Fighting the Good Fight, and Fighting to Fight the Good Fight

Everyone who has watched an NFL game during the month of October knows that NFL players, coaches, and staff have included pink to various aspects of their uniforms such as hats, gloves, sweatbands, and cleats. The NFL has joined in the fight to raise breast cancer awareness by having its players participate in breast cancer awareness month during October. But as the month of October slowly winds down, NFL fans are beginning to wonder if the players, coaches, and staff will participate in breast cancer awareness month next year. It would not be because the NFL will choose not to participate next year, it would be because there may not be a season.

With the league's collective bargaining agreement set to expire in March, negotiations (although the term peace talks may be more appropriate) between Roger Goodell's NFL and DeMaurice Smith's NFLPA have barely begun. The lack of progress and initiative by both sides has practically signaled that a work stoppage is imminent and the cancellation of the 2011 NFL season is an unfortunate possibility. And as the lack of negotiations continue, the more issues pile up on the table. Amongst the original issues are retirement benefits and continued player health care. But now two new issues have arisen: hard hits and the potential of an eighteen game season.

This past weekend, the likes of Patriots DB Brandon Meriweather and Falcons CB Dunta Robinson have been fined for extreme and flagrant hits on Ravens TE Todd Heap and Eagles WR Desean Jackson respectively. Robinson in particular had the finger pointed at him by the media due to his use of a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jackson, who remained motionless on the ground for minutes following the hit. Steelers LB and former Defensive MVP James Harrison faces discipline for a flagrant hit on Browns WR Mohammed Massoquoi. On Monday the league office announced that effective this Sunday, players who commit helmet-to-helmet or devastating hits will face suspension. This includes first offenders. The growing amount of brain damage in the NFL is expected to be halted with the new CBA because it is 1) bad for the NFL's business if their workforce is, to quote Michael Wilbon, "literally killed off," and 2) because the NFLPA want their players protected. If their is anything the two sides should agree on it's this.

Sadly, it's not that simple. During the off-season, talks began of increasing the games in a season to eighteen, but cutting two preseason games. The league's justification is that the fans have grown tired of the preseason's four game length. Almost immediately, star players such as Patriots QB Tom Brady and Ravens LB Ray Lewis spoke out against the idea of an eighteen game season, on the grounds that it opens up the door for more injury to players.

This is where Roger Goodell needs to open his mind and listen. When you have players like Ray Lewis and Tom Brady speaking out against the notion of an eighteen game season, and you are the Commissioner, then you need to pay attention, especially since players like Brady and Lewis have made the league billions of dollars. They made the money for the league, and now Goodell should return their request.

I hope that a new CBA is resolved and I can have something other than hockey to look forward to in the fall. But if the corporate suits in the NFL decide that making money is more important than protecting the people who make them money, then it could be a long summer for football fans.