an annual salary that exceeds what 99.9% of the Earth’s population will make in a lifetime. All I really know is that I’m just sick and tired of watching a bunch of retardedly rich guys fight with each other … is it opening day yet?
I get so tired of reading posts and articles when they write the silliest statement “Billionaires vs. Millionaires”. Who are they to decide the value of someone else’s money. It’s all relative. Imagine how it looks from a building janitor’s position who makes $18k per year if a union electrician making $90k a year is looking for a raise and increased benefits via their CBA.
Money is money the amount makes NO difference. If you make an investment what ROI are you seeking? I know I like a high return. If my investments aren’t making more than 10% I look to make a change.
Let’s look at this from ownership’s position. They want more than 50%. 50% of 9 Billion is $4.5B. Keep in mind that this is Gross Revenue. So $4.5B divided by 32 owners is $140 Million. Now subtract from that G&A: Salaries of all people in the organization. Subtract fringe: 401k, vacation, health insurance, workers compensation, liability insurance. Subtract Overhead: Nova Care/Linc principle and interested payments, utilities, computers, cell phones, taxes, practice equipment, cafeteria supplies, misc supplies, accountants, lawyers. Game Day costs; I have no idea but must cost something.
What’s the cost of all this? I don’t know but let’s assume half which is probably conservative. That leaves net profit at $70 Million. Assuming the Eagles are worth $1.5 Billion that’s a ROI of 4.67%.
My assumptions maybe well off the mark but if they aren’t then a ROI of 5% or less sucks and I know I would looking to make a change.
Owners are the ones who create jobs at all levels and have more at stake then the players. A team owner has made an investment and he or she should get rewarded for that with proper management and oversight, just like any other investment.
Players are just that – players – nothing more and nothing less. They make a ton of cash and yet decide not to show up to optional workouts or summer training for that extra few million. That is ridiculous. It’s time for the players to realize where they stand in this game – they are paid very nice sums to play the game – that’s it – period
Saying the owners have MORE at stake than the players is simply FALSE… The owners dont suffer concussions and other bodily injuries simply to play a game… Players even die as a result of playing football in the NFL….
No the owners dont have more at stake…. maybe they have more MONEY invested… but that doesnt = more at stake overall
@ Rasheed
Are we at a lockout because of player health or money.????….
Rasheed – but notice it is typically the players that complian about the new rules protecting player safety. The owners don’t want to pay salaries to a player sitting on the sideline on IR for the year, they want them out there playing.
But again, most football players, to get to the pros, play at least 4 years of HS and 4 years of college, plus how mush Pop Warner and AYF..
Why is it the owner of a pro football team must now accept all liability for years and years and years of football?
I have looked at what the players and owners have each said about the new CBA offer, and honestly, I think the owners made a damn fine offer. The players want to in affect, audit, the owners financial statements. They want to go line by line over the owners expenses – the players are not the IRS, so I wouldn’t let them go over my income/loss statment either. I think the players are hoping they can find a favorbale judge that will help them along.
Last thought – what about all the great PAC 10/Big 12/SWC players that are not good enough to make the pros? They have to go out and earn and be productive citizens right? I have no problem with someone reaching for the gold ring, and the players are very well compensated (the 99.9 is more like 99.99999999999 percent of the world population) and often earn in one year what many earn in a lifetime, same can be said for the owners. Need to get this thing worked out
First off.. We are in the midst of a lockout because the owners are trying to force a lockout to obtain more money….
Secondly… If the owners were smart instead of GREEDY, they’d continue to treat their relationship with the players as a PARTNERSHIP becuase they both need each other in order to keep the NFL a thriving business.. It benefits the owners when they take care of the players who actually are the reason the fans pay soo much money to come to the games and watch on TV.. Nobody pays to see Jeff Lurie or Joe Banner…
Its simple reciprocity… And that goes for the players also.. But notice the players arent driving the bus here (at least they werent until they used the decertification move)…
The sad part here is that these 2 groups cant even keep it real and treat each other right with a boat load of money where everyone will be fine as long as no-ones GREED gets the best of them..
Both groups sink or swim together….They are gonna destroy the golden goose if they keep it up and thats really pathetic…
Rasheed – I disagree – the owners did not force the lockout – the players refused the owners last offer… as I stated before – in my opinion it was fair.
