As June is coming to a close, many football fans are growing increasingly anxious to know when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement will be agreed on by the NFL Players Association and NFL owners.
On March 11, at 11:59 p.m., the previous CBA expired, leaving fans to wonder if a new deal would be agreed on over the summer, or if a lengthy lockout would ensue. With the lockout nearly three months in place, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, but one must also ask if that could be an oncoming train.
The most pointed issues which must be resolved in order for a new CBA to be reached include how to divide the nearly $10 billion in revenues the NFL generates every year, while determining how to split the revenue in future seasons, as revenue is expected to reach $20 billion per season before 2020. Other issues include putting a rookie wage-scale in place to combat rookie deals which have reached $50 million in guaranteed money, better benefits for retired players and increasing the NFL season from 16 to 18 games.
The NFL and NFLPA have met multiple times over the last few months, but have been highly criticized for making little progress. In recent weeks, hope has emerged that progress is being made at more than an anemic pace and many believe a deal could be reached by the end of July. That is a crucial date for NFL teams due to the fact that if a deal is reached by then little or no training camp would be missed, allowing for a full slate of preseason and regular season games.
The danger the NFL and NFLPA face is alienating a NFL fan base which has exploded in recent years, potentially killing the proverbial golden goose.
“As a Titan’s season ticket holder, I feel the owners’ position harms their future television contacts by alienating fans, as MLB and NBA did previously,” said Sunset Grill owner and season ticket holder Randy Rayburn. “Teams, such as ours, with new coaches and coordinators will also be at a competitive disadvantage to more stable teams, given little or no opportunity to install and train players and rookies / free agents during OTA’s and possibly, no training camps, thus hurting the competitiveness quality of the game on the field for this season.”
Fans can only sit and wait to find out when a new deal will be reached, but fortunately for Titans’ fans, players have taken initiative in a time of uncertainty. Titan’s cornerback Cortland Finnegan recently organized a two-day minicamp at Father Ryan, in order for teammates to come together and practice. New Titans quarterback, Jake Locker, drafted 8th overall from Washington, even made the trip cross-country from Los Angeles. Although these minicamps only lasted a few days, it is still vital for new teammates to come together. Even more so in the Titans’ case, with new head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and quarterback.
Although the summertime blues may be the new colors of the Titans, a deal will eventually be reached. New head coaches, like the Titans’ Mike Munchak, will have a great deal of work on their hands whenever the lockout is lifted, especially with a rookie quarterback. With training camps on the horizon the NFL and NFLPA must do whatever it takes to accomplish a deal, as fans will soon begin to feel the effects.