CBA UPDATE: President Obama Makes Statement, May Intervene

by Dave Cariello on Mar 3, 2011 1:21 PM CST

The leader of the free world, President Barack Obama, thinks these CBA negotiations are getting ridiculous, just like everyone else except maybe the owners.

Albert Breer from the NFL Network just tweeted a statement from President Barack Obama. The full statement can be found on NFLLabor.com:

"You've got owners, most of whom are worth close to $1 billion. You've got players who are making millions are dollars. My working assumption at a time when people are having to cut back, compromise and worry about making the mortgage and paying for their kids' college education is that the two parties should be able to work it out without the President of the United States intervening," President Obama said.

"I'm a big football fan, but I also think for an industry that is making $9 billion a year in revenue, they can figure out how to divide it up in a sensible way and be true to their fans who are the ones who, obviously, allow for all of the money that they are making," the President continued. "My expectation and hope is that they will resolve it without me intervening, because it turns out I have got a lot of other stuff to do."

I wholeheartedly concur with our country's fearless leader. And you don't want to piss off The Rock Obama!

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You know, I think the president has more important things to worry about than a game

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"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King Jr.
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Mar 3, 2011 1:32 PM CST reply actions

Like what? The U.S. economy?....to which the NFL is a gigantic part.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 3, 2011 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

it's much more than just "a game"

Florio:

As Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post last week, "Congress, acting in the public interest, has to keep the NFL on track because of the great benefits given to the league by federal law and taxpayer funds and because of its impact on the nation’s economy."

Think of all the businesses and employees who would be impacted if there were no NFL games played.

In the event of something happening to me
There is something I would like you all to see

by stujo4 on Mar 3, 2011 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Please,

this is just politicians wanting to take the credit of resolving the labor issue. Like they would give a crap otherwise.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Mar 3, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

Thats one of my senators

Too bad he really could just care less.

by WVPiratesfan on Mar 3, 2011 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

Which is exactly what he said.

by NOLACuse on Mar 3, 2011 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

The last person in this world anyone is scared of is Barry

"They're ready to be like 'Same Old Saints'" - Roman Harper, on each of the New Orleans Saints vanquished foes of 2009

by Hollywoo! on Mar 3, 2011 1:42 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Is this a joke?

"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them."-Winston Churchill

by cscmember on Mar 3, 2011 1:54 PM CST reply actions

CBA UPDATE: Jon gives message to President Obama: "Please stay out of it."

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Mar 3, 2011 2:04 PM CST reply actions

Jon's an owner sympathizer

Florio:

Political involvement favors the players, since a work stoppage would be initiated by the owners. Also, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith previously worked for Attorney General Eric Holder, and one of Smith’s obvious strategies has been to exert political pressure on the league, in the absence of leverage at the bargaining table.

In the event of something happening to me
There is something I would like you all to see

by stujo4 on Mar 3, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

No, I'm a both sides hater.

I don’t see a positive from politicians involved. All I see out of that would be more drama, and more exposure which would only prolong the talks and hurt any chance of this getting down quickly and quietly. Excuse me if that makes me a sympathizer because of that.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Mar 3, 2011 2:22 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Don't worry about Stu...

His preferred debating tactic is to bully…

"They're ready to be like 'Same Old Saints'" - Roman Harper, on each of the New Orleans Saints vanquished foes of 2009

by Hollywoo! on Mar 3, 2011 2:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Actually political involvement would in no way prolong the talks.

The worst thing that could possibly happen is for the NFL owners to not get outside pressure. The owners are hoping that they can string the players along for a few more hours and hope that “good faith” will get the union to not decertify. By doing so the owners could then sit on their collective butts for no less than 6 months….the time of which would have to pass before the union could decertify again. The owners know they if this goes to court in an anti-trust case, they will eventually lose. It’s happened before, the precedent is there, and there’s no way to assume it won’t happen again. However, if the owners can squeeze the players over a long period of time say, 6 months plus the time after to go to the courts in an antitrust case, a large portion of the players won’t be able to last that long without caving. Not every player has Carson Palmer’s 80 mil. With lawmakers and politicians breathing down their necks, however, it could force the issue to happen much, much sooner all of which would bring the power struggle closer to the players’ ideal. If you’re a fan of seeing professional football….outside of an agreement getting done in the next day, or a handful of days if they extend the deadline, is for immediate decertification by the Players Union and for those pesky politicians to start poking the chest of everyone to get to court.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 3, 2011 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

In a perfect world, yes that's what would happen.

