NFLPA officially decertifies (1 Viewer)

[roarlions]

seems awfully quiet out there right now. tomorrow we approach another deadline

Latest update from ESPN:http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6201349About a half dozen owners in attendance today during negotiations. Demands for money to be skimmed from revenues before sharing with players has been reduced somewhat, but union is still requesting financial data for each individual team rather than data aggregated for the whole league, which is all the league has been providing. No mention of the likelihood of another extension of the deadline.

 

[Orange Crush]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor.

But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

I doubt the owners want this to go to court at all. They lose every time. IMO its in the owners best interest to stay out of court

 

[Cripster]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

I doubt the owners want this to go to court at all. They lose every time. IMO its in the owners best interest to stay out of court

I agree. But the only they stay out of court is for the owners to give a lot to the players in the CBA. Players are using that threat to get their way. Owners are going to be sued no matter what so why give in. I would not count on a full 2011 season, if any at all it there is de-certification. I think the players may win this thing but I tell you this, if there is no 2011 season, there won't be 9 billion there in 2012.

 

[Cripster]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

Crush, your background seems to give you a solid understanding of these proceedings . If the union decertifies AND is successful in filing an injunction with Judge Doty blocking a lockout, where will we be. Will the owners just install their final offer from today ( and continue playing) and wait for a ruling 2-3 years from now?

 

[Road Warriors]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

Crush, your background seems to give you a solid understanding of these proceedings . If the union decertifies AND is successful in filing an injunction with Judge Doty blocking a lockout, where will we be. Will the owners just install their final offer from today ( and continue playing) and wait for a ruling 2-3 years from now?

I was under the impression that if the union decertifies or the CBA expires that Judge Doty will no longer be the presiding judge in the NFL / NFLPA ( or individual players if decertified ) matters. He is the presiding judge at this time because the he was the presiding judge when this CBA went into effect and has been extended through the years. I could be mistaken.Anyone know if this is accurate?

 

[Ksquared]

I had heard this was one of the reasons the Owners wanted to do a lockout. To have the current CBA expire including Mr Doty's oversight of it. Not sure how true that is, but I have read this several times in the last month. Especially after the Doty ruling a couple of weeks ago.

Crush, I see you are back in this thread. I asked a question a couple of days ago and was curious what your legal perspective was. It the Union decertifies, is there anything legally keeping the NFL from implementing an 18 game season? They can just say two of the preseason games now count. My understanding from the Union's side of the decertification process was to guarantee there would be football next season. But that would mean the NFL would have to be able to set the game schedules. If that is so, I don't see how there would be an anti-trust violation by making two of the the preseason games count as regular season games.

Any thoughts?

 

[FallenHero32]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

Crush, your background seems to give you a solid understanding of these proceedings . If the union decertifies AND is successful in filing an injunction with Judge Doty blocking a lockout, where will we be. Will the owners just install their final offer from today ( and continue playing) and wait for a ruling 2-3 years from now?

I was under the impression that if the union decertifies or the CBA expires that Judge Doty will no longer be the presiding judge in the NFL / NFLPA ( or individual players if decertified ) matters. He is the presiding judge at this time because the he was the presiding judge when this CBA went into effect and has been extended through the years. I could be mistaken.Anyone know if this is accurate?

If the CBA is allowed to expire then Judge Doty would NOT be the presiding judge over the matter because it would be considered a new suit or some legal jargon like that. The Union voting to dissolve prior the CBA expiring basically would bring the matter back in Dotys courtroom because it would be a continuing labor dispute plus the legal paperwork would start with him anyway with the Union submitting theirs as he is the presiding judge. It's why the Union wants to decertify prior to the CBA expiring so that Doty stays on the case. Otherwise, it would go to some assigned federal courtroom.

 

[Mello]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

Crush, your background seems to give you a solid understanding of these proceedings . If the union decertifies AND is successful in filing an injunction with Judge Doty blocking a lockout, where will we be. Will the owners just install their final offer from today ( and continue playing) and wait for a ruling 2-3 years from now?

I was under the impression that if the union decertifies or the CBA expires that Judge Doty will no longer be the presiding judge in the NFL / NFLPA ( or individual players if decertified ) matters. He is the presiding judge at this time because the he was the presiding judge when this CBA went into effect and has been extended through the years. I could be mistaken.Anyone know if this is accurate?

If the CBA is allowed to expire then Judge Doty would NOT be the presiding judge over the matter because it would be considered a new suit or some legal jargon like that. The Union voting to dissolve prior the CBA expiring basically would bring the matter back in Dotys courtroom because it would be a continuing labor dispute plus the legal paperwork would start with him anyway with the Union submitting theirs as he is the presiding judge. It's why the Union wants to decertify prior to the CBA expiring so that Doty stays on the case. Otherwise, it would go to some assigned federal courtroom.

The other reason is if the union allows the CBA to expire without decertifying, they cannot file a suit for 6 months. Basically guaranteeing the lockout would last to the season unless the union caved.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

Peter King on Goodell

One NFL source said that on a conference call with owners Thursday, commissioner Roger Goodell was given the freedom to move drastically, if need be, to make a deal with players.

 

[Road Warriors]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

Crush, your background seems to give you a solid understanding of these proceedings . If the union decertifies AND is successful in filing an injunction with Judge Doty blocking a lockout, where will we be. Will the owners just install their final offer from today ( and continue playing) and wait for a ruling 2-3 years from now?

I was under the impression that if the union decertifies or the CBA expires that Judge Doty will no longer be the presiding judge in the NFL / NFLPA ( or individual players if decertified ) matters. He is the presiding judge at this time because the he was the presiding judge when this CBA went into effect and has been extended through the years. I could be mistaken.Anyone know if this is accurate?

If the CBA is allowed to expire then Judge Doty would NOT be the presiding judge over the matter because it would be considered a new suit or some legal jargon like that. The Union voting to dissolve prior the CBA expiring basically would bring the matter back in Dotys courtroom because it would be a continuing labor dispute plus the legal paperwork would start with him anyway with the Union submitting theirs as he is the presiding judge. It's why the Union wants to decertify prior to the CBA expiring so that Doty stays on the case. Otherwise, it would go to some assigned federal courtroom.

Gotcha. Thanks.

 

[Orange Crush]

Last Friday, I was very optimistic a deal would get done. Going to court was being referred to as "the nuclear option" by both sides, and I think that's an accurate descriptor. But based on the rhetoric of the last 24 hours, it looks like we're going to be breaking new ground in sports and labor law very shortly.

Crush, your background seems to give you a solid understanding of these proceedings . If the union decertifies AND is successful in filing an injunction with Judge Doty blocking a lockout, where will we be. Will the owners just install their final offer from today ( and continue playing) and wait for a ruling 2-3 years from now?

I was under the impression that if the union decertifies or the CBA expires that Judge Doty will no longer be the presiding judge in the NFL / NFLPA ( or individual players if decertified ) matters. He is the presiding judge at this time because the he was the presiding judge when this CBA went into effect and has been extended through the years. I could be mistaken.Anyone know if this is accurate?

If the CBA is allowed to expire then Judge Doty would NOT be the presiding judge over the matter because it would be considered a new suit or some legal jargon like that. The Union voting to dissolve prior the CBA expiring basically would bring the matter back in Dotys courtroom because it would be a continuing labor dispute plus the legal paperwork would start with him anyway with the Union submitting theirs as he is the presiding judge. It's why the Union wants to decertify prior to the CBA expiring so that Doty stays on the case. Otherwise, it would go to some assigned federal courtroom.

The other reason is if the union allows the CBA to expire without decertifying, they cannot file a suit for 6 months. Basically guaranteeing the lockout would last to the season unless the union caved.

Yes, both answers here are accurate.

 

[Orange Crush]

Peter King on Goodell

One NFL source said that on a conference call with owners Thursday, commissioner Roger Goodell was given the freedom to move drastically, if need be, to make a deal with players.

That's what I was thinking last Friday -- that this has been one enormous bluff by the owners, but in the end all they want is anything even a little better than what they've got now.I still hope this is the case and real progress is being made today. But the sniping at each other through the media yesterday was really ugly.

 

[Orange Crush]

I had heard this was one of the reasons the Owners wanted to do a lockout. To have the current CBA expire including Mr Doty's oversight of it. Not sure how true that is, but I have read this several times in the last month. Especially after the Doty ruling a couple of weeks ago. Crush, I see you are back in this thread. I asked a question a couple of days ago and was curious what your legal perspective was. It the Union decertifies, is there anything legally keeping the NFL from implementing an 18 game season? They can just say two of the preseason games now count. My understanding from the Union's side of the decertification process was to guarantee there would be football next season. But that would mean the NFL would have to be able to set the game schedules. If that is so, I don't see how there would be an anti-trust violation by making two of the the preseason games count as regular season games.Any thoughts?

If the Union decertifies, and the NFL fails to block it and then later attempts a lockout anyway and loses in court again on that issue --- THEN ... the NFL would be forced to devise rules on their own for the coming season. They could decide on anything at all, 18 game season, rookie pay structure, no free agency ever, huge fines for off-field conduct detrimental to the image of the league, etc., etc., etc. Anything at all. However, the players can challenge any of them in court under antitrust law. A move from 16 to 18 games I think would survive such a challenge. I haven't given much thought to this, so I'm just going to brainstorm as I type here -- players would say the owners conspired together to create harsher labor conditions in the market (more work for no additional pay) ... that might work. But the nature of the market is that the owners have to conspire together to set a schedule. It's a tough call. I don't know if they'd eventually win on that, but there's a better chance the players get an injunction against the add'l games while the issue is being litigated. Basically, everything is thrown into chaos, which just adds more pressure for both sides to get a deal done. That's why this really is "the nuclear option."

