What are the Consequences of FALSE Tampering Charges?

by | Jul 24, 2008 | Business of Football, NFL News, NFL Random Thoughts

So, unless you’re hiding under a rock, or you’ve wisely already made ZoneBlitz the only Web site you visit each day, you probably already know the latest news in the ongoing Favre-Packers-Vikings love triangle, which is that Favre does NOT, in fact, have a Packers issued cell phone. So, either the tampering charges were apparently based on some other evidence, or the Packers are just on a fishing trip, trying to make life as miserable for the Vikings as it has been for the Pack since Favre decided to “un-retire.”

And that got us to thinking–what are the consequences for the Packers if the Vikings are found NOT to have been tampering? If the Packers suspected that the Vikings might be tampering, since he speaks to his friend Darrell Bevell frequently, and filed the complaint simply believing that the NFL might find something–and if not, then at least the Vikings have had to deal with a problem right before training camp, there has to be some sort of consequence for filing false charges, right?

If there’s no penalty, you can expect this to become a strategy in coming seasons, as teams try to hassle division rivals to try to gain an edge. At least until Roger Goodell steps in and tells them to knock it off (a la the Poison Pill contaract provision), or he comes down hard on some team for doing so (and destroys all the evidence afterward).

The Hypocritical NFL

by | Jul 23, 2008 | Business of Football, No Fun League

The NFL is all about money–money from ticket sales, money from jersey sales, money from the networks.  Money from the networks that they make by selling sponsorships and ads.  Often sponsorships and ads from beer companies.

However, when it comes to the players, beer and alcohol is a no no–at least for endorsements.  That’s why Charles Woodson can’t promote his wine, called TwentyFour.  The NFL apparently sent Woodson a letter, saying:

…any interviews supporting alcohol would be seen as an endorsement and “may have a detrimental effect on the great number of young fans who follow our game.”

Like the article we linked to, we find it amazing that the NFL can promote as much beer as they want, but a player can’t promote his own line of wine.  And yet we find it somewhat surprising that the simple act of having a wine isn’t enough ‘endorsement’ to get the league to put it’s foot down.

And we’re going to go out on a limb, and say that Woodson developed his taste for wine in his playing days in Oakland–not Green Bay.

Personal seat licenses getting out of hand

by | Jul 7, 2008 | Business of Football

I meant to post about the concept of personal seat licenses – ransoms charged by teams for the right to attempt to get season tickets, especially in new stadiums – last week but I ran out of time. But it seems as though Zoneblitz isn’t the only football fan getting turned off by the degree to which this trend is pricing the average fan out of the game.

The most recent announcement – and the one that sent ZB over the edge – came from Dallas where Jerry Jones announced that fans would have to pay up to $150,000 for the right to purchase duckets for his billion dollar toy in Arlington.

Fox Sports rightly points out that this is on top of the $300 million in public financing the Cowboys received to construct what is supposed to be a wonder of an arena. Yes, $150,000 – not for the tickets, but for the right to have a chance to later buy the tickets.

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How to Handle a Contract Dispute

by | Jun 6, 2008 | Business of Football, Contract Squabbles

OK, I think everyone here knows that we here at ZoneBlitz are predominantly fans of the Minnesota Vikings, being the local team.  And, I think I can speak for my brother when I say that over the last 10 years, Matt Birk has become one of our favorite players on the team.  Local guy, Harvard grad, very down to earth from what we’ve seen/heard, and co-owner of a couple of fairly nice local restaurants.

There has been a lot made in some media outlets of his absence from OTAs this past offseason, apparently due to his being upset over his contract situation (which expires after this coming season).

Birk finally spoke publicly about the situation today, and I tell you what–Chad Johnson, Chris Baker and the rest could really stand to take some notes.

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