Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Bengals president says labor deal bad for team

Brown calls agreement ‘challenging’ for low-revenue organizations

CINCINNATI - Bengals president Mike Brown, one of two NFL owners to vote against the new labor agreement, thinks the deal is bad for his small-market team.

The Bengals and Buffalo Bills were the only teams to oppose the deal approved Wednesday. Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson said owners weren’t given enough time to understand the deal.

Brown agreed, but said Thursday that he voted against it for another reason.

“Economically, this is a very good deal for the players, it’s a good deal for the high-revenue clubs, (but) it’s a challenging deal for the low-revenue clubs,” Brown said. “We didn’t feel it was in the best interest of our team financially. That’s why I voted against it.

“That is not to say that this is a bad deal for the NFL overall or for the fans.”

The agreement will add close to a billion dollars to the players’ revenue pool, and guarantee labor peace for six years. If the sides failed to come to an agreement, the 2007 season would have been played without a salary cap, and there was a possibility of a work stoppage in 2008.

Brown wanted to negotiate more.

“I would have preferred at this time no deal,” Brown said. “That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t have continued on. We have a contract for two more years when we made this deal. I would have wanted to bargain for a better deal in the future.”

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Gerald Sensabaugh, Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, DeSean Jackson
AP
Offseason needs for NFC teams

Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.

Image: Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos
Getty Images
Wesseling: Offseason priorities for AFC teams

Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.

Slideshow
Image: Super Bowl XLVI
  Super Bowl XLVI shots
See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots

more photos

Slideshow
Image:
  Sideline support
Check out some of the NFL cheerleaders from across the league.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos