RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 27 (Reuters) - The NFL has no plans to open its financial books to the players despite frequent requests, Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
The players say the information is needed to evaluate comments by the league that its non-player costs have increased significantly.
But Goodell said that is not going to solve the labor dispute that is threatening the 2011 season for America’s most popular professional sport.
“We saw it frankly in the NBA where there were so-called ‘open books’ for the last two years and a filing earlier this week with the NLRB said there was not enough financial disclosure,” he told Tennessee Titan fans in a telephone chat on Thursday night.
Goodell was referring to an unfair labor practice charge against the NBA that the NBA Players Association filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday.
The union accused the NBA of making harsh and regressive demands, a charge the NBA denied.
Goodell said the NFL does not need to open its books for the players to have full knowledge of the economic situation of the league.
“They understand that costs are rising faster than the revenues,” he said. “They have our revenue down to a penny.”
Owners originally asked for an extra billion dollars off the top of league revenue to help finance new stadiums and other needs. The figure was later reduced during bargaining sessions.
The league currently receives $1 billion before the $9 billion in annual revenue is divided with the players. The players’ stake topped 50 percent under the previous collective bargaining agreement, but would decrease if owners’ take increases.
Goodell said a March proposal by the owners would slightly increase player compensation from 2010 to 2011 with a 14 percent increase coming over the next three years.
How to divide the money is a major roadblock in resolving the labor dispute, which has resulted in the owners locking out the players for more than 70 days.
The lockout, which forbids contact between players and teams, began on March 12, a day after bargaining talks broke down and the players union, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), decertified.
Nine players then filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league, resulting in several court decisions and mediation sessions.
The feuding parties will be back in court on June 3 for a hearing on the legality of the lockout.
Among the groups siding with the players in the case is the NFL Coaches Association.
“Coaches are already experiencing hardship from the NFL’s lockout and are vulnerable to irreparable injury if league operations are suspended for a significant period of time,” the group said in a brief filed with the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
But Goodell downplayed the filing.
“The Coaches Association is housed in the NFLPA building,” he said. “They are funded by the NFLPA.”
Goodell said the league did not have a “drop-dead date” for canceling events but said earlier this week the time was fast approaching when decisions needed to be made.
He admitted the league had contingency plans but did not elaborate.
The players say the information is needed to evaluate comments by the league that its non-player costs have increased significantly.
But Goodell said that is not going to solve the labor dispute that is threatening the 2011 season for America’s most popular professional sport.
“We saw it frankly in the NBA where there were so-called ‘open books’ for the last two years and a filing earlier this week with the NLRB said there was not enough financial disclosure,” he told Tennessee Titan fans in a telephone chat on Thursday night.
Goodell was referring to an unfair labor practice charge against the NBA that the NBA Players Association filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday.
The union accused the NBA of making harsh and regressive demands, a charge the NBA denied.
Goodell said the NFL does not need to open its books for the players to have full knowledge of the economic situation of the league.
“They understand that costs are rising faster than the revenues,” he said. “They have our revenue down to a penny.”
Owners originally asked for an extra billion dollars off the top of league revenue to help finance new stadiums and other needs. The figure was later reduced during bargaining sessions.
The league currently receives $1 billion before the $9 billion in annual revenue is divided with the players. The players’ stake topped 50 percent under the previous collective bargaining agreement, but would decrease if owners’ take increases.
Goodell said a March proposal by the owners would slightly increase player compensation from 2010 to 2011 with a 14 percent increase coming over the next three years.
How to divide the money is a major roadblock in resolving the labor dispute, which has resulted in the owners locking out the players for more than 70 days.
The lockout, which forbids contact between players and teams, began on March 12, a day after bargaining talks broke down and the players union, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), decertified.
Nine players then filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league, resulting in several court decisions and mediation sessions.
The feuding parties will be back in court on June 3 for a hearing on the legality of the lockout.
Among the groups siding with the players in the case is the NFL Coaches Association.
“Coaches are already experiencing hardship from the NFL’s lockout and are vulnerable to irreparable injury if league operations are suspended for a significant period of time,” the group said in a brief filed with the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
But Goodell downplayed the filing.
“The Coaches Association is housed in the NFLPA building,” he said. “They are funded by the NFLPA.”
Goodell said the league did not have a “drop-dead date” for canceling events but said earlier this week the time was fast approaching when decisions needed to be made.
He admitted the league had contingency plans but did not elaborate.
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