Difference between Old NFL and New NFL

[WV Cowboy]

It was different back then because the money was different back then ..

Yea, I guess, .. but MEN were different back then as well.

We will never know for certain, but when I think Dick Butkus, Deacon Jones, Gale Sayers, Too Tall, Randy White, Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Andy Russell, .. I can only picture them in one jersey.

I can't picture Butkus or Sayers playing for the Packers or Vikings, can't picture Too Tall, White, Lilly, or Staubach playing for the Commanders, ... or Lambert, Ham or Russell playing for the Raiders or the Oilers.

Not sure how old you are, but if you lived through that era, ... you know everything about it was different.

 

[KJJ]

Yea, I guess, .. but MEN were different back then as well.

We will never know for certain, but when I think Dick Butkus, Deacon Jones, Gale Sayers, Too Tall, Randy White, Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Andy Russell, .. I can only picture them in one jersey.

I can't picture Butkus or Sayers playing for the Packers or Vikings, can't picture Too Tall, White, Lilly, or Staubach playing for the Commanders, ... or Lambert, Ham or Russell playing for the Raiders or the Oilers.

Not sure how old you are, but if you lived through that era, ... you know everything about it was different.

I'm old enough to have been following the Cowboys and the NFL since the 72 season. The MEN back then were no different than the MEN of today but back then they were a slave to the team that drafted them and whatever salary that team chose to pay them. They didn't have the opportunity to shop their services and make the kind of money that could have changed the lives of them and their families. Any player is going to put aside the loyalty they have for an organization if another team is willing to pay them a lot more money because the NFL is a BUSINESS. Organizations are only loyal to a player for as long as that player is playing at a high level and players are well aware of that. I've head many interviews with the old timers and everyone of them has said they would have loved to have played in the age of free agency making the kind of money players make today. You mentioned Deacon Jones he said in an interview how he wished he could have experienced teams bidding for his services as a free agent and all the money he could have made in todays NFL.

Everything was different 40 plus years ago because the money was different and players played more for the love of the game. Money talks and it did back then which is why players held out to try and force their teams to pay them. Butkus would have played for the Vikings had he been a free agent and they offered him a deal that far exceeded what the Bears could pay him. Butkus was stuck on bad Bear teams his entire career never once having the opportunity to even play in a playoff game. He would have had the opportunity to play in a SB with the Vikings in 1970 and made more money had there been free agency. I've heard him talk about the money players are making today and how he wished he could have made that kind of money as a player. Don't think the old timers aren't envious of the financial status of even the average NFL players. They all wish they could have made the enormous contracts that are being paid today during free agency. No one could have pictured Favre playing with the Vikings back during his heyday with the Packers but MONEY is what led him to Minn.

None of the old timers ever had their loyalty tested with the kind of free agent contracts we're seeing. Say what you will but I can assure you had free agency been around 40 plus years ago with the kind of cash that's being floated around today you would have seen just as much player movement as we're seeing now and this loyalty you talk about would have gone out the window. Players want the freedom to pick and choose where they work just like everyone else. They see their teammates being kicked to the curb and know the NFL is a cut throat business based on performance not loyalty. Players never liked having their rights owned by a team for as long as that team wanted them. Players who dreamed about playing in the NFL went to the USFL strictly for the money. Steve Young talked about how his dreams growing up were to play in the NFL but admitted the money is what led him to the USFL. Brian Bosworth didn't want to play for Seattle and resisted until the money was too much for him to pass up. Money talks it always has and it always will.

 

[joseephuss]

Yea, I guess, .. but MEN were different back then as well.

We will never know for certain, but when I think Dick Butkus, Deacon Jones, Gale Sayers, Too Tall, Randy White, Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Andy Russell, .. I can only picture them in one jersey.

I can't picture Butkus or Sayers playing for the Packers or Vikings, can't picture Too Tall, White, Lilly, or Staubach playing for the Commanders, ... or Lambert, Ham or Russell playing for the Raiders or the Oilers.

Not sure how old you are, but if you lived through that era, ... you know everything about it was different.

Roger Staubach asked to be traded at one point in his Cowboy career. The guy who preceded him as the starting QB of the Cowboys, Craig Morton was eventually traded to the rival Giants. Morton had led the Cowboys to a Superbowl.

The ability to move around just didn't exist back then and the financial incentives weren't in place, either. Those same good men would have made astute business decisions about moving to different teams and even rivals if those opportunities were afforded to them.

 

[ilovejerry]

You may be right on that. My only fantasy football team is the Dallas Cowboys. lol I have been a big fan since I 1st started watching the Cowboys in 1965. It is family outing every weekend I go see my folks or they come to my house on game day and we watch the games together. As far as we are concerned those are our Dallas Cowboys and all the history that has gone into it and why not we have been there every step of the way.

