The Future

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had an editorial in the Wall Street Journal yesterday that is definitely worth a look. It explains in plain terms what the league will look like if the players win their lawsuits. Short version: No draft, unlimited free agency, no minimum/maximum payroll, no minimum salaries, and no consistency in training camp or substance abuse policies. Does anyone actually believe these things would benefit the league? A major reason the NFL has increased in popularity is because fans believe that any team, even the Lions, has a legitimate chance to be a contender if they play well and make the right personnel moves. The changes described above would blow that away and likely lead to the total destruction of some teams, e.g., Buffalo and Green Bay. Do people understand this?