Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Shouldn’t Sign the CBA

Back in 2011 when NFL fans everywhere feared there would be no football at all unless teams signed a new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) most teams caved but not the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pittsburgh Steelers refused to sign the CBA and if you search the Web you’ll find varying reasons.

Some say it’s because the team didn’t receive a copy of the agreement until 3:00 pm on voting day so there wasn’t enough time for them to make a sound decision on whether to sign it or not.

Then there are some stories floating around from Hines Ward and James Harrison (and others) who claim the players voted against it because they felt NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has too much power and reigns like a King and rules like a King—his way or the highway. They claim this makes it impossible to appeal any fines or decisions made by the King because if appealed they go right back to the King so winning an appeal is just a dream.

Then there are others who say the Steelers refused to sign the CBA because they felt they were picked on with big suspensions (Roethlisberger) and fines (Harrison). And, those who say this I feel are right. I’m not going to play judge or jury on any of the accusations or scandals Roethlisberger has been involved in—as far as I know, he hasn’t been criminally charged of anything so to suspend him for six games (reduced to four) seems outrageous to me, especially when other players on other teams have DUIs and real crimes to answer for and these players received no suspensions and were allowed to play.

As far the over $100,000 James Harrison was fined, this is the King’s way of saying, “You all should have signed the CBA see what I mean now?” I saw so many awful and unfair hits last season and where were the fines for those players? Oh, wait, that’s right those teams signed the CBA. The King likes those teams.

If the City of Pittsburgh stands for anything it is about being honest and fair as well as the hard work ethic that is borne and bread in the city. Sure, these individual players may not hail from the ‘burgh but once they are there, they embrace that feeling of fair is fair. And, King Roger Goodell doesn’t play fair.

Mostly, I see negative comments left on blog posts about the Pittsburgh Steelers themselves and how other fans hate Steeler fans. What this has to do with anything I don’t know. If you don’t want to be part of the Steeler Nation, you don’t have to be but don’t pick on the team or its fans because you’re jealous of our six Super Bowl titles.

There are no better owners in the league than the Rooney family. Even the Steeler players get that feeling and if they step out of line or ask for money they don’t deserve after a good rookie season (Wallace), the Rooney’s have no problem with saying bye-bye. They are staunch in their belief that they can find another player just like you and aren’t afraid to say so.

I support the Pittsburgh Steelers and they shouldn’t sign the CBA. So, I ask you, what other organization on the planet has a King like Goodell where he rules with one arm and no one else has a say?

You tell me.