Just One Joey: The Downfall Of The NFL

I love football.

The start of the new season feels like Christmas morning to me.

I love everything about it. It’s the smartest, most physically taxing sport out there. Execution is everything, just like life. You need to outsmart your opponents. You need to out-work your opponents. It’s a complex and beautiful thing.

For the record, I am a die-hard 49ers fan. I can’t wait to see what Chip does. Anything would be better than last year, so my expectations are pretty low.

As much as I love it, I realize it has weaknesses. It could be the next baseball. Using TV contracts to fool itself into thinking it is still as relevant as ever. Live sports are the only thing television stations can hold on to (nice work on that one NBC with your Olympic coverage, #poop). Of course baseball will get huge contracts, it’s all TV has right now. But the numbers don’t lie. Less kids are playing. Less people are attending (even with a million games during your season). They don’t get it. Maybe they never will.

Will the NFL be the same?

They are certainly more proactive than MLB. They know how to create stars, excitement, and own the media throughout the year.

But do they have an Achilles heel?

Concussions, health, and safety, right?

Less kids will play because of the inherently violent nature of the sport.

That’s the downfall of the NFL, right?

I say no.

To me, it will all come down to money.

The average career of an NFL player is 3 years.

During those 36 months, at any point, their contracts can be nullified, and they are out of a job. Based on what? Whatever the team wants.

With the new NBA CBA, NFLers are looking like a bunch of suckers. Basketball players are making more than ever. MLB has guaranteed contracts. Hell, Bobby Bonilla is still getting paid by the Mets and he hasn’t hit a baseball in almost 20 years. In the NFL? Your favorite player could get cut tomorrow. Bye bye.

Why would world class athletes put up with that? They are world class. Football is not all they can do.

Why not play baseball? Why not play basketball, soccer, anything else?

It will be easier on your body, and your career could be twice as long.

It’s not healthy being as big as these guys are, pro football sized. They are too big for their bodies and then play a game where they are slamming in to someone else every Sunday that is too big.

People are not supposed to be 300 pounds. I don’t care if you are big boned or not.

Linemen in the 80’s are the size of linebackers in the 90’s are the size of running backs in the 00s. It’s crazy, and it’s unnatural. That is not easy on your body. That is not good for long term health.

So why play for relative peanuts? In an unhealthy environment? With the stress of being let go at any point?

I think the next CBA is going to be huge for the NFL.

Ramon Foster has it right, “Save your money for the 2021 lockout.”

It’s going to happen. And if the players don’t save their money, and get desperate, they will be right back in the situation they are in now.

Owners make a TON of money. A TON.

And in case you are wondering, I don’t think college players should get paid anything.

People are too caught up in money, and not enough in value. College players don’t make the schools, or make the programs, coaches do. Get your degree, or not. Play for a nationally relevant school, or not, and then go pro, or don’t. Getting paid to be put on a national stage, with a chance to get an education, is payment enough. Look to value, not dollar signs. Don’t be so short sided.

On the flip side, there is a whole lot of money being collected by the NFL, and the players do make the league. You can pick one or two players that change the whole dynamic of any team. Put all those guys together, and the league changes without them. What if Brady played baseball? What if Tony Gonzales played basketball? What if Terrell Suggs was in the WWE? Where is the NFL? These are intelligent, world class athletes we are talking about. Football is not all they can do.

What happens when they decide to do something else?

It won’t be because of concussions.

They slam their heads all day. They know it’s dangerous. It’s like smokers. You can’t really sit there and tell me you thought it was good for you. Seriously? They know. We know. And they choose to do it. More power to them. Which is why injuries will not hurt this league. But money will.

If the NFL is smart, they will start to remedy this sooner rather than later. And by later, I mean 2021.

The money is there. The NBA is making you look bad. MLB is making you look bad. Pro soccer (outside the U.S.) is making you look bad.

In America, football is king, and the players are the peasants.

Do what is right.