 

[Tackling Dummies]

I still hope this is the case and real progress is being made today. But the sniping at each other through the media yesterday was really ugly.

It's a part of the dance. I'd prefer that the sides refrain from it, but both Smith and Pash are using the media to get their points across.

 

[Cripster]

I had heard this was one of the reasons the Owners wanted to do a lockout. To have the current CBA expire including Mr Doty's oversight of it. Not sure how true that is, but I have read this several times in the last month. Especially after the Doty ruling a couple of weeks ago. Crush, I see you are back in this thread. I asked a question a couple of days ago and was curious what your legal perspective was. It the Union decertifies, is there anything legally keeping the NFL from implementing an 18 game season? They can just say two of the preseason games now count. My understanding from the Union's side of the decertification process was to guarantee there would be football next season. But that would mean the NFL would have to be able to set the game schedules. If that is so, I don't see how there would be an anti-trust violation by making two of the the preseason games count as regular season games.Any thoughts?

If the Union decertifies, and the NFL fails to block it and then later attempts a lockout anyway and loses in court again on that issue --- THEN ... the NFL would be forced to devise rules on their own for the coming season. They could decide on anything at all, 18 game season, rookie pay structure, no free agency ever, huge fines for off-field conduct detrimental to the image of the league, etc., etc., etc. Anything at all. However, the players can challenge any of them in court under antitrust law. A move from 16 to 18 games I think would survive such a challenge. I haven't given much thought to this, so I'm just going to brainstorm as I type here -- players would say the owners conspired together to create harsher labor conditions in the market (more work for no additional pay) ... that might work. But the nature of the market is that the owners have to conspire together to set a schedule. It's a tough call. I don't know if they'd eventually win on that, but there's a better chance the players get an injunction against the add'l games while the issue is being litigated. Basically, everything is thrown into chaos, which just adds more pressure for both sides to get a deal done. That's why this really is "the nuclear option."

Twitter guys said owners offered to split the difference. Union did not appear to counter yet and may be headed to court. Not sure if that is a fact or not.

 

[Obie Wan]

I had heard this was one of the reasons the Owners wanted to do a lockout. To have the current CBA expire including Mr Doty's oversight of it. Not sure how true that is, but I have read this several times in the last month. Especially after the Doty ruling a couple of weeks ago. Crush, I see you are back in this thread. I asked a question a couple of days ago and was curious what your legal perspective was. It the Union decertifies, is there anything legally keeping the NFL from implementing an 18 game season? They can just say two of the preseason games now count. My understanding from the Union's side of the decertification process was to guarantee there would be football next season. But that would mean the NFL would have to be able to set the game schedules. If that is so, I don't see how there would be an anti-trust violation by making two of the the preseason games count as regular season games.Any thoughts?

If the Union decertifies, and the NFL fails to block it and then later attempts a lockout anyway and loses in court again on that issue --- THEN ... the NFL would be forced to devise rules on their own for the coming season. They could decide on anything at all, 18 game season, rookie pay structure, no free agency ever, huge fines for off-field conduct detrimental to the image of the league, etc., etc., etc. Anything at all. However, the players can challenge any of them in court under antitrust law. A move from 16 to 18 games I think would survive such a challenge. I haven't given much thought to this, so I'm just going to brainstorm as I type here -- players would say the owners conspired together to create harsher labor conditions in the market (more work for no additional pay) ... that might work. But the nature of the market is that the owners have to conspire together to set a schedule. It's a tough call. I don't know if they'd eventually win on that, but there's a better chance the players get an injunction against the add'l games while the issue is being litigated. Basically, everything is thrown into chaos, which just adds more pressure for both sides to get a deal done. That's why this really is "the nuclear option."

if the Union de-certifies, the league may be better off not locking the players out, but implementing new rules of play forcing the players (now without a union) to make the decision to play or not. Since the NFLPA is gone, they probably don't even have to prove they bargained to an impasse (which should not be a problem anyway)As noted above, the NFLPA will essentially force games to be played (under the existing rules) while the litigation works its way through the courts over 3-5 years. By being pro-active about implementing new rules, the league will get its salary rollback at least until the litigation is resolved. The new rules would include:1. an 18 game schedule (which the players already agreed to in the expiring CBA)2. rookie wage scale as recently agreed3. free agency and franchise player tags as used under expiring CBA4. maintain college draft as is and used under the expiring CBA5. salary cap at the owner's preferred %All of the above except #5 should survive an injunction.#5 could also be avoided if the owners are forced to continue the status quo- which for 2010 did not include any salary capMy guess is that the owner's will stand a good chance in an anti-trust case with these items and their history.There is a strong argument that the above items should be treated as allowable exemptions to the anti-trust rules under American Needle. When the owners lost last time, they had no workable free agency vehicle and the environment has changed dramatically.What am I missing?

