Team Glazer And The NFL Labor Talks
March 8th, 2011
Simply put, Joe is CBA’ed out.
Joe has a hunch all the hand-wringing about whether there will be an agreement between the NFL owners and the NFLPA at week’s end will be fruitless because — voila — there will be another extension.
How CBA’ed out is Joe? He hasn’t listened to more than three minutes of Sirius NFL Radio this week because Joe knows — just knows! — that’s all that will be talked about all week. Thank God for the King of All Media!
This CBA chatter is so bad, so overwhelming it’s nearly as bad as the incessant browbeating the honchos at the NFL Network are employing with that damned Dixie Chicks school bus commercial at virtually each and every commercial break. The NFL Network is doing its best to ensure Joe never gives a red cent to the United Way.
But since the CBA chatter won’t go away, good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times has an interesting take this morning about what side of the fence does Team Glazer sit? Are they doves or are they hawks?
Here’s another thing worth mentioning: While the Glazers don’t have a new stadium to pay for, the one they do have hasn’t been full in quite a while. That is surely eating into their profits, though their low payroll perhaps mitigates this.
Now, here’s what we don’t know. We don’t know how the Glazers are doing financially in their other industries, though it’s safe to assume their commercial real estate holdings – of which they have many – have taken a big hit in this economy. But the Glazers are nothing if not diversified, and that’s the key to weathering a downturn in a particular business sector.
The guess here is that we’ll probably never get much of indication of the role the Glazers played or positions they took through this labor unrest. For all we know, they’re blowing up Roger Goodell’s cell phone and urging him to hold his ground. Or they could be doing nothing of the sort.
Since guessing is the order of the day, here’s Joe’s take, again, purely speculation:
Team Glazer wouldn’t lose too much sleep if there is Armageddon and the 2011 season goes up in smoke. The team hasn’t drawn that well of late so there’s not that much cash — relatively, of course –to lose from the gate with missed games. And since Team Glazer has no stadium payments as Holder noted, there is less risk of loss if the season goes poof, than many other owners would suffer.
That’s not to say Team Glazer wants to cancel the season. Joe’s not suggesting that. Rather, Team Glazer is just more inclined if not prepared to wade through a protracted work stoppage than other owners. In short, Team Glazer has less to lose from an extended work stoppage than Jerry Jones or Bob Kraft or Bob McNair.
March 8th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Ugh, Goodell looks like Sloth from Goonies in that photo. Is he short?
March 8th, 2011 at 11:41 am
I suspect that the court ruling on the tv war chest money has the owners in a little tizzy, including the Glazer boys, and might have been a big part of the protracted mediation.
But as far as their abilities to weather any storm, I am sure they are very prepared for any eventuality.
No matter what , money shall be made.
March 8th, 2011 at 11:52 am
I agree somewhat joe. BUT… with a new coach being accepted now, a new QB and a new team proving themselves last year, tickets sales already better than than last year (proven by the one Glazer son saying he specualted the return to TV this year), the youth movement coming to fruition sooner rather than later….
I would think they would want the season to get started because this young team is on the verge of being special and I would think they would want the fans buying into it.
Still, I do agree that they don’t have as much to lose as a Jerry Jones with the new mortgage he has.
March 8th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Does anyone know whats going on with that lame @$$ manchester united team??Dont they weather the storm so to speak with that nonsense???
March 8th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
The Glazers played this potential lockout scenario perfectly. Justified or not, firing the “win now” coach and rebuilding with youth gave the them the financial relief they desired and the flexibility to get away with spending little during the uncapped/no floor year, saving needed money for a prolonged lookout (if it happens).
And (very) lucky for us fans, the youth movement in the front office, on the sidelines and between the lines is paying off with Ws in the meantime.
March 8th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
couldn’t disagree more. The Bucs made huge strides last season and have alot of “buzz” going, locally and nationally. IMO. alot of this positive momentum would be lost if no games are played.
March 8th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Why is every”speculation” about the Glazers tilted to the negative. These are the owners that paid a fortune in cash to get Gruden here. Then payed a Tom of Free agents big bucks, and got us our Lombardi trophy! And when Gruden ran of the talent, and wouldn’t get young( expensive!!) talent, they fired him, despite having to pay him a ton anyway. Gruden was a cheap owners dream!! Using retreads is the cheapest players in the league!! So obviously, money wasn’t the issue there
I think they have managed their finances to survive a slow down in the economy, and a possible lockout. But I think they don’t want a lockout. I think they want this young team on the field, playing for a SuperBowl.
Why? Because unlike a great many owners, The Bucs aren’t the Glazers Cash Cow! Jerry Jones, the Rooneys,, The Miras, Etc principle source of income is their NFL franchise- as documented in Fortune Magazine. It isn’t for the Glazers. Their outside Businesses make them far more money than the NFL team. And they don’t have many accumulated debts- Stafium payments, etc.
The Tv Money alone pays the Bucs bills, and then some
I think they are financially set regardless of the NFL, unlike most of their fellow owners. I think the want the team on the field – fighting to get in the playoffs! Because the one thing more profitable than an NFL franchise, is an NFL Championship franchise!
I believe the owners screaming for more money, are the owners much like our wretched elected officials( all of them!!). It’s the ones who can’t maintain a Budget(Jones, Snyder- you know the ones), and like the government, now want us to pay for their mismanagement. In the NFL- they want the players money, to payoff debts they now can’t afford. Same sad song, different rich screwups- same sad plea to gouge the workers to make up for total incompetence in leadership.
Sadly, this song is getting to be too familiar, but I think the Glazers are like some of us. Kept a budget, can pay their bills, and are just stuck wading thru the BS created by those who can’t!
March 8th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Capt.Tim:
Joe didn’t think he was being negative at all; rather very fair.
In fact, Joe could make a case he was being positive.
March 8th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Budget or not! If the cost of gas keeps rising, I’m going to have to sell my car to pay for my gas!
March 8th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
BTW Joe, I thinking the same thing about it, positive or negative slant!
March 8th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Well some of us have already ‘tuned out’. These owners and players are being big ‘babies’ – close the friggin doors and get something hashed out already.
The longer these people drag out their problems the more I grow tired and the more I envision starting an NFL boycott site!
March 8th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
oar:
Joe tried to be fair and objective. Joe wasn’t trying to spin or paint Team Glazer in any light.
Trust Joe, if Joe wanted to send a message, he would leave no doubt.
March 8th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Hey Joe did u hear the news that tiki barber is coming out of retirement and he wants to ply with ronde.
March 8th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
“Thank God for King of All Media”… Amen
March 8th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Wasn’t referring to you on that on, Joe. Thought you were centered. More on S.Holder stating “they may be ringing godell’s phone off the Hook, telling him to stand his ground!”. Since he’s just speculating, why not” ringing Godell’s phone off the hook, saying Jones and Snyder’s stupidity are hurting their young team- get the damn deal done!” ? Which I consider more likely.
If he’s going to bother to print something with no info, other than his speculation- why not something that doesn’t spin our team badly. We have a great team on the rise, and well within our budget. That’s a good thing- guess trash about the idiots, if he wants to guess who’s driving the owners into lockout.
March 8th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Not only is Steven Holder a good guy, but the man is right! As always.
If you can’t see that the Glazers planned for this lockout, then you are either blind or a moron who aligns himself with the stingy ownership. Only the cheapest owners in the entire NFL, the Glazers themselves. Facts don’t lie, the Glazers don’t have the lowest in payroll across the board by accident.
IT WAS PLANNED dammit!