CHUTZPAH

Love reading the papers.

The NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION (NFLPA) has been asking the NFL OWNERS forever if they could obtain details of the finances of the NFL clubs.

They were seeking some verification that the owners claim of "poorhouse proximity" was accurate.

You see, there is a tendency to do that when someone asks you to give them a billion dollars out of your pocket.

The NFL and the owners have repeatedly said "NO!" to the revealing of finances.

I agree that there are certain proprietary rights due anyone in business and talking about your finances could cause problems down the road - not just with the IRS - but a pending divorce lawyer, as well.

But, there are also reasonable expectations that certain financial revelations or disclosures are necessitated and should be forthcoming when you are asking for $4 billion over 5 years.

Well, negotiations being what they are - as described by various "anonymous" sources - apparently there has been some movement, and not just on the owners inital demand for an extra $ Billion off the top.

There has also been some movement on releasing "financial" information by the league. The NFL did just that, or so the "anonymous source system" (ASS) has revealed.

The union responded, "The information that was offered wasn't what we were asking for."

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the union, further stated:

"According to our investment bankers and advisers, that information would be totally meaningless in making a determination about whether to write an $800 million check to the NFL in the first year (of a new agreement), $800 million in the second year, $800 million in the third year, $800 in the fourth year, and $800 in the fifth year."

Here comes the chutzpah.

The NFL, in the person of Jeff Pash, NFL executive vice-president (apparently they have more than one), said before Wednesday's session that financial disclosure should not be an issue.

We agree - but, wait!

To clarify, he's quoted as saying, "If that's something that important to the union, we've made it clear we're willing to work with them on it."

He adds, "I'm hoping we can get past that if it remains a serious problem."

When do you think that would be, Jeff? I mean , seeing as how they've been requesting that information for over two years and you and your cohorts keep stiff arming them?

There is a good reason why arbitrator/negotiator Cohen has insisted that both sides remain quiet as to the progress of negotiations - and- NFL Commissioner Goodell so quickly agreed.

Maybe more than one reason

The first legitimate reason that comes to mind is based on an analogy to Obama's reluctance to see his Vice-President Joe Biden, being quoted in the media.

In the latter case it's the President shuddering in the Oval Office when one of his assistants approaches with the question, "Guess what Joe said today?"

Most often this occurs after "Joltin Joe" was asked about a recent foreign affairs matter - the reality of which unfortunately appeared to be "foreign" to him. (Won't somebody please tell poor Joe what's going on?)

The same can be said for Goodells NFL spokesman and his other "video rangers." (Sorry, Captain.)

None of this is to suggest that the NFL office team members are not extremely intelligent people for the most part. Sir Pash would be right up there at the head of the list.

It is more due to the fact that - whatever favorable relating to the common man or woman they might have done in a previous life - that talent has apparently abandoned them when they acquired their current position.

Perhaps it is not dissimilar to the stories we hear and read about various rock heros, movie & TV stars, Pro-athletes, or Silicon Valley wunderkins - who just got too caught up in themself.

Their success came too fast for them to realize that with that success comes an obligation to not assume the rest of the world got stupid. There was no white smoke involved with their selection. They are only self appointed saviors.

To be fair though, none of the NFL execs has claimed to be a warlock.

Whatever! It's just that it is grating to this blogger that the words coming from the NFL office folks appear to be extremely elitist. Sounds like a portion of those billions the league craves might be better spent by Goodell in hiring publicists for his folks - or putting a bite in their collective mouths.

"We only want what is good for our fans" isn't cutting it anymore.

By listening and reading what they, as representatives of the NFL, are allegedy saying, according to the ASS, it appears they are not only demeaning DeMaurice Smith and his team, but, their NFL fan base as well.

And, that's a !@#$%^ shame - whether it's prime time "chutzpa" - or not.