The Advantages of an NFL Lockout

Rumors are swirling that the NFL may go into a lockout for part of, if not the entire 2011 season. While baseball is considered America's pastime, it is clear to see that pro football has surpassed baseball as the most-watched sport. But, what would happen if the NFL is forced to play a partial schedule, or at worst, no schedule next season? There are a few major advantages to an NFL-less 2011 sports year.

1. The rookie pay-scale could be changed

While the NFL is an extremely lucrative organization, it is odd that a rookie who has never played a down of professional football would be paid more than a player who has proven themselves to be a consistent performer. I would rather have a consistent 1,000-yard receiver or 4,000-yard passer who has proven that they can perform in the clutch over an unproven rookie who may or may not become a star player. The pay salary for rookies should reflect the uncertainty factor rather than the hype surrounding a certain player that they may become the next Peyton Manning or Dan Marino.Nearly every year, a new salary record among rookies is set, which reflects the growing success of the NFL, but also the suspense and "what-if" that a player could become great. For every great player, there is a player who received hype and comparisons to legends who came up short of those expectations.

2. Baseball ratings in September and October could rise

Many times, unless a favorite team is involved, fans of football and baseball have switched their focus to the football season by September. If the NFL was unavailable, more fans may pay attention to late-season baseball rather than stop watching sports until the basketball and hockey seasons. This added intrigue would boost ratings for the MLB and help the fact that the World Series has had low viewer ratings recently.

 Although many fans would hate to see news of an lockout for the 2011 NFL season flash across their screens, the sports world would not be completely silenced if that happened. There would be other sports available if the NFL were to fall into a lockout and cancel the 2011 season.