CBA is entering critical phase...

[Ja Rhule]

I have said all along that Smith was never had the intention on agreeing on a deal. The owners side had moved some on the money part but the nflpa is still demanding 50%.

The players are going to find out just how cold the world is without Football.

It's nuts... NFL originally demanded 60-40 percent split while NFLPA demanded 50-50 percent split... Now the NFL demands 56-44 split but NFLPA still wants 50 percent... Sounds like Smith is being an asshole and playing hardball. fugers fighting over $500 millions...

[Mr. Scot]

I'm just curious what are these lesser things they have agreed upon that you speak of.

Rookie wage scale, but in fairness that was never all that great a debate.

Also reported that they have been moving closer on the revenue thing, though still not close enough.

And then there's the 18 game season, which isn't so much "agreed on" as it is that the union has said a flat "no way, no how". But in my opinion (and that's all it is) the league won't scuttle the season over that if they can agree on revenue sharing.

Sadly, that's a pretty big "if" :(

[KBlizz]

The first two posts were a contradiction to each other, like Starburst!

[Snake]

It's nuts... NFL originally demanded 60-40 percent split while NFLPA demanded 50-50 percent split... Now the NFL demands 56-44 split but NFLPA still wants 50 percent... Sounds like Smith is being an asshole and playing hardball. f*ckers fighting over $500 millions...

He is being an asshole and the players are going to be the ones hurt. No union means no cba,no cba no season. Sure Payton and Brees will be ok but what about everyone else.

Rookie wage scale, but in fairness that was never all that great a debate.

Also reported that they have been moving closer on the revenue thing, though still not close enough.

And then there's the 18 game season, which isn't so much "agreed on" as it is that the union has said a flat "no way, no how". But in my opinion (and that's all it is) the league won't scuttle the season over that if they can agree on revenue sharing.

Sadly, that's a pretty big "if" :(

basically the NFL has been moving closer to 50% but that's about it. Last offer from the union was 2% or about 2mill. That's not negotiating that's lowballing.

[The_Cannon]

He is being an asshole and the players are going to be the ones hurt. No union means no cba,no cba no season. Sure Payton and Brees will be ok but what about everyone else.

basically the NFL has been moving closer to 50% but that's about it. Last offer from the union was 2% or about 2mill. That's not negotiating that's lowballing.

Yea I really think that Smith is the hold up, he's trying to make some grand stand. He knows that the players have a little leverage and he's abusing it. He's not thinking about the players he's supposed to represent.

[KSpan]

No 18-game schedule right now...

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-09/nfl-labor-talks/story/nflpa-director-smith-says-no-to-18-game-season

[iamcline]

He is being an asshole and the players are going to be the ones hurt. No union means no cba,no cba no season

No union means one thing, the players have no power. They are at the mercy of the owners. The owners can then make up their own rules, etc, etc, etc. Trading would be allowed, players could return to the facilities, etc. Not to mention Free Agency. The NFL doesn't have to have a union to operate.

The union decertifying is what needs to happen for anything to get done. Take the power away from DeMaurice Smith.

[klumme]

The union decertifying is what needs to happen for anything to get done. Take the power away from DeMaurice Smith.

Sure no Smith.. But the players will then take it to court. Which mean that numerous Smiths will have power instead of one fool.

[stirs]

D Smith is enjoying fame

don't look for a deal. he has been on the "players and fans against the owners" mantra for the last week to try to bend public opinion his way.

D Smith and lawyers will be the only winners.

[Snake]

No union means one thing, the players have no power. They are at the mercy of the owners. The owners can then make up their own rules, etc, etc, etc. Trading would be allowed, players could return to the facilities, etc. Not to mention Free Agency. The NFL doesn't have to have a union to operate.

The union decertifying is what needs to happen for anything to get done. Take the power away from DeMaurice Smith.

Incorrect, the owners can't operate nor want to operate without collective bargaining. Busting up the union does not help the owners.

[riddel]

No Union = Money is King

The wealthiest and largest market teams buy up all the talent at top dollar because costs don't matter to them, they are LOADED. It means 3 to 4 teams play for the superbowl each year and that the rest of the league slowly but surely dies until contraction results and there are only 20 or so teams who can afford to stay in the NFL. The playing field would be so lopsided that the Carolina Panthers would be lucky to reach .500 ever again.

It would mean the NFL is no longer America's favorite sport.

[The Saltman]

Ya the Owners will either have to concede to showing financial info now or show it in the courts for all to see. If there isnt an extension done today I am pessimistic about the future of the NFL.

[riddel]

Ya the Owners will either have to concede to showing financial info now or show it in the courts for all to see. If there isnt an extension done today I am pessimistic about the future of the NFL.

With 2 more items crossed off the CBA list (Rookie Wage Scale and 18 Games) it seems another extension is going to happen. If nothing was solved during the last week, then I'd say decertification is going to happen today, but I don't see that happening with the progress that was made. There is now only one major issue, how to split the $9 billion.

[The Saltman]

I hope so.