“Fox News Sunday” broke today from its typical format of hosting political leaders to discuss the most pressing world and national issues to talk about the Super Bowl and the possible cancellation of the 2012 NFL football season.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said his “most important goal” was to help the league and the players union reach a labor agreement that would avert a cancellation. However, he did not promise fans that a labor lockout would not occur and that the 2012 season would go unplayed should the league and the union fail to reach an agreement by March 3.
“No one wants [the National Football League] be successful more than me,” Mr. Goodell said in response to show host Chris Wallace’s asking whether the labor disagreement would nix next season, resulting in fans having a collective “nervous breakdown.”
Mr. Goodell said the league wants to change the labor contract, or collective bargaining agreement, to give owners another $1 billion in revenue before sharing what remains with the players, because “the economics are changing.”
“The way you continue to be a successful business is you don’t wait for the car to go off the cliff,” he said.
The league wants to add two regular-season games to the season, which players say will increase their risk of injury.
The players union openly has lobbied Capitol Hill lawmakers to help in the dispute. The league has criticized that effort but has worked more behind the scenes, including paying influential lobbying firms.
• Joseph Weber can be reached at jweber@washingtontimes.com.old.
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