Sunday Reading: NFL Players Get Real World Inspiration

Recently I've commented on the sometimes fractured solidarity of the NFL players as the expiration date for the league's collective bargaining agreement draws near.

News of a potential NFL work stoppage has begun to seep over from the sports sections to the business section. But in the past week, it appears that many "real world" issues are starting to find their way into the league's affairs.

Some inside and outside of the NFL Players Association have questioned union head DeMaurice Smith's ability to get a deal done without giving up major concessions. While other players have publicly expressed their support, Smith used the inspiration of the recent Egyptian revolution to help make his case and galvanize his constituents at the same time.

Via The Nation:

“You know,” he said, “we watched things unfold in a far-off country where a lot of the discussion preceding the protests was purely social media, people connecting. We have an ability to get our ‘let us play’ ad out. We know that anybody listening can type in ‘let us play’ and that ad will pop up and, frankly, if networks want to make a decision to boycott us, keep us off, those are the kind of things that get me fired up and let me know that I’m on the right side of right.”

His words were given a boost by a pair of news stories peripherally related to football later in the week. It began with the ongoing public worker protests in Wisconsin. Several current and former Green Bay Packers publicly extended their support for the unions, the most notable being All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson.

Woodson's statement was about more than looking good in the eyes of Packer fans (although it certainly won't hurt). It was also a message to owners from one of the league's elected NFLPA player representatives about the union's resolve to fight.

The second story was the tragic suicide of former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson. Just a day after his death, reports surfaced that Duerson believed football led to a degenerative brain disease and left his brain intact in order to have it studied. The idea has strengthened current players' objections to the idea of an 18-game regular season. It should also boost the union's push for better benefits for retired players.


DeMaurice Smith: On an NFL Lockout and Inspiration From Egypt

For perhaps the first time in the history of NFL labor negotiations, the players have significant leverage. The league is reportedly earning billions every year (and was recently reported to be nearing a $2 billion extension with ESPN to continue broadcasting Monday Night Football), yet is asking the players to take a "trust us" approach over owners' claims of financial losses. The players are being asked to work more for less money while the league will still collect television revenue even if there is no football next season. 

Everything is aligned for Smith and the NFLPA to begin their stand here. If this week doesn't build player unity, what will?

A Bird Made A Million Off The Super Bowl!

Yo..Bryan "Birdman" Williams the CEO of Cash Money Records tells and shows why he is about his cash and his money, especially when it comes to betting on the Super Bowl. It is reported by XXL Magazine that "Birdman" made a million dollars by betting on the Green Bay Packers at a Las Vegas sports book this past Super Bowl. He has his boy Lil Wayne to thank for the tip, since Wayne made it perfectly clear that he is a Packers fan and if you did't know that you should hear his rap called" Green and Yellow "(Check the NER archives)

Birdman took to twitter to announce that the money is gonnne:

"I already spent that money [on] a Landaulet Maybach," Birdman revealed in an interview. "My son [Lil Wayne] is a Green Bay fan -- I'm a diehard Saints fan, but he's a die-hard Green Bay fan. So I just went hard. And I believed Green Bay was going to win, they pulled it off. My son knows a lot of about sports, so I was just like whatever he's going to rock with I'm going to rock with hard." (XXL Mag)

I can only dream of coming up on pay day like that. By the way a Maybach cost around 1.5 million dollars....yes for a car.

Episode #16: Jerry Sloan v. Deron Williams - The Brouha In Utah!

The NERDs (New Era Radio Dudes) argue Jerry Sloan v. D-Will, Ray Allen v. Paul Pierce and Nicki Minaj v. Fergie...and Marcas takes on the Turtle Diet (the animal, not the Entourage'r)

Wednesday's Birthday Shout-Out: Donald Driver's Story

With all of the focus on Ben Roethlisberger's road to redemption via the Super Bowl this week, it may have been easy to overlook one of the better stories coming out of Dallas this week. Green Bay Packers' receiver Donald Driver is one of the most consistent wideouts in the NFL and has done it without much of the T.Ocho-type antics that have become the hallmark of many of the league's top pass-catchers.

There's little doubt that the best birthday present for Driver would be to hoist the Lombardi Trophy after a win on Sunday. But after a childhood marked by homelessness and drug dealing, to be one step away from the pinnacle of NFL success is a remarkable journey.

For a more in-depth version of Driver's story, check USA Today's article from Tuesday.

NER Playlist: Green and Yellow

Music videos touting one of the Super bowl participants are as much a late January tradition as stories about oddballs at Super Bowl Media Day. Going all the way back to the 1985 Chicago Bears and the Super Bowl Shuffle, we have heard nearly an endless stream of songs designed to rally the fanbase while professing love for the home team.

Most of them suck. For instance, Seattle's ode to Matt Hasselbeck.

Even having a big name star write/produce/perform your team's song doesn't guarantee quality...Prince, anyone?

