PA Season Ticket Holder
05-25-2003, 06:35 PM
The two biggest topics from last week's owners' meetings in Philly arise from one common subject.
Money.
Money, that is, and the goal of maximizing the flow of it into the pockets of 31 guys (and one gal) who already have more than they need.
The NFL is spending up to $10 million to secure a two-year development option on a 157-acre site in L.A. with an eye toward putting a team in the nation's No. 2 market as early as 2006.
The NFL isn't expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams.
The decision to act on L.A. and the decision to stand pat on the postseason are driven by one basic reality -- the NFL's eleven-figure network expires after the 2005 season, and the NFL knows that it'll need all of the leverage it can muster in order to merely get the same package that was scored five seasons ago, when the economy was roaring like a D-lineman after a Mexican buffet.
When the NFL opted not to adjust the eight-year deal to account for the collapse of the TV advertising market, the battle lines were drawn.
And when the contract comes up again for bid in 2005, the NFL has to be able to give, and give a lot.
Having a team in L.A. is an absolute must in this regard, and the league knows it. Heck, before it's all done there could be two teams in the area, just like it was before the Raiders rolled north and the Rams rampaged east in the 1990s.
As to playoff expansion, the owners know that it's something they'll need as a bargaining chip in the next TV deal, since the network surely would love to have two more playoff games. Before it's over, don't be shocked to see the networks push the envelope to a full 16 teams.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
Money.
Money, that is, and the goal of maximizing the flow of it into the pockets of 31 guys (and one gal) who already have more than they need.
The NFL is spending up to $10 million to secure a two-year development option on a 157-acre site in L.A. with an eye toward putting a team in the nation's No. 2 market as early as 2006.
The NFL isn't expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams.
The decision to act on L.A. and the decision to stand pat on the postseason are driven by one basic reality -- the NFL's eleven-figure network expires after the 2005 season, and the NFL knows that it'll need all of the leverage it can muster in order to merely get the same package that was scored five seasons ago, when the economy was roaring like a D-lineman after a Mexican buffet.
When the NFL opted not to adjust the eight-year deal to account for the collapse of the TV advertising market, the battle lines were drawn.
And when the contract comes up again for bid in 2005, the NFL has to be able to give, and give a lot.
Having a team in L.A. is an absolute must in this regard, and the league knows it. Heck, before it's all done there could be two teams in the area, just like it was before the Raiders rolled north and the Rams rampaged east in the 1990s.
As to playoff expansion, the owners know that it's something they'll need as a bargaining chip in the next TV deal, since the network surely would love to have two more playoff games. Before it's over, don't be shocked to see the networks push the envelope to a full 16 teams.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm