CBA 2011 Thread

[Sandy Claws]

The biggest issue here and one that the players union should be focusing on is the antitrust issue. The NFL was recently shot down by the Supreme Ct. for a federal antitrust exemption. There is no question that the NFL owners are "colluding" and working together to price fix. This is a huge no no and many industries have been brought down for such infractions. The cable industry got hit years ago big time for similar infractions. Instead, the players union is trying to market to the fans instead of going at the owners with a bat. I would file this suit and then watch how the owners start to give in....

American Needle? Not quite,

In it's decision, the court also reaffirmed its holding in another case that some actions by a sports league require that there be coordination in order to have a league. Rules, schedules, etc. I suspect that salary structures to ensure competitive balance will also fall under this or at least the league would argue it that way.

[Happy Panther]

I don't think there will be scrubs playing. The current NFL players could play elsewhere but i don't think the owners are going to bring in replacements

[Sandy Claws]

I don't think there will be scrubs playing. The current NFL players could play elsewhere but i don't think the owners are going to bring in replacements

Only the free agants could potentially play elsewhere. Those under contract will not be allowed to. Those will be the ones that get to sue the owners if the union is decertified and the owners cancel games/lockout.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

That's what I've been saying since before the season started. Yes, without a salary cap and with no repercussions of future salary cap hits, it made perfect sense to start dumping contracts left and right, just as the Panthers did. And my contention has always been that it wasn't just about the money, but that a lot of the salary dumping and personnel cuts were made as more of a preemptive move toward the lockout. Jerry Richardson went 'all in' betting on the lockout before training camp even started.

This is a great fear of mine. The owners are not working on a new CBA b/c that is not the goal. JR is banking and will probably try to do his best to make sure a lockout does happen despite any concessions made by the players union.

Damn that baboon heart he has now...it makes him evil.

[Anybodyhome]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/National-Football-League-players-union-advises-players-to-save-120410

In a letter to the players that was seen by The Associated Press, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said the union had an "internal deadline" for agreeing to a new collective bargaining agreement.

"That deadline has now passed," he wrote. "It is important that you protect yourself and your family."

The letter was dated Wednesday, and copies were strewn across a table in the New England Patriots locker room during the media availability on Saturday. After a reporter asked players about the letter, a Patriots spokesman flipped the copies face-down.

The one-page letter on NFLPA stationery said the union expects the lockout to come on March 4, and that players should work with their advisers to prepare for an impending lack of income.

We're going to start seeing more of this as the season draws closer to its end. DeMaurice Smith is using scare tactics on his constituency and is doing everything within his capabilities to make this ugly. Why not just lock yourselves into hotel meeting rooms until the deal is done?

[davos]

This situation could really destroy the league and get the fans pissed off completely at both sides. Honestly, they need to figure this out.

It sucks the two parties have to be so unwilling to compromise. And overall, its pretty crazy how much this mirrors political discourse in the country

[1989]

bunchabull.

[thunderraiden]

We're going to start seeing more of this as the season draws closer to its end. DeMaurice Smith is using scare tactics on his constituency and is doing everything within his capabilities to make this ugly. Why not just lock yourselves into hotel meeting rooms until the deal is done?

You just said why, they don't plan to lock themselves inside a hotel until March when all those scare tactics have run their course. Otherwise the league looks at it like they can get 10-12% of that player compensation chunk back. Smith is trying to get that number down to 8-6% the owners get back. I highly doubt the league and players miss out on the 1billion dollars they would for starting the 2011 season 6 weeks late.

[OneBadassCat]

I've got a question. Let's say there is no football in 2011-2012. Would there still be a 2012 draft? If so, would the draft order be based on 2010-2011 season? Would we potentially have the #1 pick in 2011 and 2012?

[Snake]

The union will fail at this. They might as well face it the owners hold all the cards and scare tactics will not work.

[Brooklyn Bully]

I've got a question. Let's say there is no football in 2011-2012. Would there still be a 2012 draft? If so, would the draft order be based on 2010-2011 season? Would we potentially have the #1 pick in 2011 and 2012?

We need to sticky this, as it will be asked 1201230 more times.

NO, we will NOT have the #1 pick in 2012. There will be a draft in 2011 no matter if there is a season or not. Most people think that 2012 will see a LOTTERY, then a "snake format" draft.

[Anybodyhome]

The 2012 draft would be a total lottery. Ping pong balls in a bingo machine to determine who has the 1st thru the 32nd selection.

And if the Patriots traded away a guy for a 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft, that pick could either be the 33rd pick or the 64th pick, depending on where the balls land... if you get my meaning. But any deals made involving draft picks will be honored as they were written.

[Snake]

This storm is not as big as it seems. The Union will come to a agreement before the season starts. They know the owners can stand pat and they also know the Players cant buy bitches and hos on IOU's.

[Happy Panther]

It would stink to get the # pick in a lockout year