With the NFL lockout still in effect and waiting for a court to rule that has shown no interest in making a ruling apparently. The owners want more money. The players don't want less money. We just want football, although there would be a few new things that would make football even better for all the fans involved.
Before today you might have wondered is you whether there is anything or not you can do to help end the lockout and get football back on track with free agent signings, training camps, OTAs and, yes, even Brett Favre's yearly edition of his retirement questions. Now you can!
One of the perks (?) of running a team blog is that I get all sorts of email. I got a heads up about a plan that Yahoo! Sports is doing to present to the NFL and NFLPA*. It really is a noble gesture to try and help us feel like we are doing something at least. Here is the info:
Yahoo! Sports Encourages Fans to Rally to Restore Football
Online Petition Seeks One Million Signatures to Give a Voice to Fans
& Save the NFL Season
WHAT: The Rally to Restore Football is an online petition hosted by Yahoo! Sports, the No. 1 sports site on the Internet, to give football fans an opportunity to voice their passion and help save the NFL season. Fans can sign the petition at http://yhoo.it/R2RFpr. Once the petition reaches 1 million signatures, Yahoo! will deliver a letter on behalf of the fans to the NFL and to the Players Association in an effort to try and restore the 2011 football season. The petition, available on Facebook, lets fans sign, share, and declare their right to watch football! Please join the movement and help Yahoo! Sports keep the NFL season alive!
WHY: Not having a NFL season would leave an irreplaceable void in the sports world - this is just too important not to rally for. The NFL owners and players are making decisions that impact millions of citizens. Now, Yahoo! Sports wants to empower fans and make their voices heard. The Rally To Restore Football petition gives fans an opportunity to help save the NFL season. Remember, this isn't just about saving touchdowns and turf. The Rally to Restore Football is also about making sure we have something to do with our families on Sunday, supporting the stadium workers, keeping sports bars open, and cheerleaders and cheering - we all depend on football.
WHEN: May 3, 2011 until 1million fans sign The Rally to Restore Football at http://yhoo.it/R2RFpr.
WHERE: Fans are encouraged to sign up at http://www.facebook.com/
yahoosports?sk=app_ 207217529311563 or http://yhoo.it/R2RFpr.
Please join the movement and help Yahoo! Sports keep the NFL season alive!
Do I really think that this will change the minds of those involved in negotiating a new CBA? Not at all. Had owners and players both been thinking about how the fans feel, I think they likely would have ended this labor stoppage nonsense a long time ago.
But still, this gives you the opportunity to feel like you are not just sitting and waiting. If you like, sign up and give your reason. We all want football back. Let's pretend that this will actually matter.