Players fail to acknowledge that cities and states can no longer afford to provide services to teams, so the teams must pay for security/medical etc. for the games, as well as stadium upgrades etc.
I do think the players drove the bus – they could have extended the negotiations, they could drop the demand to be able to comb though the income loss statements, vice looking at the audited financial statements, the owners almost dropped the 18 game requirment –
my opinion is the players are hoping to hit a home run with a judge and if they don’t, that last deal the owners offered will look real good.
Since the Packers are publicly owned company you can get financial data. See below. They are a small market but I think you can see the costs of owning and operating a team is very expensive. Realizing a net profit of $5.2 Million with a gross of $258 is very telling.
Key developments for Green Bay Packers, Inc.
Green Bay Packers, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Fiscal Year of 2010
07/15/2010
Green Bay Packers, Inc. announced financial results for the fiscal year of 2010. For the year, the company reported revenue of $258 million. The company have reported net income of $5.2 million as compared with $4 million last year. Total operating revenue was $10 million more than the previous year.
Green Bay Packers, Inc. Nominate 3 for Board, Makes Executive Committee Changes
05/28/2010
Green Bay Packers, Inc. following a board of directors meeting at Lambeau Field, said that Thomas Cardella, president of MillerCoors/Miller Brewing Co.-Eastern Division, Jeffrey Joerres, chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc., and Thomas Kunkel, president of St. Norbert College, will be nominated for board for shareholder approval during the organization’s annual meeting. The team said the meeting will be on July 29. Also, the board elected Larry Weyers, vice president and lead director, and named Mark McMullen, chairman and CEO of Associated Wealth Management, treasurer and executive committee member. Peter Platten III was vice president and lead director. He has reached mandatory retirement age and moves to emeritus status. Weyers was treasurer.
There is greed on both sides and I am getting tired of hearing about it.
navyfan….
the players didnt attempt to lock themselves out.. lol.. this whole fiasco revolves around the owner initiated lockout.. its not a matter of opinion..
the owners planned the lockout…. the owners tried to hide 4 billion from their partners (the players) so they could kick back and wait the players out in an extended lockout..
you cant put the blame on the players for not folding….
the NFL owners created this situation…
If it were up to the players? this wouldnt be happening right now..
if you wanna side with the owners? go ahead… but you cant change the facts
Good Stuff JoePa
Don’t forget all the $$$ that the Packers are paying off, to all those ladies for keeping quiet about fooling around with Brett Farve all those years
and also to the 2-3 Pharmacists that gave Farve all those pain-killer prescriptions over the years too… …
JoePa
I would “assume” that if your 5% ROI calculations were anything close to being right, the owners would be begging the players to look at their books. Contrarily, the owners want nothing to do with the players seeing their books. Besides, the real money at issue is the projected $20 billion per year within the next 5 years. If that increase is realized, the 2,000 players would receive $6.5 billion while the 32 owners would split $13.5 billion.
For all of you who back the owners, I guess if you owned a business that had a 700 % increase in worth over 15 years like Jeffrey Lurie, and it was an entertainment business with people paying to see the entertainers, you would also say you need a larger % of the money. Give me a break! The real point is that the owners are doing fine. Don’t forget there was an agreement, the owners are the ones who wanted to cancel it. Do you really think they have a legitimate reason or do you just think rich people should just be greedy in their wealthy positions.
I think they have a legitimate reason, rasta.
I am glad that people are finally starting to see how much the owners have to pay to keep operations going. I am glad that people are also seeing that the owners deserve more of a profit than the players and that this isn’t a PARTNERSHIP. If this is a partnership, what are the players contributing to the stadium or other finances of the company? NOTHING. I agree that they put their lives on the line, but NO ONE is FORCING them.
Also, there are lots of jobs where people put their bodies on the line. Movers get bad backs, knees etc. from their heavy lifting. Construction workers have much of the same problems, not to mention the construction workers that work on really high up office buildings or even bridges when they are first being constructed. They are putting their lives at stake. I don’t see them being in a PARTNERSHIP with their owners. I could name lots of other jobs and I am sure you all could too, but you should get the point.
