Dear NFL and NFLPA: Shame On You Both

Hello NFL and NFLPA.

I am writing today to address a topic of the utmost importance. You probably don't know me, but I'm very ashamed of your behavior, as of late. Am I mad that there wasn't an agreement made today? A little bit.  Am I frustrated that you couldn't get an extension put in place before the union decided to decertify? Slightly, but I'll get over it.

"I think we know where their [NFLPA's] commitment was: it was a commitment to litigate, as we've said all along."

-Jeff Pash

I am very sorry that you as fans have to endure this. Football is more than just a game for all of us. We will keep fighting... always.

-Drew Brees

What I'm most upset about is the fact that you're both treating the fans like children. For what it's worth, I'm a 21 year old college student with a discerning mind and a low tolerance for ignorance. I may be closer to a crib than a retirement home, but that doesn't give you (the NFL or NFLPA) to treat me like a confused young child caught in the middle of a messy divorce. Don't deny it. You have both ridden the "it's their fault, not mine" pony for long enough. 

The NFL and NFLPA are playing mommy and daddy and are trying to prove to whoever is within earshot that they should get the kids on the weekends. We, as football fans, are the kids. Right?

Why must you slander each other and then refuse to negotiate? Are you really trying to reach out to the fans by pointing the finger to the other side? I'll tell you this much... the fans (myself included) think that both sides are in the wrong.

Do I care who gets a certain percent of 9 billion dollars? Not particularly. Trust? What trust? How's this for a tweet?...

"RT @MHR_Troy The NFL and NFLPA refuse to negotiate. They think we should just trust them to get a deal done. Would you?"

The question was rhetorical.

As a college student who has had more homework assignments in the past 3 months than dollars in my wallet, you will find no sympathy from me. Don't try and pit me against the "other side" by slandering their negotiation methods. Both the NFL and NFLPA are in the wrong. Instead of sitting down and negotiating, they'd rather threaten a lockout or decertification, pointing the finger along the way.

Now, I understand that it's a business. I understand that you're in it for the money. I understand that you're here to collect. But don't you dare try and convince me that you're in it to please the fans. You're not. Neither side is trying to please the fans. Talk to me like an adult. Let's not get into a fit of "he said, she said" because that's not going to get anyone closer to a deal. All it does is create animosity from the other side, which makes a deal harder to come by.

I don't want to hear from George Atallah say "I'm so sorry" because sorry doesn't put football on my television. I don't want to hear from Roger Goodell about his "one dollar salary", because even if he does order off the McDonalds Dollar Menu, he's rolling his Bentley through the drive-thru. To be honest, I don't even understand the rationale behind appealing to the fans. It's not American Idol. Fan voting won't earn you a larger slice of the pie.

But hey, I can't stay mad forever. Right? To be honest, the more I think about it, the more I feel sorry for you, NFL and NFLPA. Not because you couldn't lock up a majority share of 9 billion dollars. I feel sorry for you because your greed knows no bounds. Less than 24 hours after an earthquake and tsunami destroyed the coastline of Japan, you all put on your suits, sat down in a conference room, argued over millions of dollars while trying to win over the affections of fans on twitter, and came away with no results. Classy.

Congratulations, to both sides! You have successfully alienated the fanbases, tarnished your product, and essentially told your "children" (the fans) that they should look for other things to do in the fall.

Go play outside, Billy and Ally... Mommy and Daddy are going to court.