In his always-informative Sunday morning Countdown column, John Czarnecki of FOXSports.com points out that one of the primary proponents of reeling in player pay isn’t one of the obvious big-name owners like Bob Kraft, Daniel Snyder, or Jerry Jones, but Bob McNair of the Texans.
“McNair believes it is essential to make a reasonable profit,” Czarnecki writes, “especially
a new owner like himself who has a significant debt service because of
his expansion fee and new stadium costs.”
As to the first half of that quote, we agree. Billion-dollar businesses don’t strive to pay the bills and break even. If no profit is generated, the overall value of the operation plummets — and the folks who have the money to own teams will opt instead to invest in ventures providing an appropriate return via an acceptable profit.
As to the second half of the quote, the thing that’s driving McNair to aim for higher profits also makes it harder for McNair and other high-debt owners to absorb a work stoppage. And that continues to be the primary difference between 1987 and today. The debt that some owners are carrying demands a constant stream of revenue in order to pay down the enormous debts that some owners (including those with $1.1 billion stadiums) are repaying.
Didn’t McNair die while cheating on his wife? Now he wants to curb player compensation? What’s next, riverdance?
All sports teams will eventually be playthings for the ultra-rich. 1% of the population owns the vast bulk of the country. You can only buy so many yachts and estates. As we continue our corporate inspired journey to 3rd world status it’s only fair that these neo-aristocrats get to have NFL franchises too.
You mean there is something wrong with paying a player guaranteed millions of dollars right out of college?
Who would have thought?
Not too worried about a work stoppage. Most owners would go along with no CBA longer than the players would. No salary cap means no minimum as well.
Union is led by a sock puppet buffoon, don’t see the issue being resolved quickly.
‘Union is led by a sock puppet buffoon, don’t see the issue being resolved quickly.’
translation: I listen to Rush Limbaugh so I call others sock puppets (although I don’t get the irony of me parroting his language), oh and like Rush I also don’t like black people
He overpaid for the team. Plain and simple. Now the players are supposed to bail him out, I guess. He should sell a mansion or a jet if he needs cash. He bought an NFL team to be a big shot, not to make “a reasonable profit”.
actually I saw in interview with the head of the union on inside the NFL and he seemed very level headed and eager to start negotiating. I get the sense that the owners are the ones who are not looking to come to the table to get this resolved soon.
I think it’s disturbing that an owner with very little experience is the one with the loudest mouth. labor peace is the #1 reason this league remains the top league in the country. their greed is going to ruin a great thing.
Actually he has to share his profits with all of the cheaper teams like Jacksonville, Cincinnatti, Buffalo, Tennessee, & Pittsburgh. After paying their bills for them he doesn’t have enough to pay his own.