Your NFL Strike Update: TV Makes Plans (Rich vs. Rich--Day 15)

Arthur Blank, Roger Goodell and others/Courtesy: d.orlando ledbetter-ajc.com

It's Monday, so it's time for our weekly series known as the Battle of the really, really rich or what they prefer to call it: The NFL Lockout.

In today's episode, we hear from the TV Networks who are trying to cover their collective hiney's in case they don't have NFL Football as a programming option this fall. Oh, advertisers are making plans as well.

CBS, FOX, NBC and ESPN are all sweating a bit heavily these days for fear their "Golden Goose" will not be laying any eggs.

Some cable networks are already contemplating alternate programming. Fox, at least has baseball until November, but none have any programming to fill gaps after that.

Read more from the Wall Street Journal RIGHT HERE

One other tidbit. The owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank decided to chime in yesterday. Why? We don't know.

Blank, who is a genuinely good person who means well, sometimes wades into or does things he probably shouldn't. And in this case, he shouldn't have. He again states the leagues case that "The NFLPA walked away from a deal that was more than fair." 


We give you a link to that letter courtesy of the Falcons website RIGHT HERE

While we have the utmost respect for Mr. Blank, having dealt with him for years, in this case--just stop. Please don't pander to the fans.

Our friends at ProFootballTalk provide a good summary of where we are and where we are going RIGHT HERE

Among the interesting points brought out here, the April 6th "Class Action" lawsuit is probably the next time anything significant happens here.

The other notable development is a "Grass Roots" push to have the players and owners meet, sans attorney's.

As for the players, they really don't have much to add either. Again, there has been more rhetoric, talking about the league not being willing to talk. Quite honestly, nothing new with these guys.

--Sigh-- We pretty much are resigned to the fact this is going to get resolved in a courtroom. We still think this is quite possibly the stupidest argument in the history of Sports. As much as we'd like to think one side is right and honorable and doing the right thing, we fully realize---they aren't.

It's going to be incredibly tough for 2 egotistical, narcissistic groups to sit in the same room and agree on anything. We realize that. We just hope that both sides stop trying to convince the fans that they are on the fans side. They aren't.

In the meantime, because we laugh at the thought of a strike with Replacement players, we give you the real Replacements:

Bon Jovi To Buy In To Falcons...?

Then, would they become Bon Jovi's Birds...???

It's not like this story is a runaway idea- with other stars buying into the Dolphins these days...
And we're not livin' on a prayer with it since it comes from the Winter Meetings in Dallas...
It's not like Arthur Blank's Falcons are wanted dead or alive for new ownership or anything like that...

But Jon Bon Jovi is saying that it's my life and I may want in as a part owner... since his Philadelphia Soul are dormie right now in Arena Football...

If the price is right, the rocker is telling Blank and the Falcons that I'll be there for you in the future...

Chris Mortensen is being told by Blank, however, that it's "not newsworthy at this stage" and, if it was, Mortensen is saying that it would be a 15-percent stake for $150-million... there is also a confidentiality agreement in play at present...

Here's what the Soul were up to on a smaller field... in 2008, as a example, when they won it all...
((HT: Youtube/ComcastSportsnet/ABC))


And here...


Have a nice day!

Doraville Doesn't Want Falcoms

((HT: AJC/Hunt))

It may be a touch of country in the city, but if the Doraville mayor holds any weight, the vacant land that was floated as the idea won't be floated anymore...

In a unanimous vote earlier this week, the City Council rejected what it said is a conceptual plan being pushed by DeKalb County: Build the NFL team a new stadium where a shuttered General Motors plant now stands near I-285 and MARTA rail.

“The county seems to think a stadium would be a wonderful thing,” Doraville Mayor Ray Jenkins said. “Our citizens overwhelmingly are not for that.”

DeKalb Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis said the county does not favor any concept, including a stadium. Rather, he remains open to any ideas that meet his goals of restoring 4,000 jobs lost when the factory closed in 2008 and puts the property back on the tax rolls.

"It becomes difficult to say no to any idea when we haven't seen any concrete plans," Ellis said. "There is nothing on paper yet."

The GM plant held 165 acres right next to Interstate 285 in northeast Atlanta. The Doraville City Council is worried about placing everything on the property: field, practice facilities, and administrative offices.

As Brother Phil admitted, that was probably news to the current town that houses the practice facility and offices way north. The town of Flowery Branch cut the Falcons a sweet deal to move up there long-term.

Those of us at OSG HQ think that would make for interesting public wars of words.

We know that Falcons owner Arthur Blank wants a new building by the time the bonds on the Dome are paid off- 2015 or sooner, but no later than 2020. And he needs a new building even after all the capital improvements that Blank has personally invested in...

To end a sentence in a preposition...

For your weekend music selection, we remind you of what the Atlanta Rhythm Section meant to rock and roll in the '70s and '80s...

It ain't much, but it's home...

Falcons Looking For A New Barn...?

((HT:AJC))

D. Orlando Ledbetter lets us know that Arthur Blank may be looking to build his own stadium for his football team and have it open by the time his lease at the Georgia Dome ((pictured, thanks GWCC)) expires.

Arthur Blank says he wants the Falcons to continue to play home games downtown. However, the owner and team officials have explored a number of sites in metro Atlanta to build a new stadium.

In addition to discussions with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority about a new stadium, five sites are currently under consideration by the team. They are Fort McPherson, the General Motors plant in Doraville, Honor Farm, Bellwood Quarry and a site owned by Waste Management near Forest Park.

However, the Falcons have not had discussions with the owners of those sites. The only formal conversations about a stadium have been with the GWCC, manager of the Georgia Dome.

Waste Management spokeswoman JoAnn Birrell said the Falcons had not contacted the trash company and she was unaware of any interest by the team.

The possibility of a new Dome was included in a master plan announced late last year by the GWCCA.

“Our number 1 priority is to continue to work with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and stay downtown,” Blank said earlier this month.

The Falcons are in the lower fourth of the National Football League in revenue. Blank wants a better lease and more management control from the Authority or a new stadium where they control all or most.

The lease expires when the bonds sold to build the Dome are paid, which could be as early as 2016 or as late as 2020. It takes roughly seven years - from site development to construction - to complete an NFL stadium.

“Our job is to look at everything that potentially is available so we are aware of options that we have,” Blank said.

Here is a closer look at the sites under consideration:

Fort McPherson: Georgia’s oldest Army base is located in southwest Atlanta. It is scheduled to be closed by the federal government in 2011.

The GM plant in Doraville: The former automobile plant site is 165 acres along I-285 between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Buford Highway and bordered by MARTA.

Honor Farm: The old Atlanta Prison Farm is a 290-acre property a half-mile east of Moreland Avenue in southwest DeKalb County.

Bellwood Quarry: The former gravel mine on 137 acres at 900 Lois Street in northwest Atlanta, now owned by the city, is near the Bankhead MARTA station.

Waste Management site: The Falcons said they have looked at property between 285 East and 75 South. Waste Management has a four-acre site near Ga. 42 in Forest Park.

Are You Sure This Time...? AFL Out In '09

Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Arena Football League is shutting down for the 2009 season. They look to return in 2010.

The AFL ((pictured, thanks Nick Laham/Getty Images)) Board of Directors voted on the idea Sunday night and an official announcement is scheduled for some time Monday. The number one reason for the suspension is the reported lack of owners who were committed to a season.

Manoloff's article reports the following franchises were not looking to play:

The Georgia Force ((owned by the Atlanta Falcons)), the Dallas Desperados ((owned by the Cowboys)), the Philadelphia Soul ((owned by Jon Bon Jovi among others)), Colorado Crush ((owned by John Elway and Pat Bowlen)), the Chicago Rush, and the Cleveland Gladiators (9owned by Bernie Kosar and others)).

Tampa Bay Storm Head Coach Tim Marcum, in an interview with the St. Pete Times newspaper, said his team- along with Arizona, New York, Orlando, and San Jose voted to play.

The four-letter network, who holds a financial stake in the league, however told anyone willing to listen that they would not televise a 6, 7, or 8-team league.

Owners like Arthur Blank and Jerrih Jones, Manoloff's source for the story stated, would come back for the 2010 season if the business model were to be reworked.