National Football League

NFL fans concerned yet optimistic about lockout

Published Mar. 3, 2011 6:40 p.m. ET

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A 49ers emblem on his laptop bag, financial adviser Christopher Page fiddled with his smart phone Wednesday in downtown San Francisco, checking for updates not only on the stock market but the NFL labor dispute.

Page's family has had season tickets since Joe Montana and Jerry Rice were winning Super Bowls in the 1980s. But he's not yet fretting about games being canceled with the season months away.

''At least that's what helps me sleep at night,'' he said, laughing. ''No, seriously. It's what, March? Talk to me in August.''

The Associated Press talked to more than 200 fans, representing every NFL city, this week with the league's collective bargaining agreement set to expire and a potential lockout looming. Most echoed Page's mix of concern and optimism.

''The league is too powerful and too smart to ruin what they've built,'' said Ryan Patsko of Shaler, Pa., who spent entire Sundays this past fall watching NFL Network's RedZone channel that shows key plays live from every game.

Then he added: ''At least I hope they are.''

Their confidence that the sides would be nuts not to reach a deal leaves many fans unperturbed for now. But that same conviction makes the thought of missed games infuriating.

''The NFL is a gold mine, and the only thing that's preventing the season from happening is abject greed, people making money hand over fist,'' said Todd Portune, the commissioner of Hamilton County, Ohio, home of the Cincinnati Bengals. ''If they can't make it work - splitting up all the money made through the business of the NFL - something is seriously wrong.''

Millionaires versus billionaires was the phrase used over and over by fans. Some side with the players, some with the owners - not that they have much sympathy for either. Some are equally repulsed by both.

''You want to say, 'Can't we just get along and get this thing on the road?''' said Eric Sense, a Chargers fan who lives in Orange County. ''When everyone else is trying to pay their mortgages and these guys are battling over billions of dollars.''

Fans can agree on one group that is getting shortchanged: themselves.

''No matter what they decide, no matter what they agree to, I feel like ticket prices are going to go up and it's going to cost even more for us to go to the game,'' Michael Nassar, who works in petrochemical sales, said at a Houston sports bar.

Fans may very well keep paying those prices. After all, they realize the NFL is wildly popular only because they're so passionate about the sport.

''The NFL, they definitely know we love football,'' said Cord Hale of Indianapolis. ''They have us on the barrel. Anything they put on the field, we're going to eat it up.''

And they'll go through withdrawal if it's taken away.

''In March, I'm already missing the games,'' said Jim Dodson, who owns a memorabilia business in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. ''Once October comes around, if there are no games, that's going to be a problem. Football is such a big part of people's lives - going to games, watching games, following their team, fantasy football.''

Which is why fans may hold their noses while millionaires and billionaires haggle over how to divvy up untold riches, but forgive everything if the games start on time - but react very differently if the season is compromised.

''When baseball had its long strike several years ago, I know what I did,'' said Randy Smith, a small business owner in Olathe, Kan. ''I haven't been to five baseball games since.''

Many fans mentioned they'd just watch more college football if the NFL spurned them.

Roy Harris is a retired air traffic controller in Olathe. A longtime Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder, he probably wouldn't renew if part of the season was canceled.

''It's hard to believe they're about to mess up something that's so close to being perfect,'' he said.

Even a short lockout has its consequences. Marc Stander, a Denver Broncos season ticket holder, doesn't want to renew because of the potential work stoppage, ''but I feel trapped because I want to keep my priority number.''

''I'd lose the time investment my family has had in the team since '71,'' he said. ''This makes me angry.''

Part of the NFL's popularity is fans' interest in the tiniest of minutiae. Some worried about how a lockout might hurt teams with a new coach who wouldn't have a full complement of offseason workouts, or those clubs that wanted to make major moves in free agency this year. Rookies could be behind when the season started if training camp was shortened.

''It's going to hurt in July when I'm looking for my team's training camp report and there is nothing to report,'' said Ryan Gaddy, a Lions fan living in Indianapolis. ''It's going to hurt when it's time for fantasy drafts, and my friends and I don't get together. It will set in when 'Prime Time' (Deion Sanders) dances into Canton and there's no Hall of Fame game.''

For now, though, many fans don't want to think about that prospect too much. Bereket Kiros of Blaine, Minn., likened the situation to the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors that swirled for months before he was finally dealt.

''This just gives reporters and radio shows something to talk about during the offseason, especially now that Brett Favre is retired,'' he said.

Nate Tortora, a Patriots fan who lives in Chicago, won't start sweating it unless training camp gets delayed.

''I think I'm going to see Tom Brady this year - and his long-flowing locks,'' he said.

Still, the specter of no football lurks in fans' minds. Kelli Ramon of New Orleans watches all her team's games with her husband and two young boys, whose playroom is entirely Saints-themed.

''If this drags on, for their entertainment and well-being, I'd be concerned, especially my 6-year-old,'' she said, only half joking. ''I don't want to have to entertain them every Sunday, Sunday night and Monday night, so this better get resolved soon.''

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AP Sports Writers Cliff Brunt in Indianapolis, Chris Duncan in Houston, Antonio Gonzalez in San Francisco, Pat Graham in Denver, Joe Kay in Cincinnati, Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis, Brett Martel in New Orleans, Andrew Seligman in Chicago, Doug Tucker in Olathe, Kan., Bernie Wilson in San Diego and Steven Wine in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and AP freelance writer Chris Adamski in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.