IT'S LIKE THE NFL JUST...DISAPPEARED.
It's our girlfriends' wildest dream, and come next summer, there's a chance it becomes reality. Because unless the players and owners can come to a labor agreement -- and right now, the two sides aren't even close -- there will be no NFL next season.
I don't understand the specifics, but I do know the basic problem is -- believe it or not -- there isn't enough money. Despite how much we all think we pour into the league's coffers, the reality is that owners are losing money on their teams, and players aren't being appropriately compensated for the risk they put on their bodies and minds.
I believe there's a simple solution:
Advertise EVERYWHERE.
Yep, those are the...Broncos? |
Have you seen NFL uniforms lately? Every team has eight different ones, all for the sake of selling more jerseys. Some of the uniforms (i.e. New York Titans) bear no resemblance in color to the team wearing them (New York Jets). Until Mark Sanchez throws a trademark interception, we don't even know who we're watching.
And let's face it, as much as we love our football, Europe loves theirs even more. Yet Europeans have no issue at all drenching their club's jerseys with sponsors. If an alien from outer space turned on a European soccer game, they'd think AIG was playing Vodafone in some strange form of telecom-insurance negotiation.
We wouldn't have to worry about "competing sponsorships", or any other logistical nonsense a lawyer reading this could come up with: Europe's given us the blueprint of how this would work. Just copy their model, and watch the dollars roll in.
Stadium names got the ball rolling years ago. Now let's take if further: I'm talking seat backs, end zones, goalposts, urinal cakes, whatever it takes to make the NFL profitable again. Everything's fair game.
Is nothing sacred? Who cares! Seriously, who freaking cares? Nothing sacred is better than nothing.
Unless you're a girlfriend, that is.
Divisional Round Picks
Steelers (-3) vs. Ravens (Sat, 4:30 ET). Should be a great game, and I think home-field is worth more than 3 in the playoffs.
Packers (+2.5) @ Falcons (Sat, 8:00 ET). Boy this one's tough. I reserve the right to flip-flop between now and Saturday.
Seahawks (+10) @ Bears (Sun, 1:00 ET). "Take The Points Sunday, Part I"
Jets (+8.5) @ Patriots (Sun, 4:00 ET). Part II. Way too many points.
Last Week: 2-3-1
Season: 44-47-4