Official CBA Thread

[dickey1331]

Re: Official CBA Thread

Dang. Seems like every passing day that a lockout is more likely.

[Dog]

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I honestly think that they won't let this get to a point where games are missed. Hope I am right.

[OriolesFanRD]

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After reading all of this, it gives me more reason to hate the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff for pissing away my Superbowl. I can't see how we'll have football in 2011. The draft is going to suck this year. Man...

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Official CBA Thread

2. How is 50-50 of countless billions not enough?

Dude, you don't get it. Billions seems ridiculous to US, but for them, that's the scale they work on. It's all about relativity. We can sit here and say "Oh, well, maybe if _________ took 75 million instead of 100 million, they'd put more talent around the team to win", but athletes and sports don't work like that. They don't view it like that.

They deal in billions. That's the bottom line.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Official CBA Thread

Dude, you don't get it. Billions seems ridiculous to US, but for them, that's the scale they work on. It's all about relativity. We can sit here and say "Oh, well, maybe if _________ took 75 million instead of 100 million, they'd put more talent around the team to win", but athletes and sports don't work like that. They don't view it like that.

They deal in billions. That's the bottom line.

Dude, I totally understand that. My question is how is 50/50 not enough? And what about the current situation don't the owner's like? I've said it before but they got cheapest labor force, highest revenue, ridiculous franchise tag, non-guaranteed contracts, closed books. If I were an owner, status quo would be just fine to me.

[z Revis]

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I wouldn't read too much into them canceling meetings. From what I've heard, labor negotiations are pretty rough and can become very heated sometimes. They probably just needed a break. I imagine this is common place with these types of negotiations, in any business.

[slickdtc]

Re: Official CBA Thread

I don't think there is going to be a lockout. Well, a lockout that affects the actual games. As crunch time nears, suddenly concessions will be made (likely by both sides). This league doesn't need a lockout like the NHL did, and therefore it won't happen.

Every day there is going to be new developments, and everyone is going to say there's no way there won't be a lockout. But magically, minds will change and football will be here come the fall.

[spit_bubble]

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The players have the leverage, simply because they ARE the product. They are the sole reason people fill the seats. The NFL is just the brand.

If the NFL locks them out, they can simply be branded "UFL," or "CFL."

If it were that easy they'd probably be doing it already. The NFL and it's teams do have meaning. You can't just so easily deny the league and it's history. The Green Bay Packers mean something. The Pittsburgh Steelers mean something.

[SPTO]

Re: Official CBA Thread

Brady's agent has some ideas

Tom Brady's agent thinks he has a solution for an 18-game NFL regular season: Limit how many games each player can suit up.

The players' union opposes expanding the season by two games, one of the main sticking points in negotiations with the league for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Though agent Don Yee believes 18 games mean more bodily punishment, leading to shorter careers and possibly shorter life spans, he had these suggestions for making the change more acceptable:

--Increase the roster from 53 players to 58, and make all eligible to play on game day; currently, only 45 can play.

--Institute a rule that prohibits any player from appearing in more than 16 games.

"This compromise will create even more interest from fans," Yee said in an email to The Associated Press. "What two games will the head coach sit the starting QB? That's a discussion that will set sports talk radio airwaves afire.

"This compromise will also be popular with coaches and general managers who want a greater opportunity to develop younger players," he said. "The NFL doesn't have a minor league, and this compromise will force meaningful participation by younger players on the roster.

"Players also would endorse this because each would effectively get two bye weeks during the year. Bye weeks afford important healing time and personal time away from the game."

Yee sees a lengthened regular season as a virtual free revenue stream for the league.

"The owners want two more regular-season games to sell to television networks, and give their own NFL Network more games. More games mean more money. And the NFL Network is a growing asset owners don't share with the players," he said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had no comment on the proposals.

In addition to Brady, New England's quarterback and the NFL MVP, Yee represents New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and is an adjunct law professor at Southern Cal and a visiting law professor at his alma mater, Virginia.

