League Likely Will Face Labor Challenges Without Rooney, Richardson

BasX · Mar 26, 2009

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports raises an intriguing point in the wake of the recently-concluded league meetings in Dana Point, California.

With Steelers chairman Dan Rooney likely to become the U.S. ambassador to Ireland and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson recuperating from a heart transplant, the league won’t have the benefit of these two key voices as labor unrest looms.

“There’s no question that both of them put the league ahead of their own interests of their franchises,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “We all like to think we do that and I think, for the most part, that’s the case, but you really see it with Dan [Rooney] and Jerry [Richardson].”

Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed optimism regarding the league’s ability to move forward absent the involvement of two men who had an instrumental role in getting Goodell hired.

“This is not to underestimate the role that either of those gentlemen plays,” Goodell said. “They both bring a tremendous amount to the table. But it’s just like football teams, change occurs. You have different players and different owners and they come together at the right time. I think you’re underestimating the group that’s in that room . . . the ownership’s ability to put together a proposal at the proper times.”

But part of the problem is that 16 of the 32 owners weren’t in the league during the last work stoppage in 1987.

“We’ve had a lot of change in that room from the mid-80s,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said. “Sometimes it’s hard to describe to a lot of the guys in there the all-encompassing negativity that swirls in these things when you have labor strife.”

And it really is amazing to consider the movers and shakers of the NFL who have never had to move and shake through a work stoppage.

The list of owners who have acquired teams since the last labor fight includes Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder (Redskins), Bob Kraft (Patriots), Jeffrey Lurie (Eagles), Arthur Blank (Falcons), Bob McNair (Texans), Randy Lerner (Browns), Stephen Ross (Dolphins), Wayne Weaver (Jaguars), Steve Bisciotti (Ravens), Zygi Wilf (Vikings), Paul Allen (Seahawks).

Heck, 49ers owner Jed York was barely out of diapers during the ‘87 strike.

So it will be criticially important for this new group of owners to rely on men who have experienced the pain and the frustration of a work stoppage.

Of those, the most experienced include Ralph Wilson of the Bills, Bud Adams of the Titans, Al Davis of the Raiders, William Clay Ford of the Lions, and Bill Bidwill of the Cardinals.
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http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009...e-labor-challenges-without-rooney-richardson/

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League Likely Will Face Labor Challenges Without Rooney, Richardson

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