[GT40FIED]

That sounds a lot more like an argument for rudamentary free market than for the NFL. I'm not saying they can't do it and that people won't pay...I'm saying they shouldn't do it and that people shouldn't pay (at least not what they're currently being charged). Why not pass some of that "love" onto the fans in the form of lower ticket prices, cheaper merchandise of the same quality, etc. etc. It's hypocracy, pure and simple. If you really love something, you don't make outrageous demands to do it. I don't blame the players for that, I blame the league. Once they started offering players too much money then every asshole with a bloated ego started demanding the same. And sure, it's a job like any other, but I'm willing to bet that even the lowest paid players makes well into the 6 figures.

You mentioned, Chris, that you play regularly. Do you demand people pay you outrageous sums of money to do it? No...because, I can only assume, you enjoy the game. Should those guys play like you for free? No. But ask yourself if someone's going to feel the bite of being paid...say...$1M a year versus even...say...$600K per year. It's like that episode of South Park where they make fun of copyright enfringement. I don't care if Owens can't afford a new gold plated shark bar. Or another Bentley. Or another 12,000 sq. ft. house.

All I'm really saying is that people need to assess their priorities. For fuck's sake, tickets to the superbowl this year were selling upwards of $5K (maybe more...that's the highest I saw). Was that game worth $5K? Or $3K? Or even $1K? Hell...I watched it on TV for free and felt kinda ripped off. A good game, it was not.