NFL LOCKOUT: Week three, Blank updates fans
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
Falcons owner Arthur Blank wrote a letter to the fans on Sunday and contended that “the NFLPA walked away from a deal that was more than fair.”
It’s his second letter to the fans since the NFLPA decertified on March 11. The union’s move was followed by the NFL locking out the players. The NFLPA filed an antitrust lawsuit which is scheduled for a hearing on April 6 in Minneapolis.
In the letter, Blank states that the owners spent a great deal of time discussing the labor situation at the recently concluded league meeting in New Orleans.
“I can speak for the NFL and its owners in telling you that we all want a quick resolution of the current labor dispute, and we are ready to get back to the negotiating table at any time,” Blank wrote. “We have great respect for our players and want them to rejoin us in preparing for the 2011 season as quickly as possible.”
He pointed out the work of team president Rich McKay, who is the chairman of the league’s competition committee.
He also noted that the Falcons are moving forward with plans for the upcoming season and that they are looking forward to the NFL Draft on April 28-30.
“I will continue to keep you informed,” Blank wrote. “In the meantime, I hope we can count on your support as we work through this difficult situation.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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97 comments Add your comment
WILLIAM E CHAPMAN
March 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
Highly important news.
Steve
March 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
Why is it that pro athletes are the only labor group I know of that gets the right to collectively bargain (their Union) as well as the right to bargain as individuals (through their agents)? It seems to me that this arrangement is inherently unfair to the Owners. The players get the best of both worlds, both union and non-union, and none of the downside.
Al Bundy
March 28th, 2011
1:11 pm
Yes, I’m still selling shoes. Actually, I’m pulling for a season with replacement players. When Arthur finds out that I’m available, maybe I can put some distance between me and the shoe store, as well as Peg.
Chris
March 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
The owner’s have an investment in this business. This is their business. No player is required to play. They have a choice of their career. No player invest’s their own money into the team. They get paid to do a job. Do it, or don’t. But Blank paid 550 million dollars for the team, and gives out 100 million a year in salaries for just the players.
Jimmy
March 28th, 2011
1:29 pm
As long as you don’t try and charge me $67 per seat to watch a replacement player, I can care less about you boys not wanting to part with anymore of your billions.
RedandBlack
March 28th, 2011
1:42 pm
Are you going to display my previous comment that I sent at 1:34pm or not?
hangman
March 28th, 2011
1:46 pm
Age discrimination!
Safety!
Low wages!
Our government took care of these problems Now there’s no need for unions except to feed the billfolds of the scummy leaders.
Unions have forced business out of business (i.e. textile industries in the South), they’ve forced businesses to leave (i.e. the steel industry). they have forced prices so high that the American public cannot
afford to buy American made products (i.e. automobiles). The unions deserve to be where ever Jimmy Hoffa is – gone and forgotten.
Jimmy and all the unions can rest in hell and America would be a better place to work and live.
Larry
March 28th, 2011
1:50 pm
Here’s a thought, Arthur…
Please suspend payments for Season Ticket Holders until an agreement is reached and/or pay a fair interest for holding my $5800.00 for as much as six months.
THIS will prove to your loyal customers your genuine concern more that any words or print!
Shane Falco
March 28th, 2011
1:51 pm
I have no problem with another chance at glory, which lasts forever!
Lloyd Christmas
March 28th, 2011
2:01 pm
Larry, did you really pay $5800 for the “possibilty” of football tickets? Would you consider helping me and my pal, Harry? We’re thinking of getting another Lamborghini and this would go a long way toward the down payment. We’ll send you a IOU. We promise!
dz
March 28th, 2011
2:16 pm
I’m a season ticket holder as well…
My next payment is April 4th, because I chose the payment plan over 4 months. It was either pay now, pay 20% now and 80% next month, or 20% per month over the next 5 months.
I wish the Falcons were like some other teams, and not make us pay until training camp starts (if it does) or until we know for sure there is Football.
The Onion
March 28th, 2011
2:36 pm
Will Billionaire Arthur Blank think that he got…”a deal that was than fair”
when the taxpayers tell him to pay for a new stadium out of his own money ??
Just asking.
The Onion
March 28th, 2011
2:38 pm
BTW, are that Falcons fans that complain about ticket prices, the very same voters that
demand “free” healthcare. paid for by other taxpayers, so that Falcons fans can still afford their season tickets?
