Email from Roger Goodell
 

Wow the propaganda machine is full throttle
Who else got this email

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=729 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width=16>http://img.ed4.net/spacer50.gif</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #333333; LINE-HEIGHT: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left" vAlign=center align=left width=699>Trouble viewing this e-mail? View in Web Browser | View on Mobile Device</TD><TD vAlign=center align=left width=14>http://img.ed4.net/spacer50.gif</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://img.ed4.net/nfl/2011/predev/c.../img/cops1.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=508><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #231f20; LINE-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Endzone Sans Light, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
With one of the most exciting regular seasons now completed and the playoffs about to begin, let me first thank you and all NFL fans for your incredible support. Many fans have been asking me where we stand on signing a new collective bargaining agreement with the players union. Let me update you and be clear at the outset:

I know we can and will reach an agreement.

My goal as Commissioner now is to help our teams and players find a solution that is fair to everyone and ensures that football becomes more popular, accessible, and fun. We want the next decade to be the best yet for our fans, and I’m ready to work day and night to make that happen.

We've come a long way. Compare where we are today with 10 years ago. From player accountability to player safety, more and better television coverage, upgrading the in-stadium experience, innovations like the RedZone channel, the Draft in prime time and playing the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, we are focused on doing what’s best for the players, teams, and fans. My priority is and always will be the game and the fans who love our game.

The NFL is great because fans care deeply about it. Economic conditions, however, have changed dramatically inside and outside the NFL since 2006 when we negotiated the last CBA. A 10 percent unemployment rate hurts us all. Fans have limited budgets and rightly want the most for their money. I get it.

Yes, NFL players deserve to be paid well. Unfortunately, economic realities are forcing everyone to make tough choices and the NFL is no different.

These are not easy negotiations, but the outcome can be positive. If both sides give a little, everyone, including fans, will get a lot and the game will improve through innovation.

Even in difficult economic times, a new CBA presents us with the opportunity to secure the future of our game. You may ask how will the NFL look under this vision?

A significant change would be to resolve fan complaints about preseason by modifying our 20-game format. Fans tell us they don’t like the quality of the preseason games, and we’re listening. An enhanced season of 18 regular season and two preseason games would not add a single game for the players collectively, but would give fans more meaningful, high-quality football.

Our emphasis on player health and safety is absolutely essential to the future of our game. We are strictly enforcing rules that protect players from unnecessarily dangerous play, especially involving hits to the head. We are changing the “play through it” culture to a “player-first” culture to ensure that if a player has a head injury, he doesn’t play again until his health is certain. We are also addressing the potential wear-and-tear on players in the way they train in-season and off-season.

It’s not just the health of players that concerns us. We must ensure the health of the league. That includes a new system that properly compensates proven veterans and retired players by shifting some of the outrageous sums paid to many unproven rookies. Earlier this year, Sports Illustrated published a list of the 50 highest-paid American athletes that included five 2009 NFL rookies. Every other athlete on the list was a proven veteran. In 2009, NFL clubs contracted $1.2 billion to 256 drafted rookies with $585 million guaranteed before they had stepped on an NFL field.

Don’t get me wrong: top draft choices will continue to be highly paid. All we’re asking for is a return to common sense in paying our rookies. Other leagues have done this and we can too.

These improvements and more will lead to better football, plain and simple. A forward looking CBA that is fair to players and clubs will lead to a great future for the NFL and our fans.

My job is to represent the game — the fans, teams, players, coaches and business partners. Protecting the integrity of the game and ensuring it thrives is a responsibility I take very seriously.

This is about more than a labor agreement. It’s about the future of the NFL. We have to improve and will be relentless in our quest. The commitment to our fans is to make the NFL experience even better in the years ahead. With a responsible CBA, we will fulfill that vision.

Happy New Year and enjoy the playoffs.



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #231f20; LINE-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Endzone Sans Light, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">– Roger Goodell</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Dontcha just love corporate weasel speak?

I got it, guess cause I'd ordered stuff from NFL.com. The NFL is going at the fans, the NFLPA is going to the press and politicians, doesn't give me a lot of confidence in them getting something worked out.

Must not be due to ording from nfl.com because I haven't gotten this email.

"We're not making enough money, what with having to pay another 49 dollars a month to NFL retirees for medical expenses."

A rookie no matter how high a draft pick shouldn't be paid equal to the top of the league.
And a lucrative contract should be escalators that the Rookie athlete achieves. Pay your dues. With a standard set for draft position. No more contract extortion negotiations. Get em signed and let's play.

I fully expect the 2 sides to get something done, after as much public drama, name calling and mud slinging as possible - and at the 11th hour 59th minute.

I think he misunderstands what fans are saying about preseason games. It's not the quality of the games it's the fact that it cost the same as a regular season game that they don't like. Or maybe he's turning a blind eye to that because they ain't giving up that revenue.

PhilFree:arrow:

count me as one who has zero sympathy for any multi-millionaire or billionaire during these times.

I hate Big Football.

He's also acting like the starters play in all 4 preseason games. What a ridiculous little toady for the owners he is.

I agree with Goodell on all points. Go owners!

He's right about a lot of that. The only disengenuine speak I read was his comment about 18 game season not adding to the burdeon of players. 2 more competitive games adds a lot of snaps to starters that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Player safety efforts helps to balance that somewhat, but even that isn't keeping up with the increased speed (and violence) of the game. So it doesn't offset the expanded number of snaps that players will be playing.

Otherwise, most of that is correct, even if it is an obvious PR effort.

If the NFL really wanted to get fans on their side... particularly given the effort to win fans over with the "10% umployment hurts us all" talk... they should offer a 5% cut in ticket prices as part of their proposal. Something that would recognize the sacrafice that fans have made over the last couple year. Even if only nominally.

Forget the eighteen game season. I would like eighteen but it would Deminish the records that have stood for decades. Every year would be projected this vs actual that. I guess I just like the history of the game too.