NFL lockout: Falcons cut pay of some office staff
If only Arthur Blank and rest of us could see into future on the NFL lockout. (Curtis Compton)
Several NFL teams have announced furloughs or payroll deductions for their office staff and even coaches during the current lockout. The Falcons are no exception.
While owner Arthur Blank has not mandated furloughs or significant cuts, there have been minor payroll reductions to members of the office staff, according to somebody familiar with the organization. The team has not made any announcement regarding the pay cuts, per the organization’s policy of not discussing internal business matters.
Blank, who is as image-conscious as they come, also prefers that this type of news not get out. But the cuts seemed inevitable.
This is a situation worth watching. The longer the lockout goes, the more antsy owners will get. The lack of television, ticket and advertising revenue, as well as other sources of income, at some point will lead to difficult decisions.
The owners are banking on the NFL Players Association cracking first. While players won’t start losing game checks until the regular season begins, many have lost contract bonuses for organized team workouts. It’s the reason owners have fought so hard for the lockout in court.
Coaches are siding with the players. The NFL Coaches Association has filed a 20-page legal brief in support of the union (you can read it here).
They have a vested interest. The Detroit Lions have begun two-week furloughs that affect all employees, including coach Jim Schwartz and general manager Martin Mayhew.
Among the other teams that have slashed payroll, mandated furloughs or are considering one or the other are the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. (Thanks to ProFootballTalk.com for the reporting and aggregation of other teams’ plans.)
Final editorial comment: There is something wrong when low-salaried secretaries are paying the price for a collective bargain war between billionaire owners and millionaire players. That’s something both sides need to think about.
By Jeff Schultz
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189 comments Add your comment
TheBigCat
May 26th, 2011
6:14 pm
Nothing starnge about this at all. Arthur Blank is simply making budget cuts to pay for his Botox, hair dye, make up, etc. You do know we are in the running for Hard Knocks right? Arthur is just getting prepared.
I'm Shocked
May 26th, 2011
6:28 pm
Is there any way the Falcons would follow the Thrashers up north–Now that would be something to write about !!! Go Jackets.
T. Banks
May 26th, 2011
6:43 pm
PR move by the Owners. The owners pay these salaries based off of money received in the previous year. There are no need for the furloughs, this is ALL about the PR.
FYI…The players aren’t on strike, they asked to go to work. THE GATES WERE LOCKED!!!!! The are locked out and the owners opted out of the CBA not the players…
You guys all know how supply and demand work, if you guys feel like the players aren’t worth the money tell the Owners to go with replacement players, and see if you watch the game. Has anyone tuned into the UFL lately?
reckingball
May 26th, 2011
6:49 pm
100% correct T. Banks, it’s a LOCKOUT, not a Strike.
It is just a clear cut case of the greed of the owners.
I wonder how popular Blank is going to be with the players on the sidelines now(if they the NFL ever plays again).
Alabama Communist
May 26th, 2011
6:55 pm
More Breaking News On Office Staff Cutback!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was rumor that the Falcons Mascot was sold for Bird Meat to a Chinese Company and the Falcons Cheerleaders were lease to a rich Arabic Prince who owns a Chain of Hooters in Brahmi..
reckingball
May 26th, 2011
6:57 pm
No one buys a ticket, or watches the games on TV to see the owners sitting on their butts in the stands.
The NFL is built on the talent of the players, if it wasn’t the owners would have replacements on the team rosters right now.
But this isn’t like a factory
TheBigCat
May 26th, 2011
7:00 pm
Unions are for the weak and lazy who can’t compete in the free market. They need the help of the union to carry them. To prop up salaries and to run cover for the lazy and the worthless. Just look at public school teachers, the post office etc.
Without a union players would play for $250,000-$500,000 a year and never complain. What else are they gonna do for a living?
The owners make all the money? You are damn right. They assume all the risks. 4 basic principals of economics: Land, labor, capital and entrepenership. They have 3 of the 4. What risks do the players take? Injury? Don’t play football for a living if that risk is too big.
They are just like elephants in the circus. When you go all you see are elephants. You don’t care if one is replaced from last year. Restart the league from top to bottom, and people will watch. Watch else you gonna do in the fall?
Joe Ticket
May 26th, 2011
7:22 pm
I tried to get a refund on my season tickets and the ticket office wouldn’t give me a refund. I guess it make sense now.
Dropping knowledge
May 26th, 2011
7:50 pm
Hey Marcel,
By the way, employees are allowed to look at the books of a privately held company if they have a contract that includes revenue sharing like the NFL does. Upon demand a company must show proof of exercising equitable and and ethical financial and accounting principles to their partners. In essence, the NFL made the players partners in the business, not just employees. Knowing the health of the business is their right.
Joe Tess Fish House
May 26th, 2011
7:51 pm
Screw the palyers. They need to stop this strike and go back 2 wrok.
UGASlobberknocker
May 26th, 2011
7:57 pm
looks like college football might be the only game in town
chuck e
May 26th, 2011
8:04 pm
Great…..ya gotta Billionaire cutting the salaries of everyday working people…..kinda speaks to the REAL character of Arthur.