Just asking.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 28th, 2011
2:40 pm
If nobody hires the players then what do they do with their lives? If the owners don’t sign the pay checks how do the players get paid? If the owners use their personal resouces to purchase these franchises then why do the players have a say in how they run them?
gdawginkalamazoo
March 28th, 2011
2:53 pm
And sure if Aurthur wants a new stadium he needs to pay for it. Not a damn thing wrong with the Georgia Dome. Tax dollars shouldn;t be used for stadiums that are not needed.
Steve
March 28th, 2011
3:12 pm
Arthur Blank was perfectly willing to build a new stadium, but is was going to be in the suburbs. The old GM site in Doraville was originally proposed. It is the the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCC) that is trying desperately to keep the Falcons downtown. They are dangling the carrot in front of Blank about building a new stadium downtown on their property. I believe the GWCC needs the Falcons much more than the Falcons need the GWCC. Arthur Blank has not demanded anything from them, except to say that he will not be signing a new lease at the Dome under the current arrangement.
jp
March 28th, 2011
3:32 pm
Who cares??? Players and owners make too much $$$$$$$$$$. Most of us will never see the kind of salarys the players make in a life time. We, the poor compaired to the owners and players should be the ones complaining about how costly it is to go to a game. I am done. I have always watched the Pro’s now I am going to watch Ga. Tech Football.
N8
March 28th, 2011
3:55 pm
The fans will pay the price figuratively then literally. Once an agreement is made each team will raise their ticket prices. There are 125 channels on my tv that don’t carry football games. I can be happy watching the Discovery Channel. Better yet, I can go outside and throw the football with my son. There was life before te NFL and there will be life after the NFL. I hope they don’t play this year. Let the players sweat their finances like normal people do.
N8
March 28th, 2011
4:00 pm
Blank appears to be saying in the photo “You know guys we are all very smart men. We have grown men that play a kids game and stupid Americans are willing to miss car payments to come watch them play football. I should have gotten into this industry years ago. Its better than the Home Depot !”
N8
March 28th, 2011
4:02 pm
There’s 4 people in the photo. I guess the 4th guy is a stadium worker dressed in a suit ?
True Falcon Fan
March 28th, 2011
4:12 pm
@N8 — BLAHBLAHBLAH
You must just like reading your own BS
Go Falcons
Waffle House
March 28th, 2011
4:18 pm
Hey Arthur open the books!!!
JSS
March 28th, 2011
4:47 pm
Steve
March 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
“Why is it that pro athletes are the only labor group I know of that gets the right to collectively bargain (their Union) as well as the right to bargain as individuals (through their agents)?”
The key word is “agreement!” Unions do not inherently keep its members from having the right to negotiate. What that they do is set floors for compensation, workplace conditions, and provide a grievance voice between management and its member(s).
So to be clear, the agents must adhere to certain parameters in representing their clients. The members (the players) are protected by certification of agents who promise to do just such. Where get confused, it is not best of all worlds. You can be a member of **any** union in this country and choose to be represented by a negotiating agent. However, most union members choose to have the union itself on the local chapter level. By the way, most business associations (as the NFL happens to be) do the same exact thing. They are not the American auto industry, the old big 4 could have collectively bargained as a trust, but they would have been subject to heavy Federal rules regarding being a restrictive commercial being. The courts have been clear, the NFL is just such an entity. The players gain them immense leeway in the form of CBAs. You want the owners to have their cakes (they are 32 individual teams in an association) and the ability to eat them too! They (the owners) gain far more from bargaining collectively then they lose.
It seems to me that this arrangement is inherently unfair to the Owners. The players get the best of both worlds, both union and non-union, and none of the downside.
JSS
March 28th, 2011
5:27 pm
Clarifications
Where (you) get confused, it is not best of all worlds.
However, most union members choose to have the union itself on the local chapter level (by a union contract negotiating committee).
The players (gave) them (the owners) immense leeway in the form of CBAs.
The last paragraph was Steve’s assessment, and should have been deleted.
hbcuclassics
March 28th, 2011
5:37 pm
2011 HBCU Classic Sports Draft Board (1-10)
1. Kenrick Ellis 6-5, 340 DT Hampton – AP/FCS All-American
2. Clifford Eugene 6’1, 198 FS Tenn State- FCS All-American
3. Johnny Culbreath 6’5, 285 OT SC State – AP/FCS All-American,
4. Derrin Nettles 6’4, 320 DT Morehouse - AFCA All-American
5. Ibrihim Abdulai 6’3, 282 DT Arkansas PB – All-SWAC
6. Frank Warren 5’10, 195 RB Grambling - 2010 SWAC POY
7. Larry Donnell 6’6, 260 TE Grambling - All-SWAC
8. Arvell Nelson 6’5, 228 QB Tx Southern - 2010 SWAC Champ
9. Rico Council 6’0, 254 OLB TN State - All-OVC
10. KJ Black 6’3, 230 QB Prairie View 2009 SWAC POY
hbcuclassics.com
dawgfan
March 28th, 2011
6:17 pm
Get rid of all unions and just play football!
old man
March 28th, 2011
6:36 pm
I like Blank–he’s a great owner for whom we should all be grateful. But his letter shows that even smart, well-intentioned people can “drink the Kool-Aid” when they are passionate about something.
