CBA News: Heating Up 1/19/2011

[Anybodyhome]

Things are beginning to get interesting...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6034842

ATLANTA -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to see immediate progress in labor talks.

"It's time to get to the table and negotiate," he said Tuesday after an owners meeting Tuesday. "It takes a commitment to get it done. We have to see that."

The collective bargaining agreement with the players expires on March 4 after the NFL opted out of the deal in 2008. The sides are far apart on the major issues, including the players' share of revenues, a projected 18-game regular season, and a rookie wage scale. The union also has expressed concerns about health care, and its executive director, DeMaurice Smith, says he expects a lockout.

Asked if the 32 teams have been advised how to prepare for a lockout beyond ticket refunds, Goodell told NFL Network:

"Our clubs have prepared for all outcomes. We want an agreement. The first priority is to reach an agreement. We know we will get to an agreement. We hope it's sooner rather than later. The clubs are going to be responsible and they are going to be prepared for every alternative. The hope here is to get something done quickly so that we don't have to get into those issues. But they are prepared."

[Anybodyhome]

This could be an interesting tactic. The owners decide to install their version of the CBA, call it a done deal and let the players take the heat for going out on strike...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/18/league-may-be-setting-up-the-union-for-a-surprise/

The NFL Players Association has been operating under the express assumption that the owners will implement a lockout at midnight on March 4, the moment the current labor agreement expires. Last week, NFL outside labor lawyer Bob Batterman said that the union wants to force a lockout, so that the union may then unleash strategies aimed at forcing a deal via litigation and political pressure.

Last year, lawyer David Cornwell was the first to suggest that the NFL’s plan won’t be to launch a work stoppage. Instead, Cornwell explained that the league will declare an impasse in the talks and impose on the players the terms of the last, best offer made by management. The players, who have been accusing the NFL of trying to take football away from the fans, would then have to decide whether to accept the rules or to go on strike, which would amount to the players taking football away from the fans.

Before the NFL can implement its last, best, pre-impasse offer, there has to be an impasse. And it’s starting to look like the owners will soon be able to declare that an impasse exists.

[unicar15]

The more I hear DeMaurice Smith's name the more I hate him. It disgusts me how he thinks he is some sort of a revolutionary leader. He needs to face the facts that he is representing a bunch of spoiled pro athletes where if football was taken away from them, they'd struggle to make middle class income in this economy. He is the biggest joke of the last 25 years in pro sports.

[Udogg]

The more I hear DeMaurice Smith's name the more I hate him. It disgusts me how he thinks he is some sort of a revolutionary leader. He needs to face the facts that he is representing a bunch of spoiled pro athletes where if football was taken away from them, they'd struggle to make middle class income in this economy. He is the biggest joke of the last 25 years in pro sports.

DeMarice Smith thinks he is some revolutionary leader? Did he say that or are you making that up? Not denying that pro athletes are spoiled, but I don't see any owner's out there picking up bottles off the sides of the street either. Both sides are spoiled.

You got the NFL owners who are asking for:

1. The players to take a pay cut because they say they are losing money

2. 18 game schedule to make more money

3. More money to go into "future expansion"... like the church building fund.

4. Rookie Salary Cap/wage scale

5. Implement new injury rules to protect the players.

You got the players who want:

1. To see the books to see if the NFL teams are truly losing money

2. Extra pay for playing extra games or more players or roster.

3. Make sure the future expansion money is used for future expansion.

4. Don't want rookie salary cap

Right now I'm more on the players side, based off the reluctance of the owners to open up the books. The one team with open books, The Packers are showing making more money. However there needs to be a rookie salary cap. I am also not sure if 18 games are a good idea. I just want less preseason games. If they are worried about injuries adding 2 more high intensity games doesn't make sense to me.

[Gazi]

So, the owners are locking all of us out. Players will not get paid, but the owners will still get the TV money that they negotiated regardless of the fact if there is a game or not. And the UNION is a bad guy here?

And newsflash, Goodell works for the owners, not players.

[Dpantherman]

doesn't it take two sides to disagree?? so why are any of you taking sides? They both overpaid and spoiled.

[rayzor]

actually the vets are in favor of a rookie salary cap.

[Davidson Deac II]

They should open the books.

Don't really care about an 18 game schedule, but if they cut a couple of preseason games, I guess its ok.

The rookie salary cap is a necessity I think. To many rookies get huge salaries before they have proven a thing on the field.

I don't really side with either the owners or the players. To little information is available to know who is at fault. I hope they get this thing worked out, but it certainly isn't looking good. Both sides need to realize it is in their best interest that they play football in September 2011.

[Panthro]

The more I hear DeMaurice Smith's name the more I hate him. It disgusts me how he thinks he is some sort of a revolutionary leader. He needs to face the facts that he is representing a bunch of spoiled pro athletes where if football was taken away from them, they'd struggle to make middle class income in this economy. He is the biggest joke of the last 25 years in pro sports.

He is doing what he is paid to do.

I think Goodell is trying to rally the troops. Which is a good thing.

[Carolina Husker]

I really don't understand this hatred of the players and D. Smith. His one job is to represent the interests of the players.

[rayzor]

how are the players the bad guys here? the owners are the ones that decided to back out of the CBA.

richardson said the players were wanting to work less and get paid more, but were the players wanting to cut the season back a couple games? were the players wanting a raise?

or...was it the owners that said, "we want you to play two more games a season and also agree to less money"?

sorry, blame for this falls squarely on the owners here. they are asking the players to work more and get paid less. players are being reasonable, imo, in asking that the owners help with healthcare more since they are going to require the players to put themselves at added risk, and with the info coming out about the long term efffects of concussions, it sounds like something that the owners should be doing anyways.

you want a bad guy...look at the owners. it's not the players fault that the owners mismanaged money and have put themselves in a hole and couldn't handle the economy in a downward spiral.

[Woodcookedbbq]

If there is a lockout, it'll only be for one season. One side is going to break under the pressure and I have a feeling it won't be the players.

[KSpan]

I really don't understand this hatred of the players and D. Smith. His one job is to represent the interests of the players.

How is a lockout in the best interest of the players? The thing to do is keep communicating, not be obstinate.

[philp]

i was expecting to read more than "It's time to get to the table and negotiate". it's been time. call me when something real happens.