The owners wanted the cap. In response to players being able to become free agents and see what may be their market value, owners decided to place a cap on things. No cap in place, Dez has his deal and Murray does as well.

That is correct but these owners are all in cohoots collective bargaining and what not, They want to keep it competitive as in Baseball no cap Yankees in the playoffs every year. Its all crap if you ask me. The system is not good for fans players. They run around and try and make as much $ as they can ( I don't blame them ) Owners don't care they get paid either way

 

[ilovejerry]

I agree it is not perfect. You have players on one side and owners on the other and it is through compromise things get done. Based on the pay I see many getting today I don't think players are being taken advantage of. Some of these guys could not spell cat if you spotted them the C and the T yet will make more money in a few years than most could make if 5 life times.

Yes I see your point but if theres a demand for them as athletes then they will get paid. Dez isn't the smartest guy in the class not even in class if you know what I mean but his skills at football award him a great life. Only a select few can play the game do they deserve that $. Well we pay for their salaries, so I guess they do.

 

[ilovejerry]

I'm old enough to have been following the Cowboys and the NFL since the 72 season. The MEN back then were no different than the MEN of today but back then they were a slave to the team that drafted them and whatever salary that team chose to pay them. They didn't have the opportunity to shop their services and make the kind of money that could have changed the lives of them and their families. Any player is going to put aside the loyalty they have for an organization if another team is willing to pay them a lot more money because the NFL is a BUSINESS. Organizations are only loyal to a player for as long as that player is playing at a high level and players are well aware of that. I've head many interviews with the old timers and everyone of them has said they would have loved to have played in the age of free agency making the kind of money players make today. You mentioned Deacon Jones he said in an interview how he wished he could have experienced teams bidding for his services as a free agent and all the money he could have made in todays NFL.

Everything was different 40 plus years ago because the money was different and players played more for the love of the game. Money talks and it did back then which is why players held out to try and force their teams to pay them. Butkus would have played for the Vikings had he been a free agent and they offered him a deal that far exceeded what the Bears could pay him. Butkus was stuck on bad Bear teams his entire career never once having the opportunity to even play in a playoff game. He would have had the opportunity to play in a SB with the Vikings in 1970 and made more money had there been free agency. I've heard him talk about the money players are making today and how he wished he could have made that kind of money as a player. Don't think the old timers aren't envious of the financial status of even the average NFL players. They all wish they could have made the enormous contracts that are being paid today during free agency. No one could have pictured Favre playing with the Vikings back during his heyday with the Packers but MONEY is what led him to Minn.

None of the old timers ever had their loyalty tested with the kind of free agent contracts we're seeing. Say what you will but I can assure you had free agency been around 40 plus years ago with the kind of cash that's being floated around today you would have seen just as much player movement as we're seeing now and this loyalty you talk about would have gone out the window. Players want the freedom to pick and choose where they work just like everyone else. They see their teammates being kicked to the curb and know the NFL is a cut throat business based on performance not loyalty. Players never liked having their rights owned by a team for as long as that team wanted them. Players who dreamed about playing in the NFL went to the USFL strictly for the money. Steve Young talked about how his dreams growing up were to play in the NFL but admitted the money is what led him to the USFL. Brian Bosworth didn't want to play for Seattle and resisted until the money was too much for him to pass up. Money talks it always has and it always will.

No argument there, You are correct.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Roger Staubach asked to be traded at one point in his Cowboy career.

That had everything to do with playing time and starting, .. nothing to do with money.

 

[joseephuss]

That had everything to do with playing time and starting, .. nothing to do with money.

But he still wanted to leave. Guys today who want more playing time and to be starting leave their teams for those same opportunities elsewhere. They have that luxury now.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I'm old school and hated when FA and caps were put in place. I can't even imagine guys like Bob Lilly leaving to Washington or a host of other all-time greats who spent their entire time with the team and with the players who played alongside of them. Now days the guy you hated last year is the guy you are pulling for this year. But it is what it is, just glad I grew up in a different time.

Yea I really miss those days.

 

[scottsp]

As much as the player may seem like a mercenary, the owners are far more cutthroat. The money can't be printed fast enough for these people, and that's fine because the market continues to expand at an unbelievable pace. Knowing that, I find it impossible to begrudge a player for maximizing his earning potential in what is typically a very limited window.

 

[WV Cowboy]

But he still wanted to leave. Guys today who want more playing time and to be starting leave their teams for those same opportunities elsewhere. They have that luxury now.

I thought we were talking about players moving from team to team for more money.

 

[joseephuss]

I thought we were talking about players moving from team to team for more money.

I thought we were talking about that and more.