Fact is, the owners want to change the deal, not the players. Another fact is, the owners got caught “cookin’ the books” with that bogus TV deal.
On the merits, a flat billion for expenses off the top of a 6 billion dollar pile of money (several years ago) is not the same as a flat billion off the top of 10 billion dollars today. Expenses have gone up, and that number needs to be adjusted. But the owners’ number is way out of line, and, like I said, they were flat out caught cheating on that TV deal. Personal foul, 15 yards.
The players and the owners are all rich spoiled brats. But the owners are richer and more spoiled. And the heaviest thing they have to lift on their job is a double scotch on the rocks. Is brain cell loss from alcohol worse than chronic concussion syndrome? Hmmm. Gotta think about that one–over a drink.
Monkey Barf
March 28th, 2011
6:51 pm
Fans vote by refusing to buy tickets…season, game package or individual games. I say show these greedy billionaire owners and their millionaire employees…that you don’t need their product to survive. Don’t buy the tickets. Find another activity in which to invest your time and money and “fandom.” You will be richer and better for it! Monkey barf on all them!
I Saw It On TV
March 28th, 2011
7:04 pm
Maybe all in all, when you really think about it, the NFL, the owners, and the players don’t deserve the windfall the fan base has given them. We have members of our military dying every day, our police officers losing a war against criminals growing in numbers, Natural disasters in Thailand, Haiti, and Japan just to name a few. US citizens who just a few years ago were living the dream and are now barely holding on to their homes. Let’s not forget the greed that spawned the current economy. Super bacteria spreading throughout the US (yes, wash your hands). It’s generating billions of dollars in revenue and players salaries and yet we have all this petty fighting. Would I miss the NFL not playing this season? Yes I would, I enjoy it. But I’ll live without it and a small smile will come across my face as the petty participants reap what they sew. Such greed, what a shame.
Elmo Groga
March 28th, 2011
7:28 pm
“First” is a phuquing pathetic idiot.
Dawg A
March 28th, 2011
7:40 pm
Is just curious why the esteemed AJC beat writer for the Falcons won’t comment on the many of us that are slamming Arthur! Will this cause you to lose access and the free hot dogs? You can’t be alright with Arthur taking our money and holding the money he already has taken hostage!!!
jim jr
March 28th, 2011
10:04 pm
hey blank, why dont you cool it with the preachy shysterness and tell us how you will pay for your own stadium?
awesompt
March 29th, 2011
12:53 am
Blank…..you’re already a billlionaire. If I were a player, I wouldn’t agree to let you take another billion off the top before I got mine either. Why don’t you do gone on the side line with pads on and show us that you’re willing to sacrifice your body for your team? Me? I’m done with all you idiots who are rich and want to give me a thousand and one excuses about why you can’t reach an agreement and just play some freaking ball. I’ll be watching college ball this year…even if you do work it out and have a season. I used to be a dedicated Falcons fan….no more. I’m done with all you rich boy punks. If enough of us walk away from your game, you’ll hopefully loose your shirt within a year.
college is forever
March 29th, 2011
7:35 am
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com All you have to do is move three high profile college games to Sunday and one to Monday Lets say they start a 1pm, 4pm and 8pm (Sunday and Monday) Even if your not a college fan you soon will be and then when the fans are getting their football fix on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Only the truly hardcore will miss the NFL and you will see how fast everybody gets this resolved. Go Dawgs!!
AlanFalcon
March 29th, 2011
8:58 am
Unions are the 2nd coming of slavery, the only difference is that you pay to belong and then let the union bosses tell you what the rest of your life is going to be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .
Big Dude
March 29th, 2011
8:58 am
All you who are angry at Arthur Blank are just jealous that he worked hard for what he has and you didn’t. “take from the rich and give to the poor”. Sounds like socialism to me. On an international level it’s called “Colonialism”…. Please forgive America for being stronger and more economicly sound than your country! Sound like anybody you know?
