The USFL and Its Impact on the NFL

The United States Football League operated from 1983 to 1987.  While the league did not last long, it did spur the careers of some notable players including some from my favorite team, the Bills:

Jim Kelly

Kent Hull

Scott Norwood

Ray Bentley

Doug Flutie

Marv Levy

Other notable players included Steve Young, Reggie White, Doug Williams, Bart Oates and Gary Zimmerman among others.  What is of note is that a lot of these players made significant contributions to their respective NFL teams over the course of their careers.  Without them, it is probably safe to say that their teams would not have been as successful as they were.  Kelly, Hull, and Levy were major parts of the Bills success in the late 80s and early 90s and the main reason they went to four Super Bowls. Without them, the Bills may still have been a moribund franchise that might not even had stayed in Buffalo.  Flutie was a part of a Bills revitalization in the post-Kelly years as he led the Bills to the playoffs in 1998 and part of the reason the team was able to stay in Buffalo.

Reggie White is one of the all-time sack leaders who had success with the Eagles and Packers and won a Super Bowl with Green Bay in 1997.  Steve Young led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl win in the post-Montana era in 1995.  Doug Williams was the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.  Bart Oates was part of a Giants and 49ers offensive line that won three Super Bowls. Gary Zimmerman was a seven-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro who played for both the Vikings and Bronco and won a Super Bowl with Denver in 1997.

What if the USFL never folded or never existed and the players still were in the league or never played in the NFL?  I think it is quite obvious that their respective teams would not have been as successful without them.  Kelly’s time in particular in the USFL actually benefitted him as he was able to gain valuable experience that helped him in his Bills career.  While the USFL did not last, the players mentioned above and others used that short period of time to find long-term success.

The Ramifications of an NFL Lockout

The Super Bowl is the culmination of a long journey for two NFL teams with one being crowned the winner.  It might possibly be the last NFL game that fans will see for a while.  There is still the looming possibility that a lockout will occur on March 4 if an agreement can not be reached between the owners and the players.

The NFL has not had any labor related work stoppages since 1987 which is longer than MLB, the NBA, and the NHL.   There were two strikes in the 1980s, one in 1982 and in 1987.  The ‘82 strike lasted 57 days and reduced the season to nine games.  The main issue was gross revenues. The player’s association wanted the players to get 55% of the gross revenues. They ended up accepting a one time $60 million payment to return along with upgraded minimum salaries and enhanced benefits.  The 1987 strike only cancelled one game and replacement players were used for three weeks.  The main issue in this strike was free agency.  While free agency was not granted, eventually it came about in 1993 as a result of an anti-trust lawsuit.

The current collective bargaining agreement was supposed to expire at the end of the 2012 season but in 2008 the owners opted out two years early.  The 2010 season did not have a salary cap.  The main topics this time around are extra regular season games (adding two more), player insurance, limits on rookie salaries, revenue division, and benefits for retired players.  Losses could reach $1 billion dollars with no agreement by September.

This could be potentially disastrous for the NFL.  The longer that this lockout drags on affects many different things.  Free Agency, offseason workouts (held at training facilities), the subsequent signing of drafted players, mini-camps, training camps, preseason, and regular season games would all be affected. Any of these being delayed would hamper the start of the 2011 season if one in fact would take place.  Some think there may not be a 2011 season.  The NFL has enjoyed tremendous success over the last few years and remains the most popular sport. A lockout would severely damage its image and I believe may have an affect much like with baseball following its strike in 1994. It took a few years to get fans back in the game with some not going back at all.  If the NFL wants to save the sport, it needs to come to some sort of agreement with the players. Better sooner rather than later.