But there is hope...and it's the newest addition to the New Era Radio Playlist!

Grab yourself a drank, lay back and enjoy Pizzle and Prophetic's "Green and Yellow". It's fitting that a Super Bowl that features Wiz Khalifa's beloved Black & Yellow should have a song revamped to honor their championship game opponents.

Finally, a team-centric rap song without the Dr. Seuss lyrics and a respectable level of production for the accompanying video. Aah, how refreshing. Put on your Vince Lombardi glasses and "throw it up like bulimics do..."

Calling All Strippers: Dallas Needs You!

With just over a week until the kickoff of Super Bowl XLV, the American sporting public turns its lonely eyes to Dallas. While the Packers and Steelers will provide the main course for the week, it seems as though the city is a little low on appetizers.

According to TMZ, one strip club operator has put out the call for more dancers to make their way to DFW for some Super Stripping. From TMZ:

John Walsh -- the guy who runs Showtime Cabaret -- tells TMZ, his fine establishment employs 50 lovely ladies ... but he's in the market for another 100-120 lap dancers to get down for the big weekend -- STAT!

All told, Walsh (who shouldn't be confused with the host of America's Most Wanted) says that about 10,000 strippers may be needed to help service the 30 mile zone around Dallas. Looks like some of those early revenue estimates may need to be revised.

New Era Radio Episode #14: It's Not Easy Being Green

On this week's exciting episode of New Era Radio...Marcas goes on a diet! The boys decide which classic hip-hop albums deserve a re-release. Oh, and they break down the NFC and AFC championship games (if you're into that sort of thing).

Clay Matthews Is Suave...And So Is His New Endorsement Deal

Is this hair better than...

First it was Bud Bowl. Then the Puppy Bowl and the Lingerie Bowl. Could we now be set up for the Hair Bowl, featuring Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews?

According to CNBC's Darren Rovell, the Packers' stud linebacker with the flowing, blond locks has signed a one-year deal with Unilever to market a newly-formulated men's shampoo under the Suave brand. The contract includes appearances before and after the Super Bowl as well as a production day that could include filming a commercial. The deal allows Matthews to have his hair trimmed a bit, but he isn't allowed to shave it off for at least a year.

...this hair?

It's somewhat surprising that it took this long for someone to ink Matthews to a deal considering he may have the second most recognizable hair in the NFL combined with his rapid rise to stardom. And it's not like Matthews hasn't been trying to snag an endorsement deal.

From CNBC:

"I've been throwing it out there and just getting shunned," Matthews said on Monday. "I don't know what it is...America, I'm looking for a hair deal."

Well, Clay...congratulations. You've got it. Although he may want to walk across the way and shake hands with Polamalu. This all comes after the Steelers' safety had his hair insured for $1 million by Head and Shoulders back in August. It's hard to imagine that this would have been in the works without Matthews' team getting set to line it up against Polamalu's team in the Super Bowl. Nonetheless, kudos to Suave for making it happen.

Strip Club Owner Banking On Bears-Jets Super Bowl

With the NFL set to host its AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday, football fans are deciding which of the four possible Super Bowl matchups would be the most entertaining. While this is one of those years in which the NFL wins either way (four great football markets with large, rabid fanbases and great storylines), it appears that a Dallas-area strip club operator has his wallet heart set on seeing two particular teams get there.

Eric Langan, CEO of Rick's Cabaret says a Chicago Bears-New York Jets Super Bowl could mean a boost of up to $2 million for his clubs in the DFW area. From Reuters:

"We estimate, worst case, it will be about an additional $1 million in revenue for us," he said in a telephone interview, adding the company did about that much extra during the Super Bowl in Miami last year.

"But if we get a New York-Chicago Bears Super Bowl, then it could be really big," Langan added, citing the size of the cities. "We could be as high as $2 million."

It's no secret that hosting a Super Bowl is a huge financial boost to the local market. Hotels, restaurants, bars, taxi cabs all see a major boost in revenue for the week that the entire American sporting public focuses its beer-goggled gaze at the lucky city. You can add strip clubs to that list as well. But only $1 million last year? In Miami? C'mon, sports fans. You can do better than that. It's even more disappointing when you consider the women of Rick's picked the Saints to win it all.

Then again, Langan knows what he's talking about. According to a 2008 profile in Forbes Magazine, Rick's was (literally) a heartbeat away from setting up shop inside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas which would have been the first gentlemen's club ever inside of a casino along The Strip. Which, come to think of it, would have been the perfect name for the place.

Forget Bart Scott's "Can't wait!", it appears that Rick's Cabaret has thrown down the gauntlet to you, Packer and Steeler fans. Are you really willing to be outdone by the depravity of New Yorkers and Chicagoans? Are you ready to prove that you can spend thousands of dollars one at a time? We know you can handle snow, but are you willing to make it rain? We await your answer.