I Saw It On TV
March 29th, 2011
9:02 am
Let me think, what would Rankin Smith have done in this situation. Hmmmm……………
joewhite
March 29th, 2011
9:56 am
dam right harris this aint politcs and the current president cant touch what the last two idots has done to our country. Blame bush and the republicans for this crap.I am here to talk about football, just had to get that out my system since harris went there. Once i see a football contract signed blank like the past 16years the falcons will have my money. I cant pay for something that does not exists and right now the nfl does not exist.
FALCON JOE BLOW
March 29th, 2011
10:28 am
THE OWNERS AND PLAYERS ARE GREEDY. NEITHER SIDE CARE ABOUT THE WORKING FOLKS WHO CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET. THEY MAKE MORE IN ONE DAY OR WEEK THEN MOST PEOPLE MAKE IN A YEAR. THEY SHOULD RETURN SOME OF THIS MONEY BACK TO THE FANS BY LOWERING TICKET PRICES (LOL).
The Faithful
March 29th, 2011
11:02 am
It is all about greed and if you think it isn’t…well…what can I say.
The fact is that this is a game and the players are great at playing a game, but they have a choice as to pursue a game as a means of making money (probably what they consider easy money) or not.
The owners are not poor by any means and they buy teams to massage their egos and be seen in a more public light. They do want to make money because it is an investment to them.
If the players really sought to maximize their income they would organize their own league and start a collective like the soviets did. It worked for quite a few years and scared the bejeezus out of many.
The owners if they want to control the salaries should just draft 60 players each, start over with rookies, institute a pay scale that maximizes their income and if the members want to come over from the players league, they get paid based on the scale that the owners set.
And vice versa.
Competition is good.
Where is Donald Trump and the USFL when you need it?
E's Dirty Birds
March 29th, 2011
11:46 am
@Harris… what happens when you grow a brain?
PTC DAWG
March 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
I would fire the players and start over. In 4 years, the quality would be just as good as it was last year.
Ed
March 29th, 2011
1:48 pm
I have lost a lot of respect for both sides of the aisle on this one. The owners are selfish billionaires and the players are whining about how little they make. I will still watch and love the Falcons when football returns but I have to try not to think about the fact that they are all out for themselves.
Gwinnett Fred
March 29th, 2011
2:07 pm
I love his comment today: “there will be professional football in Atlanta in 2011″
Well, since arena football is professional and they have already started playing in 2011 – he wasn’t going out on much of a limb with that statement.
JJ acts like a va-jay-jay
March 29th, 2011
5:14 pm
the players are the PRODUCT. what other business has this model. the FANS come to see the PLAYERS play not OWNERS in some suit. Most ppl dont even know who their owner is and dont care in the least bit. this is a partnership between the NFL and NFLPA. open the books, stop the blod clot whining or karma will sit on u. and she’s a big b****! lol
RiseUporSitDown
April 1st, 2011
12:43 pm
From John – “The fans are organizing and forming their own ownership groups! The owners are going to lose! Check out sportsownership.com All teams are still available. This will be the biggest sports story of the century! Don’t miss out.”
Sounds great but don’t the teams have to be for sale? And why would the NFL allow the fans to be owners?
I don’t know what the answer is to all this back and forth BS between the owners and players. I do know that we, the fans, have the control. We are just too damn ignorant and too damn pathetic to do something about it. I say pathetic because all we have to do is walk away. But we won’t. We need the entertainment. Look nobody is perfect but damn people how much more are you willing to take, or in this case give. I used to give my support to the NFL as a season ticket holder. Lost my job and couldn’t see spending that kind of money on entertaining myself. Nobody is perfect, just walk away and let them all lose their livelihoods. I would love to see Blank working a cash register at Home Depot or have Roddy White ask me if I would like fries with my order.
Old Dawg
April 1st, 2011
12:45 pm
Overall, I’m a college football fan. I’ll watch the NFL if the weather’s crap or there’s nothing else to do.
One of the few areas of this debate I agree with owners on is rookie compensation. There should be a salary cap for players until they prove themselves. Their contracts can have incentive clauses if performance on the field mets conditions set on the contract.
The 18-game season is a joke. The league should cut the pre-season to two games and have a 14 game season with two bye weeks. The players get beat up too much and when too players go down, so does a team’s performance.
Like many other folks have written, without the players there is no league. The owners know this, or should know it.
As for new stadiums, that’s a joke. Just because a bunch of rich guys want nicer places to entertain during games, the teams should be able to upgrade current facilities without an entirely new stadium. Building new stadiums is really a nut-job’s rationale.