"Chef" Tim Dix
May 26th, 2011
8:29 pm
lets try this again. Players ARE NOT ON STRIKE THEY ARE LOCKED OUT BY THE OWNERS.
that said I never paid to watch a receptionist line up in the slot.
Me thinks that King Arthur falls on the side of league owners that want an MLB setup where as he can spend to win.
corporate domination
May 26th, 2011
8:41 pm
@ chuck e
Silly, silly man. The everyday working people must accept cuts so that corporate domination prevails. When there are no more everyday working people in the US, the NFL will expand to Asia, The corporation is a private individual, just like you. Wake up!
Skram30082
May 26th, 2011
9:41 pm
This is crazy. There WAY TOO MANY stupid people on this blog.
@Sherry: Players are way over-paid? Tell me this…exactly who agrees to pay the salaries of the players? Free agency definitely plays a part, but in the end, the owner that signs a free agent to a ridiculous contract has determined that whatever he agrees to pay, said free agent is worth it. If owners were so worried about player salaries, they wouldn’t sign them. But then again, if no free agents were offered contracts, that would be collusion. Baseball tried that back in the 80s, and it was found to be illegal. Oh yeah, and why don’t you look up Curt Flood and read his story? You (and most people on this blog) have probably never heard of him.
For everyone on this blog, remember this about the owners…that revenue sharing that they LOVE is nothing but REDISTRIBUTION OF INCOME. Funny thing is, most owners are Republicans. Just look up Art Modell (owner of the Ravens) and read what he said about NFL owners being Republicans who like socialism.
Bottom line…in this LOCKOUT, the OWNERS are asking for more, not the players. This is the fault of the OWNERS.
5150 UOAD
May 26th, 2011
9:53 pm
Drexel Gal
Pro Players were DRAFTED because they wanted the opportunity to play a game for MONEY. That is SELECTIVELY DRAFTED by VOLUNTARILY choosing the job opportunity. SEALS, GREEN BERETS, MARINE FORCE RECON, and RANGERS do the same thing. They Chose the JOB of SOLDIER and then try to subject their bodies to the most HELLISH punishment for a Low paying High Risk job. Pro Athletes are a JOKE trying to get the money they get and then abuse the PRIVILEGE to have that job. Many Soldiers chose the armed services to get money & training for college. STFU because you are talking out of you Who-Ha. .
If you were in a Bar Fight would you want an NFL player involved or a Marine? The Marine might defend you, but a NFL player is probably the reason the fight was started for attacking you.
I thought it was “A” before a consonant and “AN” before a Vowel. “A” NFL player or “AN” NFL player?
Skram30082
May 26th, 2011
10:05 pm
@5150 UOAD:
“I thought it was “A” before a consonant and “AN” before a Vowel. “A” NFL player or “AN” NFL player?”
Check your own words…you don’t know, either, do you?
If you were in a Bar Fight would you want *an* NFL player involved or a Marine? The Marine might defend you, but *a* NFL player is probably the reason the fight was started for attacking you.
5150 UOAD
May 26th, 2011
10:18 pm
W
Law School and Med School are GRADUATE PROGRAMS. Students have to do 4yrs then take a TEST to get in Law or Med School. Bad choice of an example.
Innocent until proven Guilty? Are you really going to say that is TRUE in this day and Time? OJ is INNOCENT in court, but not in real life. Bill Clinton never had SEX with that girl either I guess. He didn’t do drugs because he didn’t INHALE. GW Bush is not a Drunk because he has been sober for years now. Well, not according to AA rules. TRY again.
LEFT? No
Right but we are talking about a group that wants to be a UNION so I say SCREW them.
Drafted players that have never played in the NFL start at the Bottom of the PAY SCALE just like the NEW Lineman at Ga Power or lineman at Lockheed. If you want to pay them MILLIONS for nothing Proven then they pay the COLLEGE that allowed them to be promoted back the value of the Scholarship. Do like REAL UNIONS do and make a PAY SCALE for time on the job & test or certifications gained. If you want a UNION then you sign on to the pay scale the Owners set just like the real world. Don’t call it a UNION and then have people doing the same work making totally different salaries.
Pro Sports is one of the FEW businesses that by ELIMINATING the competition you eliminate your industry. To make a UNION work then the wage has to be even and equally distributed. It is not like Ford putting Chevy and Toyota out of business. Ford can still sell cars, but if New York puts KC, Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta out of business then New York loses their value too.
dre
May 26th, 2011
10:38 pm
Shocking…another billionaire unable to support those trying to make ends meet. Hang in there Arthur.
5150 UOAD
May 26th, 2011
10:49 pm
dre
I heard all the PRO Players just paid all the back child support to their baby mamas. Now I guess the Millionaires are now supporting those trying to make ends meet too right?