In a cruel reality, politicians will only want to get their face in front of cameras and drum up some free publicity for them by “caring for the little guy”, when in reality, all they will be doing is hindering any progress by making the talks a circus.

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Mar 3, 2011 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

A sad and very jaded world you let yourself live in. Yes….some politicians are bad people, not all of them.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 3, 2011 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

boom! rec'd!

"I am a Saints player. Look, sir" Patrick Robinson

by CrazyforColston on Mar 3, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

sorry needed to edit your statement

MOST politicians are bad people, not all of them

by Saintsfan75 on Mar 4, 2011 3:12 AM CST up reply actions

Due to the Terms of Service here, I cannot tell you what that makes you.

In the event of something happening to me
There is something I would like you all to see

by stujo4 on Mar 3, 2011 3:19 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Ahh, a passive-agressive comment.

Either that comment was an unneeded insult or I was going to be called a political name.

Wonderful debate technique

Offseason Motto: Burn the damn black pants.
Canal Street Chronicles-you know you want to

by Jon Banks on Mar 3, 2011 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

Oh it was needed, all right.

In the event of something happening to me
There is something I would like you all to see

by stujo4 on Mar 3, 2011 4:13 PM CST up reply actions

boom! rec'd!

"I am a Saints player. Look, sir" Patrick Robinson

by CrazyforColston on Mar 3, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry to some of you who believe otherwise

no matter how much money or joy it brings to fans in reality it is just a game. People are losing everything, worried about how they’re going to feed their kids. The last thing those people care about is millionaires and billionaires fighting over 9 billion dollars when even $25 would feel their kids for a week.

The only thing that really matters about football is the people it employs which the owners obviously gives two s**ts about. Seriously, come the f**k on people. If Obama steps in its most likely because of that and little else. Just because we care about something doesn’t always mean it’s important to anyone else.

Breesus Is My Homeboy

by SarahT on Mar 3, 2011 4:44 PM CST reply actions

The only reason why politicians care is because of like in a previous post, they get face-time. They get to stand in front of the camera and act like they care about the little man. When in all reality, they don’t. If politicians cared about what we thought, Obamacare would have never passed. Ok off my political high horse and back to football. Do you think Dave’s business would be affected by a lock-out? If you are reading this Dave, can you, as a sports parafanalia (sp?) business owner maybe chime in and tell us what you think? I have heard that the major share holder of the GB Packers cares because his business is directly related to football. He owns a diner near the stadium. People buy shirts and what-not during the season. We don’t think of those items when football is not being played. Honestly, think about all the superbowl items that went on sale a month after it was over?? You can get Saints superbowl shirts dirt cheap now. The season is over and people have moved on. Unless the games get put back on, then business will suffer more for those that rely on revenue during the season. So it is imperitive that the players and owners fix this now, not for themselves but for the fans and businesses.

by Saintsfan75 on Mar 4, 2011 3:18 AM CST up reply actions

I don't agree.

It is just a game but as you point out, it does have financial consequences for people who are neither millionaires or billionaires.

It may not warrant the president’s attention. He may be incapable of helping and seemingly disinclined anyway, and it’s worth comparing it to broader interests and priorities that the president should be concerned with, but discussing the potential or merit of his involvement isn’t just about pleasing football fans.

"I am a Saints player. Look, sir" Patrick Robinson

by CrazyforColston on Mar 3, 2011 6:30 PM CST reply actions

oops, that was in reply to SarahT

respectfully…

"I am a Saints player. Look, sir" Patrick Robinson

by CrazyforColston on Mar 3, 2011 6:30 PM CST up reply actions

That's one of my all-time favorite SNL skits!

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Mar 3, 2011 8:11 PM CST reply actions