True, we don’t come out to the game to watch the owners, but we don’t come out to watch the players per se either. We come out to watch the GAME. Answer this……. How many of us would still watch football if they decided to fire every current player and get a whole new set of players? I know I would, and considering that players don’t last a lifetime and I think the average NFL career last 4 years, yet it is still so popular, I think everyone else would too. Not to mention that College Football is huge and them players change all the time. We would continue watching and just find new players to love and root for.
To me, the reason I am more on the owners side is because I understand that this game, even though I love it, is a business. These men are businessmen, and they are out to make money much like any of us. Now I don’t fault the players for what they are doing and I don’t fault the owners, because I understand that everyone wants to make more money. That is just the greedy nature of us humans, but if there was one side that I thinks deserves more of the money than the other….. It is the owners, and that is why I am on “their side”. Honestly though, I don’t care who wins as long as this thing gets settled and they get back to football, but I understand the owners position more than I do the players.
sports, i agree with some of what you say , i do side with the owners partly, the birds do not employ just 53 players they might employ 530 people whose families will all be affected by this an alot of these people probably are kinda just getting by . but if the owners fire the current players and hire new ones ,you will watch on tv . but you probably not go to the game , buy a jersey , hot dog , beer , parking , etc. . this is where the players have the advantage , its is them who bring in the dollars for the owners . and it because of that i would really like to see the books opened and see how these owners are really struggling! as a season ticket holder i would really like to know why you got to pay top dollar for everything. if these players could just hold out (but they probably won’t.) it would be interesting to see how the owners would react come october with no people , parking , concessions. esp jerry jones with his empty multi billion stadium. but thats just my thoughts .
I don’t agree. I love football and have loved lots of players over the years, but I never stopped watching or attending games when they left/retired. And I don’t think others would stop going either. The teams might have to lower prices, but then again….. If they are playing all these new players, they probably won’t be paying them as much so they would probably lower them anyway. That would probably attract more fans (the lowered prices) to come to the stadium.
Also, the owners are willing to show their books to a 3rd party, just not to the players, and I don’t think they should, nor do I care about them.
“If this is a partnership, what are the players contributing to the stadium or other finances of the company? NOTHING. I agree that they put their lives on the line, but NO ONE is FORCING them. ”
the players contribute nothing to the stadium or other finances? Lol… it doesnt get more funny than that…
tell you what s. bum.. you take away the players and then tell me what kind of revenue the owners would have for ANYTHING..
some of these arguments are devoid of any facts or reality…. people just make their realities up as they go along. smh
The players are simply employees looking for more leverage and pay. There is no “partnership”, just bizness. There is nothing heroic going on here.
The NFL would be fine with a whole new set of players. I watch football because of the game, as many people do. It is fun to root for certain players but people always find new players to root for.
If you think the players are partners, because there would be no NFL without any players, then you could say that about every business, because there would be no goods, services, etc….. without the employees that are hired to make/provide them. Your logic is a fail. Please get a clue before talking to me.
sports i admire your thoughts but your fighting an uphill battle . the linc is probably close to a billion dollar facility . what do you think it costs to insure it for one game. with 60 thousand people in it . do you think allstate will give the eagles a break because they are playing 53 new scrubs out there. probably , definatley not . do you think the ticket taker will take a cut in pay to work a game with scrubs playing . no . as for any employee there the answer is no. tv will not pay as much also. i know you love the game so just catch a few more hs or college games this is big boy, big business football. and man everything comes down to the dollar., unfortunatly for all of us
The new players wouldn’t get paid as much as current players. The NFL would save lots of money. Also, if the NFL could secure 4 billion dollars from networks regardless if there is an NFL or not, I don’t think they would have a problem getting them to pay what they pay now with a whole new set of players. College football does very well even though there are new players every 4 years at most, even less than every 4 years. The reason people keep watching is because people love football and because of the pride of rooting for your alumni, which is pretty much the same as any person rooting for their hometown team in the pros. The NFL might take a small hit immediately, because we wouldn’t really know any of the new players, but I doubt it would take long to thrive once again.
Also, I ain’t fighting anything. I honestly don’t care who wins the battle. I just side with the owners, because I think they deserve it more for all the reasons I listed throughout this whole ordeal. If the players win, good for them. Whoever wins doesn’t affect me at all except for the fact that I get to watch football again.
My whole reasoning for responding to anyone about this situation besides just voicing my opinion is pointing out other peoples stupidity.
lmao… yeah just get some new players… lol
that will fix everything…