4. 2011 Lockout: The White Elephant Of The Super Bowl

This is a storyline that has nothing to do with either team. It's the elephant in the room.  No one wants to talk about it.  They push under the bed just like I do with my clothes. The potential of a 2011 lockout is starting to feel like a real possibility. The lockout would hurt both teams as the Steelers are aging by the day and the Packers have a large amount of guys heading into the prime of their careers. I am worried more than ever before. I had a tough time believing an ever-growing product would have a problem putting together a collective bargaining agreement. Just like other things in history, when something reaches its peak, people always want more than they can actually have.



The owners want two extra games, an idea cosigned by Commissioner Roger Goodell. I am not behind this idea at all because it will dilute the postseason play amongst other things.  Unlike the MLB and NBA, football is a much more physical game that needs their players at their highest ability. The 2010 New Orleans Saints are the perfect example of why an 18 game schedule is a bad idea. Julius f----n Jones started a postseason game, that's pathetic but only happened because they had too many injuries at that position.

Injuries is another thing to worry about as we saw an increase in concussions this season compared to the past five years.  Some of these players might become human vegetables if they do not provide more assistance after retirement. Not to mention, there needs to be more guaranteed money involved where it's not just a front-end sort of thing. Contracts need to include a small part of guarantee money with every year they are attached.

Another reason the 18 game season is puzzling to me is the amount of blackouts we had this fall. No, I am not talking about the drinking habits of the people who write on this blog, but games where the local TV areas couldn't show the game. Obviously, this has never happened to me with the Packers, but if it ever did, I would probably just start flipping things over in my house. What makes owners think that if teams had another home game less blackouts would happen? If anything, I think they grow because season tickets become more expensive and not affordable to the common fan.  In some markets that is no issue, but in areas like San Diego, Cincinnati, Detroit, St. Louis and Carolina, it's a problem.

I have a unique way to solve the blackout problem. The NFL should see the revenue that each team makes with tickets per year then for those teams who struggle to sell out, find their problem spots. They should cut those ticket costs immediately starting next year.  Another idea I had is create a ticket price bracket for what the team's record has been in the last three years. I couldn't find the average for 2010, but in 2008 according to Reuters, it was 72.70. That should be for teams who are close to .500 in the last three years. The prices should rise when a team averaged a 10-6 record, only like a dollar or two then if someone is higher than that, raise it another couple dollars. Do the opposite for teams who aren't .500 in the last three years.

Let's remember the technology grows every minute. On the Dan Patrick Show this week, they had a poll about 'where would you watch the game if you were not at the Super Bowl?'  80 percent of people said their living room. There is a Lane Furniture commercial making fun of a guy for wanting to go to a game in the snow while his buddies relax at the comfort of their own homes. There isn't that same interest to go to football games with the growing home entertainment industry.

Hopefully, things will get ironed out before March 4th. That is D-Day as the CBA will run out. If that happens, everything pretty much goes to hell. I hope that both sides can come to a compromise. But even then, someone has to lose.

-Charlie.