Ten things to know, right now, about the labor situation

[eViL jEsTeR]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/28/ten-things-to-know-right-now-about-the-labor-situation-3/

The allegations in the lawsuit also attack time-honored tools for ensuring competitive balance, like the salary cap, the franchise tag, and even the draft.

Let’s assume, then, that the lawyers continue to drive this bus toward the cliff, earning hundreds of dollars per hour along the way. If the players’ lawyers prevail, the end result will be an NFL with no rules of any kind that apply to the 32 teams.

No draft. No limits on free agency. No limits on compensation.

That comes with a risk. With no union to protect their rights — and no mandatory minimum salaries — certain players will be paid peanuts. Long snappers will be lucky to get six figures. Punters, kickers, and plenty of second-stringers will see their total dollars go down.

Stars, on the other hand, will make even more. Eventually, five percent of the players could be making 95 percent of the money as teams budget to pay their big-ticket players and make up the difference by squeeze the vast majority of lunchpail guys who have benefited from collective bargaining.

Thus, if the players win the battle on April 6, the players and the fans will benefit. If the players win the war, however, everyone will lose. Except for the star players, and their agents.

And the lawyers.

[Highlandfire]

Yeah this has been said (by me even) already. What is really going on behind the scenes is 3-4 teams and top players are wanting the same thing....no rules. Those 3-4 teams will have a 53 man roster of the top players in the NFL, the other 28 teams will have has beens that get paid poo.

As for as the players, this is about the top names only. they don't give one rats ass about anyone but themselfs.

[chknwing]

"What this means is I would like to blow Uncle Roman out my ass"

John Candy, The Great Outdoors

[Panthro]

Gotta love capitalsm....right? right?

[riddel]

LOL.....owners opted out of CBA and pushed for lockout......yet the players are driving the bus off the cliff.....that's funny.

Fact is the owners may not want a CBA either....maybe both sides want exactly what they are heading for.....free market. It's going to suck for the Panthers, because we can't afford it, Richardson hasn't flipped enough burgers to compete with Snyder's or Jones's P&L statements.....haves and have nots.....let's hope a judge steps in and places the 2010 CBA back in place, while the idiots (owners/players) fight it out in court...

[Ricky Spanish]

I swear to god, football better not turn into baseball. no salary cap is one of the reasons i stopped watching.

[Snake]

Makes since why brees and Manning are leading the way. They could end up billionaires.

[Highlandfire]

I swear to god, football better not turn into baseball. no salary cap is one of the reasons i stopped watching.

Its exactly what is happening. Can we please get to the real reason owners wanted out? Because 3-4 big owners BS'ed the other owners into it with the help of the commissioner. They don't want a cap, they don't want franchise tags or restrictions.

Jerry Jones was fined over 100k about a year and a half ago for stating 'we are going to get rid of revenue sharing with small market teams'.

Bottom line, Jones, Kraft, Snider etal don't want to share. They want their own marketing and they want to have the superbowl be fought between them every year, fug every other team, fug every other owner.

The best thing that could happen would be about 28 of the owners starting from the bottom up, start a new league. Otherwise what is going to happen soon is unless you are fan of Dallas, NE, Washington, NYG and maybe another one or two then you have no chance at a superbowl.

[blackcatgrowl]

Gotta love capitalsm....right? right?

Yeah, maybe the NFL should model itself after one of those professional sports organizations from a socialist country that is more successful than they are. Like umm... uhh...

[grateflday]

I am sorry, but, the players asking or wanting the kids coming out to skip the draft is b.s. I mean come on, how many times do you get to experience that. I understand they are trying to prove a point, but give me a break. That is just selfish of the current players. Bottom line is eventually there will be football and to rob these kids from the experience of the draft is purely cr*p.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

Yeah, maybe the NFL should model itself after one of those professional sports organizations from a socialist country that is more successful than they are. Like umm... uhh...

lol wuts revenue sharing

hint: if a country ran itself the way the NFL did, it would be socialist

[Darth Bobo]

No draft. No limits on free agency. No limits on compensation.

= destruction of parity

= reduction of unity in the players union that isn't a union

The status of the league may need to worsen BEFORE it can get better in a lasting and meaningful way. The same could be said about our national economy.

[Panthro]

lol wuts revenue sharing

hint: if a country ran itself the way the NFL did, it would be socialist

shhhh

don't ruin my fun. :auto:

[Murph]

Of course it should be noted that we played last season without a cap and the Cowboys, Redskins and Bengals assembled rosters loaded with talent.

Gotta play the games.