After attending Super Bowl XLV and watching how the National Football League has handled the catastrophe that was, I have also found how much negativity is surrounding the NFL right now. With the possibility of no football next season, fans are enraged about the seats at the Super Bowl and now about the negotiations that are seemingly endless.
With the NFL Players Association going up against the owners of the NFL teams, it's hard to say who has the best leverage in this situation. The owners are demanding a longer schedule, a lower salary, and no increased health benefits in one of the more injury-prone sports. The negotiations have been brought to a mediator because they seemingly cannot come to an agreement through conventional negotiation.
As to how both sides are handling this in the media, neither is really doing a good job. When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he would take a salary of $1 if that's what was necessary to come to an agreement, the head of the NFLPA DeMaurice Smith said that his salary would be $ .69. Each side just keep trying to one-up the other, clearly without consulting their PR people, because both sides come off as petty and childish.
The mediation has gained a lot of media attention because what's at risk is major for the American public. If the sides do not come to an agreement, there will be no football played next year--which is devastating for owners, fans, and players alike. Fans have even made a commercial and a website petition to show the NFL how badly they want an agreement. Let's see if they listen.
For everyone unfamiliar with the whole situation, here's a funny explanation of it:
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