NFL Players Want a Lockout? NFL Lawyer thinks so.

[Carolina Husker]

players think that if they are "locked out" they will get the benefit of public opinion and keep their ridiculous salaries.

I love football but i am on the side of the owners here, on all counts

This.

Except the exact opposite.

[BIGH2001]

You can blame it on Demaurice Smith if you want and I don't think he is helping the situation any, but the players are the ones who aren't expressing any desire to play an 18 game season. From what I have seen that is one point that the owners are not willing to concede and there isn't really much room for compromise. So until the players either come around on 18 games or the owners give in to 16 games the talks won't go anywhere.

[panthers55]

You can blame it on Demaurice Smith if you want and I don't think he is helping the situation any, but the players are the ones who aren't expressing any desire to play an 18 game season. From what I have seen that is one point that the owners are not willing to concede and there isn't really much room for compromise. So until the players either come around on 18 games or the owners give in to 16 games the talks won't go anywhere.

If players hadn't been willing to change over the years we would still be playing a 12 game schedule with leather helmets. The 18 game season isn't the terrible proposition the players suggest. And if they concentrated on getting more practice squad players and expanding rosters, they could work out a solution good for both sides. And it only moving 2 preseason games to regular season games not adding games to the schedule. After all it might means they actually play 4 quarters more than they do right now.

[replive]

You can blame it on Demaurice Smith if you want and I don't think he is helping the situation any, but the players are the ones who aren't expressing any desire to play an 18 game season. From what I have seen that is one point that the owners are not willing to concede and there isn't really much room for compromise. So until the players either come around on 18 games or the owners give in to 16 games the talks won't go anywhere.

i think the players would accept an 18-game season if the owners would offer some more protections against injury (2 bye weeks, bigger rosters, etc) and not try to cut their pay per game.

i think the real deal breaker at this point is how much the owners are willing to pay the players. the owners probably would like to add the two games without giving a pay raise (so, in essence the players would get paid less per game). The players, of course, don't want this. My knowledge of the situation, however, is novice at best.

[DevilCat]

It seems at this point that a lockout will happen. I guess, as a fan my biggest question is...how long will the lockout last? IMHO if we go into say October 2011, and there is no football, something tells me the palyers will kick De Smith's a$$ to the curb and come back to the real world. And of course the league will have to work hard at winning back alot of POed fans.:confused:

[Porn Shop Clerk]

If there's a lockout, I'm going to boycott the NFL for two seasons. Home team or not, this poo is stupid.

[GRWatcher]

George Atallah, the union's assistant executive director of external affairs, was dismissive of Batterman's remarks, saying they "come from the person that effectuated a year-long lockout for the NHL. These comments are irrelevant to the process. The owners will either let the players play or give us a good reason why they can't."

"Batterman is a partner at a firm that represents the NBA in their collective bargaining negotiations," Atallah said. "If audited financials are good enough for basketball, why are they none of the NFL players' business?"

Richard Berthelsen, the union's general counsel, said in a written statement that Smith "does not want a lockout, and he has proved that by offering to extend the current [collective bargaining agreement] to avoid one. Batterman, on the other hand, has been advocating a lockout since the first day he became involved. I have been involved since the '70s, and I can tell you that the word lockout wasn't even in the NFL's vocabulary until he came around."

There's more to this story than what the OP posted.

This is no more than public posturing, ala Palin.

Don't get your panties in a wad.

[Highlandfire]

Bottom line, the Billionares will beat the millionares every time. It is how it is in America. If the millionares can't handle playing two more games at less money, the Billionares will find someone who will.

[Dpantherman]

ProFootballTalk

NFLPA: “Any suggestion we want a lockout is coming from outer space” http://bit.ly/hyM7rj

[blackcatgrowl]

I have said all along, Demorice Smith or however you say his name, is an asshole that is going to try to force the owners to do his will, not negotiate a contract. This clown wants to do nothing but push his personal agenda. I don't think he ever had any intent to negotiate.

So if the players want to go to congress so be it. Lock their asses out. There is nothing in labor law that says any company, org etc has to pay X % of their profits to employees. They could litterally cut what they pay them in half and there isn't anything the government is going to do about it.

The players really need to punt kick Smith and get someone on board that will negotiate.

This.

DeMaurice Smith is a lawyer. He's going to try wrangling the NFL legally. He's also in bed with hardcore politicians. I'll leave you to guess who (first two don't count).

The NFLPA was foolish to choose him as a leader. He is not about cooperation. And they'll pay the price for it in the long run. Unfortunately, at our expense of having no football it seems.

[Jangler]

Don't most labor negotiations go down to the last minute? 50 days is still a lot of time and this sounds more like another tactic than anything. Still not worried.

[Snake]

I think its funny how the players dont want to play in preseason but not want 18 games ether. Its really kinda like the Huddle, we always want something but when we get it we bitch about it.

[rmoneyg35]

Do the players get paid if there is a Lockout?

[bleys]

I think its funny how the players dont want to play in preseason but not want 18 games ether. Its really kinda like the Huddle, we always want something but when we get it we bitch about it.

not sure I follow..

the preseason is more for younger players and guys trying to make a roster.. of course vets don't want to get injured when they are established..

and no player wants to play 18 games.. you see so many injuries now, you add 8 hardcore quarters, it's only going to get worse..

both make sense to me..

Do the players get paid if there is a Lockout?

no.