It was that time during the week leading up to the Super Bowl where the Commissioner of the NFL takes the podium and discusses the issues related to the NFL today. Ladies and Gentlemen...The Commissioner of the National Football League! (cue the presidential music) Among the issues that Goodell had presented to him included: The expansion of the NFL into London, Mexico City, and Toronto The reinstatement of Donte Stallworth The distribution of the NFL Network on more cable systems The looming possibility of an 18 game season And of course that whole labor beef CBA thing-a-mijig. I weigh on a couple of these issues saying that this commissioner seriously can't still have goo-goo eyes for London. That whole NFL Europe thing was a real success, wasn't it. The big issue facing the league is of course the labor impasse going on between the NFL owners and the NFLPA. They have a month to get this thing straightened out or face an uncapped season, which isn't all that good for the players even as rosy as it sounds on paper. It increases the amount of years that a player can become an unrestricted free agent from 4 to 6. An uncapped season would also be hell for fans since it basically turns the NFL into MLB. Smith said that an uncapped season would kill the salary cap all together. It is this very salary cap that is the centerpiece of the NFL's popularity. All 32 teams have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Salary cap=parity which is why I have ...
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