Recession hits the NFL!

[Phicinfan]

Hmmm...even NFL front office folks are being cut due to financials:

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins director of player development John Jefferson was among more than 20 people laid off by the team this week as the economic downtown took its toll on one of the NFL's most valuable franchises.
Salary cap analyst Jimmy Halsell also was released, along with the team's longtime director of publications and a member of the public relations department. There were also layoffs among the team's marketing, legal and technology departments.

Wow...the second most valuable franchise...and they cut their cap specialist and others....makes me nervous on my job....:sweat:

link:Hard times: 20 Washington Redskins employees laid off - ESPN

 

[gmrcharity]

I dont think this is anything compared to what is about to hit Nascar. They will be lucky to fill the field on a weekly basis and still over 50% of the teams have no sponsors.

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

NASCAR? People watch that????

 

[Mike]

This already started at the League level several weeks ago, with many employees of the NFL being let go.

Not surprising to see teams that have a larger than average "non roster" salary such as Washington and a few other high profile teams.

This is everywhere, just look at the college bowl games (BCS). Fiesta Bowl tickets, 50 yard line, which sell for something like $250 were being sold at the last minute for $40 per ticket, and still there were many empty seats.

The NFL and other sports has gotten out of hand for years in terms of dependency on huge revenue, and people simply aren't spending the money to support it now.

Now is a good time to go back on multiple message boards and re-read what many said about how insane sports has gotten in regards to ticket prices and such. We are now in a time where those thoughts have become reality.

 

[derringer007]

~~ There should be a NFL. league wide salary cap on the signing of rookies until proving themselves worthy of getting paid a huge salary. IMO

 

[nicholete]

~~ There should be a NFL. league wide salary cap on the signing of rookies until proving themselves worthy of getting paid a huge salary. IMO

The NBA has this. I believe so anyways.

 

[Mike]

~~ There should be a NFL. league wide salary cap on the signing of rookies until proving themselves worthy of getting paid a huge salary. IMO

I disagree.

Let these General Managers "manage" their team. The NFL already has a salary cap to prevent overspending, and a revenue sharing program to force popular teams into sharing their money with other teams.

What is the point in having a GM if you are going to decide how much you pay players? If your team doesn't want to break the bank, trade down, or simply don't sign the guy you draft.

Just like Magic, the high rookie salaries are fixed. We don't need a league rule to babysit this, make the GM's do their damn job.

 

[gmrcharity]

The NFL salary cap is bogus. They just give out ridiculous bonuses to get around it.

 

[Birdman]

The NFL salary cap is bogus. They just give out ridiculous bonuses to get around it.

I think the bonus money counts towards the cap. It's just that it's guaranteed for the player in case of injury, poor performance etc.

 

[derringer007]

I disagree.

Let these General Managers "manage" their team. The NFL already has a salary cap to prevent overspending, and a revenue sharing program to force popular teams into sharing their money with other teams.

What is the point in having a GM if you are going to decide how much you pay players? If your team doesn't want to break the bank, trade down, or simply don't sign the guy you draft.

Just like Magic, the high rookie salaries are fixed. We don't need a league rule to babysit this, make the GM's do their damn job.

~ Just off the top of my head here is a perfect example why i suggested the rookie salary cap. You all remember mega bust Ryan Leaf?? Picked #2 over all he signed with the SD Chargers in 1998 to the tune of $11 million signing bonus, his salary was $31.25 million over 5yrs. Do you think that was money well spent to a unproven rookie that was one of the biggest busts in recent NFL history. I sure as hell don't. I don't have a problem with high end rookies eventually getting paid, just let them prove there worthy of receiving a huge contract first.

 

[Mike]

These rookies don't get the money unless the team agrees to pay them. Teams got themselves into this mess by caving in to agents, they can get themselves out of the mess.

 

[Hawks Eye]

I think the bonus money counts towards the cap. It's just that it's guaranteed for the player in case of injury, poor performance etc.

This is correct.

And I agree with Mike... teams get themselves into these positions.

 

[Mike]

I think the NFL is desperate this year to have a popular matchup in the Super Bowl, and the chances of this happening is getting slimmer by the week. If we end up seeing something like Cardinals/Ravens, the NFL is going to lose a ton of money.

I personally don't mind seeing these teams, if they are playing the best football, but the casual fan isn't going to be interested, and advertising won't be there either. The NFL is already feeling the pinch of the recession, this could really hurt the league.

Pittsburgh/Philly is about the only decent matchup that the NFL could hope for at this point, and I don't know if that even really excites the average fan.

 

[Arctic Dawgs]

I think the NFL is desperate this year to have a popular matchup in the Super Bowl, and the chances of this happening is getting slimmer by the week. If we end up seeing something like Cardinals/Ravens, the NFL is going to lose a ton of money.

I personally don't mind seeing these teams, if they are playing the best football, but the casual fan isn't going to be interested, and advertising won't be there either. The NFL is already feeling the pinch of the recession, this could really hurt the league.

Pittsburgh/Philly is about the only decent matchup that the NFL could hope for at this point, and I don't know if that even really excites the average fan.

The day that fans really catch on to the NFL actually believing this, will be the beginning of the end for the NFL. Look at what happened to boxing once the fans lost faith in the integrety of the sport

How many discussions have been on this and other sites (and TV) about the integrity of the NFL. Once the fans loose faith the amount of viewers goes down and revenues (advertising and ticket sales) do the same. What will really hurt the league (long term) is the impression of doing whatever it takes to get the almighty $$. The more that fans see of things like Mike Pioria (sp) defending BS calls and then moaning over "We didn't get the teams we wanted in the Superbowl" the worse it will be for the league.

The less they get in revenues will just lower the Salary Cap, then the players will be taking a hit. They better get used to it like everyone else is going to have to. If they don't they will turn a couple years of tough going into a couple of decades worth (see Boxing). Last years NY Giants were good for football not because they were a New York team doing it, but because they were an underdog doing it. The NFL had better not forget that and should promote the hell out of Arizona or Baltomore getting there for the same reasons.

Even those of us that do not get to very many games still pay a large part of the funds they take in via the Cars/Trucks, Beer, T-Shirts, Running Shoes, etc.. we buy through advertising. If they loose the faith and trust of those fans, or believe that they can survive by catering to fans of certain specific locals, the NFL will really suffer for a very long time. Better to have a mildly reduced interest in a particular game than to disenfranchise fans and suffer the reduced interest for generations

I can honestly state that ever since the WWF style reffing of the Bettis Homecoming Farewell Superbowl Tour my interest/love of the NFL as a sport took a serious setback. The good thing about that is that now the local junior football team gets most of that $$ that would have somehow funnelled its way into the NFL coffers. It may not be a whole lot, but they don't get it anymore