Where did Jeff go?
He’s moved to a new location. Check him out on the new blogging platform and let him know what you think.
Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > May > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Tuesday Countdown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
10: NFL owners are opting out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement early. Because CBAs can be convoluted, confusing and boring, let me bring this down a level everybody that can understand. Owners: Oink.
9: I know professional athletes tend to get thrust to the front of the Pig Line by a lot of people. But players are so a distant second to owners in the NFL. According to deep research, which took, like, two minutes of Googling, CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN pay the NFL a combined 3.735 BILLION (that’s with a “b”) per year. That equates to $116.7 million per year per team. That’s before any owner sells a sponsorship, ticket, a luxury suite, a jersey, a $7 program, a $12 beer or a $20 parking space. And what do the owners want? More.
8: They have created the NFL Network, which is fine, it’s good business, but they’ve put increasing restrictions on - and squeezing out - non-NFL electronic media outlets. Now, they are opting out of the current CBA because they believe they’re giving the players too big a piece of the pie. You’re going to hear other issues from them that cloud the issue, but that’s really what this is all about.
7: How much pie can 32 billionaires eat!?! Unlike basketball, baseball and to a certain degree hockey (which has split contacts), NFL contracts are not guaranteed (except for the signing bonus). That’s why I never have a problem when a football player wants to hold out. The owners have a hard salary cap with non-guaranteed contracts. They already live in CBA nirvana. They want a rookie pay scale. Know what? I have no problem with that. More importantly, neither would veterans. But does anybody really believe players are going to make up the lost salary on the back end of their career?
6: Owners are upset that they pay the players about 60 percent of the pie. But Suits: They are the product. Yes, the NFL is the most successful, most powerful entity in pro sports on the globe. But didn’t owners discover who was really important several years ago when they played games during a strike with replacement players? Remember? Nobody came. Nobody cared. And if set the tone for another work stoppage, don’t look this way for support.
5: Andruw Jones reportedly has torn cartilage in his right knee. His personal trainer has suggested he start cramming the cheeseburgers in his left cheek instead of his right, in hopes of shifting the weight and alleviate the pressure.
4: I wish I could’ve seen the look on Bill Parcells’ face when Jason Taylor - part-time football player, full-time dance star - said he hopes he’s known for something other than football in 10 years.
3: All’s quiet on the Hawks’ hiring front, but Sacramento’s Geoff Petrie did not deny to a Sacramento Bee reporter that he was contacted about the front office opening. “My commitment is to the Kings,” he said. “It always has been ever since I’ve been here, and nothing has changed.”
2: Went to Sugarloaf over the weekend. I asked Stewart Cink a few questions about golf. He asked me several about the Thrashers. I think we agreed the franchise was over par.
1: Question for Odell Thurman: Why would you expect anybody to give you the benefit of the doubt now?
Permalink | Comments (41) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB, Falcons/NFL, Hawks/NBA
Comments
By whammer
May 20, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
WOW how do you keep your job? I have never read a more unprofessional, racist (I am white if it matters), mean spirited and I will bet just a bad person in my life. You comment on issues you have no prior history with, you continue to use this platform for your personal grudges, and you just suck. I hope one day the AJC wakes up and fires you, I would love to see what other small town rag might consider highering you.
By BT
May 20, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
whammer, I don’t understand your comments on the “article.” I look forward to the Tuesday countdown it is always entertaining. I don’t expect it is going to be some deep journalism that will when a Pulitzer. Really puzzled about the racist comment. I re-read the countdown and can’t find anything that could be misconstrued as racist. I enjoy Schultz’s writings but different strokes for different folks.
By Workers for Obama
May 20, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Workers should rule over owners 100% of the time. That way, we would have TONS more new jobs, and new companies would sprout up EVERYWHERE!
The whole mindset that we even need owners at all is antiquated.
o_0
By ATLborn
May 20, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Wow Whammer! Racist?! I read and then re-read Schultzies column and couldn’t find anything racist within it.
Thanks for letting me know that I should be offended by his column because I had no idea. lol
By 1eyedJack
May 20, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
whammer must have thought he was reading Terrance Moore’s column.
By VICK SOULJA
May 20, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
YOU HATERZ IN ATL DONT DESERVE MIKE VICK OR A SUPPER BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By ICMIII
May 20, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Whatever happened to “The City Too Busy To Hate”?
By Hello Atlanta
May 20, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Without NFL owners there would be no players. They’d be working jobs like the rest of us. Just ask the NHL how that strike worked out.
By leland
May 20, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Schultz—it’s hard to evaluate a sports writer on the quality or depth of his offerings. I mean, he doesn’t have much to work with from the go-get, so what can you expect? But there may yet be a way to pass judgment on him viz., the quality of the comments his writing engenders. For example, see the posting by Whammer above and several of the rejoinders thereto. Anyway, with this criterion, the whole shebang at AJC with the possible exception of Bisher,would be run of town. Your pal, Leland
By Lindsey Snot
May 20, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Sorry, I don’t buy the ‘owners = oink’ whine. The owners take the risk; just ask Blank about how much #7 still owes the team.
