PolishDave Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 It's a huge gray area whether the owners have the legal right to create new rules that previously didn't exist. That's precisely why they're NOT doing anything and haven't done anything now in going on 7 weeks. Bad lawsuit. The league would likely win any such case. The " good reason" is actually that they likely want to try to keep labor peace with their players. They are really walking a line here between not offending the fan base ( which has happened) and the labor issue. This is a crisis of the leagues own creation. They should have put explicit language into their policy with the Military deal , but left a loophole in it that the players have exploited and hijacked the anthem for their own questionable message. Past practice has no bearing actually. They can make new policies as they see fit. They are the employer. I think they are walking softly knowing full well that the media is just dripping at the chops to turn this into an even bigger steaming pile of clickbait than it already is. You know national media outlets can't wait to run headlines pumping up the politics and somehow making it a race issue of rich white men (a.k.a. Donald Trump and NFL owners) vs. the oppressed struggling peasants at the bottom of societies echelon having their civil rights trampled on. Only in America baby - where the average person is so unbelievably spoiled compared to most of humanity and don't realize how truly great life is here compared to most of the rest of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatdrinks Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 I think they are walking softly knowing full well that the media is just dripping at the chops to turn this into an even bigger steaming pile of clickbait than it already is. You know national media outlets can't wait to run headlines pumping up the politics and somehow making it a race issue of rich white men (a.k.a. Donald Trump and NFL owners) vs. the oppressed struggling peasants at the bottom of societies echelon having their civil rights trampled on. Only in America baby - where the average person is so unbelievably spoiled compared to most of humanity and don't realize how truly great life is here compared to most of the rest of the world. I can't disagree with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Allan in MD Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Because a team as exciting as the Bills isn't on it regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannc Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Past practice has no bearing actually. They can make new policies as they see fit. They are the employer. Not really. There is a collective bargaining agreement in place that greatly limits what the owners can do unilaterally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the Greek Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 What will replace football if it continues in this downward sprial? Thats my question. Baseball and the NBA? Yawn. Hockey? Double yawn (sorry Sabres fans). Soccer? Really? I think the NFL will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Flanders Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 The NFL should look into flexing MNF too Really? Imagine in August buying tickets, a flight and reserving a hotel for a Sunday game, and only 10 days out be told, "Umm, we moved your game to Monday night." Not going to happen. And the above is the primary reason the NFL will not flex Monday night games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatdrinks Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Not really. There is a collective bargaining agreement in place that greatly limits what the owners can do unilaterally. Do you know what is in the CBA , exactly? I'm guessing that you do not. I do not and don't claim to know either. Again, this whole thing is really about walking a fine line between angering the fans and keeping labor happy. The best thing they could do at this point is go back to keeping the players inside during the anthem. It would solve the issue with the least mess possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannc Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 (edited) Do you know what is in the CBA , exactly? I'm guessing that you do not. I do not and don't claim to know either. Again, this whole thing is really about walking a fine line between angering the fans and keeping labor happy. The best thing they could do at this point is go back to keeping the players inside during the anthem. It would solve the issue with the least mess possible. I don't know everything that's in the CBA, but I know that there is a CBA and that the workforce is unionized. Therefore, the employer can't just start making unilateral changes, although the league may have the right to change certain rules. I agree that the league is trying to walk a fine line between the fans and the players, with Trump doing everything he can to further inflame the situation. It will be interesting to see what happens if Jerry Jones or some other owner disciplines one of his players for protesting. I don't think anyone really knows, and both sides want to avoid finding out. What they really should do is just get rid of the anthem at the games, but they wont. Edited October 20, 2017 by mannc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 (edited) Take a close look at what's happened to cable subscribership in general. We have had a cable modem for years but never cable. Called for service this summer, repair guy took the filter that keeps folks from buying a box and descrambling off the line - so few people doing that nowadays, isn't worth the cost to them to replace it. Put it on over the airwaves TV and see what happens. Edited October 20, 2017 by Hapless Bills Fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 (edited) What will replace football if it continues in this downward sprial? Thats my question. Baseball and the NBA? Yawn. Hockey? Double yawn (sorry Sabres fans). Soccer? Really? I think the NFL will be fine. ....which they will have to convince their advertisers of that.....Goodell wants to INCREASE revenues to $25+ BILLION by 2027.........a minimal yet prolonged downward spiral could be a huge impediment...negativity does NOT sell.....and if a possibility of a strike down the road materializes, uh oh...... Edited October 20, 2017 by OldTimeAFLGuy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 (edited) Players would lose. NFL is just trying to be PC and not offend anyone - not realizing that, as Geddy Lee puts it "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." I don't know US contract law well enough to comment who would win or lose. I certainly know it would not be that simple under UK law. I can't be dismissed from my job for not standing for the anthem and I represent Her Majesty's Government. But what I actually meant by my comment was that the NFL does not want to risk alienating a huge contingent of its players. Because this could end up in a strike issue. Edited October 20, 2017 by GunnerBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 It's a huge gray area whether the owners have the legal right to create new rules that previously didn't exist. That's precisely why they're NOT doing anything and haven't done anything now in going on 7 weeks. Bad lawsuit. Incorrect. It states directly in rules that you need to be out for kickoff, etc. The NFL is not enforcing it to avoid conflict with NFLPA but the Détente will not last long as NFL feels it is losing viewers. Really? Imagine in August buying tickets, a flight and reserving a hotel for a Sunday game, and only 10 days out be told, "Umm, we moved your game to Monday night." Not going to happen. And the above is the primary reason the NFL will not flex Monday night games. This already happens with flex scheduling late in season hence reason will not buy tickets in second half of season. There was quite an outrage on the wall the last time the NFL flexed a game and that was from 1 PM to 4 PM and ticket buyers wondering if they could catch flights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manther Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 The addition of prime time games especially Thursdays dilute the MNF excitement IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiz Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I agree that one of the reasons is the bad matchups on MNF, but WHAT IS a marquee matchup these days??? There are no really good teams, a lot of mediocrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If the NFL is really worried about this, they need to get it off ESPN and back to network TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyC81 Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I think it's at least due to over saturation of the NFL product. With Thursday Night, Sunday Night and Sunday Ticket.....even a football fanatic like me is about done on Monday Night. If I was the league I would dump Thursday night next year. There have actually been a couple of good Thursday games this year (SF/Rams and Oakland/KC). Prior to this, most of them have been one-sided with the home team usually winning. It just showed there isn't enough time for a road team to prepare and travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Last night's matchup, Indianapolis at Tennessee, was only appealing to people in...Indianapolis and Nashville. Neither team with a hint of a national following. BTW, is there a bigger "I don't care" division in football than the AFC South? Let's rename it the jay cutler memorial division Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
row_33 Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Gruden screaming every completed pass was the catch of the century and that 13 players in every game were the greatest ever was a final straw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaggersEOD Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I have my own business - If my employees knelt quietly for 45 seconds before they started their shift, I really wouldn't give a crap. Would you give a crap if by them doing it they were insulting your customers and losing you business? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 howard and dandy don would boost the ratings. maybe they should consider doing a monday night virtual retro show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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