What Consensus and Egalitarianism Teach Us About the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

I have lived in communities based on consensus and egalitarianism. I know that makes me a freak of nature, but it also provides me with additional insight about the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Both consensus and egalitarian communities and the NFL's CBA process require lots of diverse people to come together and agree. Or, at the very least, they must agree to come to collective terms through some form of bargaining.

Finalizing agreements on large issues in consensus and/or egalitarian communities is very difficult. I've personally seen it take years for people to agree how to use a small space, measuring twenty-five square feet. Simultaneously, I've witnessed bigger projects, involving large sums of money and investment, get vetoed at the last minute, in spite of over half a decade of planning. For these reasons, I think the NFL is screwed when it comes to reaching a timely agreement regarding the CBA.

The current NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. on March 3, 2011. It was put in place back in 2006, allowing for either the players or owners to "opt out" of the deal. This past football season, the owners decided to exercise their right to "opt out," nullifying the CBA that was in place.

Consensus and egalitarian communities' processes often contain options similar to the NFL CBA's option to "opt out." In those communities, such options are built into the decision-making process, in order to reach a better decision. However, those better decisions often do not account for the passage of time. The argument in favor of the long process is that the "process" is of paramount importance to reaching the best final decision. It is a legitimate argument, but one that can make it very hard to accomplish tasks and goals in a timely manner.

During decision-making meetings in consensus and egalitarian communities, I've seen people laugh, cry, yell and hug. The entire gamut of emotions has been displayed. It is understandable, as people's way of life is constantly at stake. For the NFL, the Collective Bargaining Agreement means many people's ways of life are at stake. From billionaire business owners to Peyton Manning and Drew Bees to minimum salaried football players, many people lives and businesses are at stake. The paramount difference, for the most part, is that these NFL people are wealthy, by any standard.

In other words, it could be argued that these people have more at stake, if you wrap up such thoughts in money. However, that's typically a silly way of looking at things, if you can afford not to. I would argue that the members of consensus and egalitarian communities have more at stake, since their entire livelihood, from their homes, to their jobs, to their recreational activities and social lives are wrapped up in large, community decisions. But, this isn't about me and my thoughts on the matter. This is about the perceptions of those involved.

For the vast majority of those involved in the NFL CBA turmoil, this is one of the biggest decisions of their lives. On one side, a group of 32 NFL team owners want to maintain, stabilize and build their vast franchises, so they can become billionaires off the NFL teat. On the other side, a union of thousands of players wants to maintain, stabilize and build their own net worth, so they can comfortably support themselves and their families into their retirement.

The X-factor here is that the owners can go on making the money involved in whatever CBA deal is reached for the duration of their lives, so long as they can still function. Meanwhile, it is rare for any football player to function past the age of forty, despite Brett Favre's ability to do so. Also, the players do not know what health risks they will face in the future. For these reasons, the players need their money now. Also, for these reasons, it will be tough to convince the players to expand from a 16 game to an 18 game season. What guarantees are the owners making? What guarantees is anyone making with regard to the health of football players.

The average NFL player career is purported to last less than four years. Therefore, the owners and players will not come to an agreement until this issue is addressed. The NFLPA wants to protect its' players, while the owners want to protect their wallets. Something must give. Unfortunately, I see no end in sight. Waiting until the last minute to attempt to restructure the CBA is going to result in the NFL missing their deadline of 11:59 p.m. March 3, 2011. Mark my words.

Although, maybe an elongated process of decision-making will benefit both sides in the long-term. At least, that's what consensus and egalitarian communities would have you believe. And, I think there is some accuracy to that belief with relation to the NFL CBA. After all, who is really going to suffer if an agreement is not reached by the deadline?

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