And hey, Obama Won’t Work, you sound a tad on the red side (spelled commie). If the product is so important, why haven’t the players gotten together and created a team of their own? Yeah…that’s what I thought.
By Tim
May 20, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Message to whammer: You are referring to Terrance Moore.
Message to Vick Soulja: The Falcon’s are not trying to win a “supper” bowl.
Great countdown Jeff. One of your best. Here’s my take…
All NFL owners have one thing larger than their wallets, and that’s their egos. Every penny counts! Odell has made his own bed, but if Roger says he’s done eveything necessary to get reinstated than I think he’s worth a look. Lastly… Stewart Cink’s a Thrasher’s fan?
By nahjay davnpooh
May 20, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
“workers for obama”, what are you talking about “mindset for owners”? there’s no mindset involved, somoene has to INVEST the billion or so dollars it takes to get a franchise started. but the fact that you made that ignorant comment while associating yourself with obama is typical, because there are a lot of ignorant people like yourself with the “mindset” you have that will vote for obama.
good thing most of you are convicted felons and can’t vote.
By tiger7_88
May 20, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
Jeff, your socialist Democrat slip is showing, my friend. In a market society, the person who uses his money to purchase, operate, and run the business is deserving of more profit than the employees that he or she hires. The majority of the risk is theirs.
Now you may respond that there is very little risk financially in owning an NFL team and that is probably accurate. That being the case, then you or the players need to save your allowances and buy a team so that can run one as you see fit. I’m sure after you put up your millions and millions that you would be more than happy to run your team as a not-for-profit organization.
By Shaunte
May 20, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
These NFL owners just want treat the skilled black players as slaves like they did with Vick to get rich and then toss them aside. Slavery still alive and kicking in NFL.
By Sports Fan
May 20, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
I just wish we could get a decent newspaper in Atlanta with a professional sports writing staff. I am so sick of the petty crap the AJC sports writers harp on, and their mindless cheap shots.
Number 10 should have been two questions for Joe Hamilton: Was that any way for a Tech coach to act and what were you thinking when you pleaded innocent rather than just being honest and deal with the consequences like a man?
By Charlie
May 20, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
With out a profit you do not exist. 60% is more than fair! If you do not like the terms of your employment then go find another job that pays better.
Also remember that Pro Sports is ENTERTAINMENT!!!
Also these guys make more than enough to pay for their own Medical expenses.
If you cant make it on a 5 year $50 mil contract TOUGH S%#!
By Leroy & Bubba
May 20, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Let’s see no owners in the NFL? So let Mike Vick and Ray Lewis run the league. Great idea. Owners should be miles ahead of the players. They’re the ones that risk millons on the M. Vicks of the world and lose their shirt in the process.
A salary cap may be unfair to the players (and what is fair in this world). But without it you’d have owners bidding up on players and paying Andruw Jones money to some washed up over weight players. And baseball is run by Donald Feir and the players union.
Give me the NFL with all of its’ “problems” any day.
We don’t need owners like some don’t “need” a welfare check.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 20, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I don’t think I’ve ever agreed this much with a Jeff Schultz column. Your thoughts on the NFL owners are absolutely right. It’s kind of amazing that more people in the media are not calling out the owners for their stupidity actually.
By chc4
May 20, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Matt Ryan just got $34mm guaranteed. And Jeff… you think the owners are stinghy? My god, that’s the liberal weenie in you coming out. Unreal.
By Ole dawg
May 20, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Mr. Schultz: Your “Countdown” used to be funny. It no longer is. It was never, nor was it intended to be, informative. Then, what is it? Nothing, actually.
By Rediculous
May 20, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
AJC blogs are the worst thing ever. It is embarassing to read this junk.
By smokescreen
May 20, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
when is the ajc going to get rid of the “comment” section? Its just a platform for people to post their ridiculous opinions. If you want your voice to be heard get a journalism degree and get your own section in a newspaper.
By smokescreen
May 20, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
when is the ajc going to get rid of the “comment” section? Its just a platform for people to post their ridiculous opinions. If you want your voice to be heard get a journalism degree and get your own section in a newspaper.
By Peter
May 20, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
Jeff:
Have you ever even seen such ignorant people in your life? You could type out the alphabet and you’d get people up in your grill. This used to be a great paper, now…
By Ole dawg
May 20, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
I agree. Some of the comments are so “rediculous” that they are posted twice. Must be a smokescreen for something.
By VICK SOULJA
May 20, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
THIS GREAT WHITEBREAD QB WILL NEVER BE HALF OF WHAT MIKE VICK IS!! VICK PUT ATL ON THE MAP!!!!!! BLANK NEEDS TO GO BROKE FOR GIVING ALL VICKS MONEY TO THIS WHITE BOY!!!!!!!!
By JSS
May 20, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
And he said: “Let there be light!”
Well the light has been shown om the NO TALENT HACK!!! 1. Countdown (TNH version) has NEVER BEEN funny!!! Yes, it has been crude, racist, and full of venom, but funny no… 2. Just look at the type of bloggers that come screaming to Schultz’s defense… 1961 George Wallace and the Myanmar Junta had classier supporters (nahjay davnpooh).