Old Violin
May 26th, 2011
10:59 pm
All points are well taken, but again I ask the question ! Who’s fault is all this ? It’s ours ! It’s our money they are wasting ! It’s our money that’s being fed to these overpaid (few exceptions) fat cats who think the world owes them a living ! Boycott the games ! Demand ticket prices be lowered ! And remember ! It’s our darn money, not theirs ! You don’t get my money til you produce a product, and I AM NOT going to pay twice what a darn ticket should cost ! Football is a sport and although business is involved, it’s still a sport ! I can live without it and so can you !
Old Violin
May 26th, 2011
11:05 pm
P.S……..If you watch the Braves home games, you’ll notice this young lady sitting in the seats behind home plate, wearing what appears to be Staff attire. I have not seen her lift a hand to help the fans (i’m sure she must when i’m not looking) and I keep wondering just what is her job, and what does it pay ? She’s well fed, so I know she makes at least Hot Dog money ! Just asking !
5150 UOAD
May 26th, 2011
11:10 pm
I have 2 Jobs:
1) You will get paid for 16 days @ 5 hours/day that people pay to see your production. I will pay you $800K for the 16 weeks = $50,000/day for 80hrs of consumer paid for PRODUCT or $10,000/hr for consumer viewed product. Would you take that JOB?
OR
2) Do you want to work 50 weeks for $80k/yr having to work 5 or 6 days/week for 50 weeks/yr?
NFL Players need to use those DEGREES (that they got for free) to make some money close to what they are crying about.
5150 UOAD
May 26th, 2011
11:13 pm
Old Violin
She is on the soon to be Mike Bobo Salary plan. All the left over Little League Concession Stand food he can take home to feed his kids after UGA fires Richt and the whole lot of the staff.
True Falcon Fan
May 26th, 2011
11:22 pm
5150 Ther ya go again – do you everrrrr make any since??????????????????????????
True Falcon Fan
May 26th, 2011
11:23 pm
Say Good night —- Good night —– have fun ta ta
5150 UOAD
May 26th, 2011
11:39 pm
True Falcon Fan
Do you really think that MOST NFL players are better at their jobs than you are at yours? Do you REALLY think they are worth what they get paid? Why don’t you eat and get FAT. I MEAN 300lb fat and get on a Practice team. You can get your AZZ beat to death for 16 weeks and still make $45k-150k for about 26 weeks/yr. You can then go to work at another job or enjoy more pay for a short period of time for just being FAT and acting like you can run 12 yrds.
Falcons cut pay of some office staff | E. OVERSTREET SPORTS MANAGEMENT
May 27th, 2011
12:50 am
[...] Schultz of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the Falcons are implementing minor payroll reductions to members of the office staff. (I’m guessing those members of the office staff don’t consider their payroll reductions to be [...]
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2011
1:08 am
J. Russell, T Mandrich, R Bush, M Stafford, R Leaf, and many many many more that got PAID. I mean PAID to be the PUBLIX District Manager, but were really the smartest kid on the short bus being a Bagger.
FalcFans.com » Falcons Weekly Round-Up 5/27
May 27th, 2011
8:57 am
[...] The Falcons have begun to cut the pay of lower-level office employees as a measure to cut expenditures during the current lockout. Several other NFL teams have begun to furlough non-football staff. (Source: Jeff Schulz, AJC) [...]
Pat
May 27th, 2011
2:47 pm
What a disgrace…cuts should be structured from the top down and not the other way around
Mr. Blank, shame on you for failing to run the Falcons with the class that other organizations have showed.
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May 27th, 2011
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[...] there are reports of the Atlanta Falcons cutting the pay of front office staffers back home in Georgia, the Falcons cheerleader squad is in Bermuda busily compiling a photo dossier [...]
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
So Falcons fans, who do you think will be ranked higher in the 100 best active NFL players…………………
CHOKE
or
Vick
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
So it looks like CHOKE will be 27 before he CHOKES in another game
By the way, this fool is 26 and before you know it, he will be in his 30s and you clowns will still be saying…………
He’ll be Peyton-Like……….just give him time
loyal Falcon
May 30th, 2011
7:04 pm
I’m really starting to hate the NFL because of this lockout!
Montrell D
May 31st, 2011
11:07 am
A lot of these employees are minorities—I’m tired of rich billionaires like blank cutting the salaries of employees that need the money. He should pay them even if there is a lockout.
WTF?
May 31st, 2011
6:52 pm
football fans if you are smart you will lock out the NFL for a season so the greedy owners and greedy players will know what it’s like to not have any income to sue each other over who gets what because there will be nothing! But trying to get Americans to rise up and unite is like trying to fly a plane with no wings… it aint gonna happen.
Chumps Pay
June 1st, 2011
6:16 am
the greedy owners will end up paying the millionaires what they want and then just raise prices on everything that all the chumps will gladly pay to see their heroes on the field! Pay up!
joe dirt
June 2nd, 2011
9:37 am
Forget about roid raging player millionaris arguing with country club owners, the NFL is a bunch of spoiled brat millionaires. I can’t wait to here more about the recent MLS expansion rumor. Sign me up for season tickets now. MLS, MLS, MLS!!!!!!