The NFL’s owners and players got what they really wanted Friday — a shutdown.
Both sides were too extreme in their demands, too conservative in their responses to desire anything but resolution through litigation.
“Shared failure,” NFL lead negotiator Jeff Pash said. “[Fans] should be disappointed. They should be unhappy.” Actually, fans should be livid that the nation’s leading sports league may not return this fall. The sides didn’t trust each other and in the final hours refused to work together for a resolution.
Instead, both preferred days of passive aggressive blaming. They relished Friday’s spotlight, which revealed some unreasonable people. When a federal mediator says there’s no compromise, each side is wrong.
The NFL Players Association (or trade association as they’re now called) didn’t expect owners to make a fair offer. The owners never expected the players to back off their unreasonable call for a complete review of the teams’ books. Time was wasted and goodwill spent until none remained.
“Any business where two parties don’t trust each other is a business that can never be as successful as it can be,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said.
The owners supposedly made a reasonable offer at the end. They compromised more money and backed off the 18-game schedule the NFLPA vehemently opposed. The owners offered lifetime health care that was even better than the players expected. Offseason workouts were reduced by five weeks, and in-season practices with hitting would have been reduced. Naturally, the NFLPA disputes the NFL offered any of this.
If this offer was made, the NFLPA should have signed it before the owners had a chance to reconsider. But no, Smith thinks the courts will favor the players as they have in the past. That may prove a critical mistake.
Smith was too far into decertification. Calling for 10 years of audited financial reports to be delivered in less time than a pizza in return for continuing the talks was nothing but grandstanding. Smith knew billionaires wouldn’t respond to such bullying.
Smith left himself no flexibility when he demanded unlimited access to team ledgers. It was all or nothing, and the owners knew it. If the NFL really wanted to force a legal showdown, it could simply maneuver Smith into decertification.
Frankly, the players don’t deserve full access to team books. Audited statements by independent sources are enough. Smith is demanding that the players be equal partners. But the players are labor, and while they should be treated fairly, they are not equal partners. Playing the game is not sweat equity when they already earn more in one season than many fans make in a decade or even lifetime.
Smith’s total access policy would result in a silent partner suddenly second-guessing every expenditure. That’s unfair to the owners, who rightfully can spend money however they choose just like in any other private business.
Now it’s time for lawyers to hijack the game. Maybe the players and owners deserve the coming torture, but the millions of fans and thousands of workers hurt financially surely don’t.
Shame on both sides for their pride and greed.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected]
