In July, Broncos coach Sean Payton predicted that the NFL will adopt UFL-type arbitration transparency in the next two to three years.
It could happen sooner than that.
An article from SI.com’s Albert Breer published Wednesday includes this nugget: “Planning is underway for more transparency. I’m told the NFL has been closely monitoring the ACC’s handling and, after the Michigan-Western Michigan debacle, the Big Ten began televising its replay review process. Certainly (some in the league office hope so) before the end of the regular season.”
It would be stunning if this happened during the current season. The NFL rarely makes significant changes over the course of a season.
Either way, it’s better sooner than later, and later than never. The NFL needs to follow the lead of the UFL, ACC and Big Ten. It’s the NFL that is supposed to be the leader in football innovation. This is already a delay and the lack of transparency fuels conspiracy theories.
If the league does it, the question is whether it can do it well. The only thing worse than no transparency would be transparency in a flawed process.
So yes, be careful what you wish for. Watching the sausage being prepared could potentially make you swear not to eat it.
Gn sports