By What?
May 20, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Hey Rediculous,
I’ll bet it’s even more embarassing to write in about the junk you consider embarassing to read … idiot!
By Let ByGones be ByGones
May 20, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
President Bush - Please pardon Michael Vick.
By Jesse
May 20, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
exactly who put up the money? commie pinko fool. capatialism dummie,remember when China was collective?
By JMar
May 20, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
The one thing I hope comes out of the CBA opt-out is a reworking of draft contracts. The idea that top draft picks are paid more than the best players in the NFL is absurd. In a realistic system, Matt Ryan is getting half what he just got, and not an all-pro sized contract
By Edgar
May 21, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
The owners are ticked off about certain issues they can’t get control of. And I remember the ‘87 strike. I also remember what happened 15 years before that in ‘72. (Van Brocklen told his star DB Kenny Reeves to clean out his locker and take his picket sign to New Orleans where he had just been traded.) It divided and ruined a team that the year before had just missed the playoffs. Van Brocklen quit not long after that. They say they have 3 years to work it out. They won’t. Goodell doesn’t have the relationship with Upshaw that Tagliabue had. So what happens? I’m looking more at issues that are connected with money, not necessarily percentages of the gross and so forth, where owners are losing out. It deeper that where you’re looking Jeff so go do your homework. The NFL owners are the more socialistic than they are capitalists where their product is concerned. That being a clue for you to start with. Good luck!
By VICK SOULJA
May 22, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
SORRY EVERYONE FOR BEING SO P**. I’M JUST IN A BAD MOOD BECAUSE I AM MIKE’S CELL MATE AND HE KEEPS FORGETTING TO GIVE ME A REACH AROUND!
By Bailer
May 27, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
Joe Horn, has not changes since his days in Fulton, Miss., at Itwamba Jr college, all mouthcry baby wantinfg someone to give him something. HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF WORK HISTORY
By Ken Strickland
May 28, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
Some of you morons are dumber than others, but based on most of your comments, all of you haters are mental vegtables. First, no owner, or anyone that purchases an NFL franchise, has lost a penny. They are guaranteed a net profit based on the network contracts alone, morons. Buying an NFL franchise is a sure thing money wise. They not only make a guaranteed net profit, they get unbelievable tax write offs as well, which they use to reduce tax liabilities on their other businesses.
NFL players, on the other hand, do not get guaranteed contracts. Their employment and contract can be terminated at anytime. The only thing that prevents a lot of teams from terminating cetrain players contracts is the possible CAP hit they’d take. The retirement system for NFL players is embarrassing, considering the billions of dollars in revenue these players generate each yr for the owners and the entire NFL.
These greedy owners are actually pretending that the physical and emotional problems a large number of retired players are having aren’t football related. If a concussion can have an affect on a factory worker on OWCP, why can’t multiple concussions suffered by football players also have an affect on the player after retirement. We actually have football players that are encouraged by team doctors to retire because of multiple concussion. Yet, when that same player files a claim after he starts having emotional and/or psychological problems due to those concussions, the NFL owners deny any relationship between the players problems and the concussions sustained while playing. AND YOU IGNORANT BRAINDEAD MORONS ARE ACTUALLY SIDING WITH THE OWNERS?
By mars
June 4, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
Would someone please buy Vick Soulja some supper? He’s been whining about it for some time now. The man’s hungry, for chrissake!
By Herman the Braveman
June 6, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this
vICKSOULJA,yOU SPUTUM DRINKIN COON@SS SONOFABITCH,gO SOMEWHERE JUNGTLE BUNNY BOY ni__gger piece of $hit….. Koons like You make me sick..Go Phuck Yo self NI-gg-er!!!!
By mars
June 9, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Herman, You are scum. Of the lowest order. Your comment suddenly made Vick Soulja appear to be halfway intelligent. If you insist on helping, then die. That would be your most productive contribution.
By Edgar
June 13, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this
About every 15 to 20 years a good strike happens and it cleans up everyone’s mindset. Everyone loses. Even the fans who are cheated out of many weeks of good football. Weel, we got 2 years to win a SUPPER BOWL. Ebbodie eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By DawgBoy
July 12, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Herman The Braveman….you numbskull, lol..youre really showing how inbred and unintelligent you are...VICKSOULJA is someone white, who is making fun of Mike Vick...hes trying to be racist!yet your STUPIDITY has trumped your blind racism, lol….thats AMAZING!!!with that colorful language I know you have a “PURDY MOUF”!!
By bigeasy830
July 22, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
You trash writing people on these blogs are not true sports fans. This must be one of your outlets to be an internet bad a*. In reality you are a coward. Its getting more and more difficult to find the real sports fans on these blogs who have some real input on the teams in the ATL. We can disagree on things in an agreeable way, its great to here from fans of other teams and do a little trash talking in a respectful way. I loved kidding the Saints fans when I went to NO in 2002 for a Falcons game. That was a great time. But, some of the nonsense on these blogs is just stupid.