Jeopardizing the 2011 season because of the 18-game proposal and spending too much money on rookies "is ludicrous because both issues are easily solvable. And if they aren't quickly solved, the owners and players will be insulting the intelligence of football fans everywhere."

Yee addressed misspent money on draft picks, saying: "Each year brings high-profile rookies who end up making a lot of money and contributing very little. The Oakland Raiders' experience with JaMarcus Russell infuriated many and is the owners' 'Exhibit A.'

"But JaMarcus Russell didn't draft himself in the first round. The Raiders did. And Russell didn't write himself a cheque for more than $30 million guaranteed dollars. The Raiders did, and did so willingly.

"Every NFL team has a JaMarcus Russell story. Now the owners want the players to bail them out of this situation."

Yee suggests the solution is drafting more wisely.

"There really isn't any excuse for significant blunders like Russell," Yee said. "NFL draft choices undergo a level of scrutiny that would make a TSA agent blush. Every potential draft pick's personal, social and academic history is analyzed, sometimes by former FBI agents employed by the league or team. Their entire medical histories are revealed. Every game and practice is available on tape. Psychological profiles and intelligence tests are given.

"The prospects also participate in all-star games and the NFL combine. Yet, poor decisions happen every year. An obvious conclusion is that some teams employ poor decision makers, and this is within the owners' control to fix, not the players'."

Yee also advises teams who don't think a player is worth the money he's slotted to receive when that team's turn to choose arrives, pass on the pick. He admits it "takes guts," but notes a substantial portion of the New England Patriots' roster is made up of undrafted players. Teams don't necessarily need a roster full of high draft picks to win.

Another suggestion: If a draft pick is demanding too much money, don't pay it. History shows when teams have done that, they usually are right.

"In 1979, the Buffalo Bills made Tom Cousineau the first pick in the entire draft," Yee said. "The Bills refused to pay Cousineau what he was being offered by a Canadian Football League team. Cousineau went to Canada and on to a modestly successful pro career. The Bills did OK, too. Shortly after rejecting Cousineau's demands, they went to four Super Bowls."

Other issues in the bargaining process involve, among others, treatment of retired players and continuing health care coverage for those who leave the game.

"But paying rookie players and having a longer season shouldn't be the impediment to an exciting 2011 season," Yee said.

Oh and while it has nothing to do with his suggestions I laugh at how he says the Bills not paying Cousineau in '79 worked out for both sides because shortly the Bills went to 4 straight SBs. I mean 11 years isn't exactly "shortly" in anyone's books.

[RGiles36]

Re: Official CBA Thread

I still feel a deal will get done, period. I do despise how us fans are just hanging in the balance though. Some of us are really emotionally wrapped up in the NFL. This uncertainty with the 2011 season keeps some of us up at night (well not really, but I digress). It just seems the fans to some extent are being taken for granted.

There's just no way that either side can justify a NFL lockout. It's bigger than players and owners. Countless other thousands who work at the stadiums, security officers, and whoever all depend on the NFL for income. How could the NFL/NFLPA justify putting that many people out of work in this economic climate?

[z Revis]

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Wow, I actually really like the 18 game schedule idea. I wouldn't mind that at all and it's a nice happy medium. The NFL gets their money while the players will still play the same amount of games.

[USF11]

Re: Official CBA Thread

Wow, I actually really like the 18 game schedule idea. I wouldn't mind that at all and it's a nice happy medium. The NFL gets their money while the players will still play the same amount of games.

Instead of 18 games, Why not add 1 more wild card on each side and only give the best record in each conference a bye?

[grunt]

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Remember Ray Lucas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6108540

[BlueNGold]

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The idea where no player can play more than 16 games is dumb. If you're going to go to 18 games, you might as well embrace it fully. I don't have much more to say than that.

[z Revis]

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Instead of 18 games, Why not add 1 more wild card on each side and only give the best record in each conference a bye?

I don't want to mess with the Playoffs. I think it's perfect as it is. Brady's agents idea is the best I've heard of so far.