When it comes to the labor dispute, we refuse to take a side. We believe that the two sides should work aggressively and continuously toward establishing a fair, long-term labor deal that restores labor peace, but we don’t believe that one side is “right” or “wrong,” generally. Instead, to the extent that they can’t figure out how to share their ten-billion-dollar embarrassment of riches, both sides are wrong -- and both sides are jeopardizing the game we all love by refusing to act like adults and find a middle ground.
That said, when it comes to the issue of NFL teams responding to their meticulously-planned lockout by taking pay away from the men and women who work for the various franchises or the league office or NFL Films or NFL Network, I’m compelled to take a stand. It’s wrong for teams to hide behind the lockout to justify furloughs or layoffs or pay cuts, especially when the teams were able in 2010 to save plenty of money that would have gone to players, thanks to the league-friendly realities of the uncapped year.
The Ravens, whether influenced by our comments or not (probably not), have done the right thing and rescinded a 25-percent pay cut, refunding money withheld from non-player employees. Today’s PFT Live included a rant that was intended to be slightly more tactful and/or muted, but that perhaps will influence other franchises to do the right thing, too.