 

[Orange Crush]

if the Union de-certifies, the league may be better off not locking the players out, but implementing new rules of play forcing the players (now without a union) to make the decision to play or not. Since the NFLPA is gone, they probably don't even have to prove they bargained to an impasse (which should not be a problem anyway)As noted above, the NFLPA will essentially force games to be played (under the existing rules) while the litigation works its way through the courts over 3-5 years. By being pro-active about implementing new rules, the league will get its salary rollback at least until the litigation is resolved. The new rules would include:1. an 18 game schedule (which the players already agreed to in the expiring CBA)2. rookie wage scale as recently agreed3. free agency and franchise player tags as used under expiring CBA4. maintain college draft as is and used under the expiring CBA5. salary cap at the owner's preferred %All of the above except #5 should survive an injunction.#5 could also be avoided if the owners are forced to continue the status quo- which for 2010 did not include any salary capMy guess is that the owner's will stand a good chance in an anti-trust case with these items and their history.There is a strong argument that the above items should be treated as allowable exemptions to the anti-trust rules under American Needle. When the owners lost last time, they had no workable free agency vehicle and the environment has changed dramatically.What am I missing?

Just because something was agreed to in a previous CBA doesn't immunize it from antitrust scrutiny. The players can and will challenge ALL 5 of your points. There are good arguments to be made why pro football is a unique industry and that the NFL should prevail, but the league is a big, whopping 0-for-all in court in antitrust cases.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

Not feeling good about this.

 

[coolnerd]

NFLN reporting that decertification has been applied for by the union.

 

[Cripster]

Its a done deal it would appear.

 

[offdee]

Its a done deal it would appear.

What's a done deal? A lockout or no lockout?

 

[PennStater77]

Its a done deal it would appear.

What's a done deal? A lockout or no lockout?

Lockout.. This is going to court, which will be a long process.

 

[Jason Wood]

Nuclear option has been initiated, we are in for a longgggggggggggg year :(

 

[Blutarsky]

Fire up the college fantasy football leagues!

 

[J-Dawg]

I think it's stupid on the NFLPA's part to demand so much financial information from the league. I don't walk into my bosses office asking for a raise but first asking to see the company's financial information to figure out how much to ask for. Nobody should be able to access information to how much money their boss makes.

 

[Chadstroma]

That sucks.

 

[Eastwood]

 

[GroveDiesel]

Its a done deal it would appear.

What's a done deal? A lockout or no lockout?

Actually, decertification blocks any lockout and with no union they can't strike either. So there WILL be football. The big question will be in what form will we have football?Depending on how the courts rule when things are all over, we could see a VASTLY different product than we've loved over the past 30 years. And nobody has any clue how the courts will ultimately rule on all of this. The courts haven't been too kind to the owners in the past, but the American Needle case does leave an opening for some massive benefits flowing back to the owners.I think the owners are strongly to blame for where things have ended up. The problem for me is if the players fight to get rid of the draft, salary cap, etc. If that stuff disappears for good, then the NFL as we know it is permanently gone and ruined IMO. That's web I'll be done as a fan.Lockout.. This is going to court, which will be a long process.

 

[Gman]

The Japan quake makes this seem so petty, millionaires fighting billionaires for money.

The world loves the NFL. Way to screw it up guys.

 

[Ksquared]

Well as this process as been going forward, I have come to realize why I am completely on the side of the owners if the player's decertify. When the court cases get completed we will have an NFL that will look a lot like MLB. A lot of have and have nots. It will not be the NFL I have come to love where almost any team could turn it around in a 2 year span with the right breaks and good management. I soured on baseball after the last strike which just entrenched the advantage large market teams have over smaller market teams. Be ready for rules that will make half of the NFL a farm team for the big boys. Much of the free market policies wanted by the players will create this type of system - not that I necessarily blame them, but they really only care about their own $$.

 

[dfwboiler]

I think it's stupid on the NFLPA's part to demand so much financial information from the league. I don't walk into my bosses office asking for a raise but first asking to see the company's financial information to figure out how much to ask for. Nobody should be able to access information to how much money their boss makes.

If you work for a public company, you can get a lot of info via SEC filings.Obviously almost all teams are private though.

 

[gandalas]

Fire up the college fantasy football leagues!

We Ohio State fans don't even have THAT to look forward to...Bad week for Columbus football fans. At least we have the big dance to look forward to!

 

[Mello]

Well as this process as been going forward, I have come to realize why I am completely on the side of the owners if the player's decertify. When the court cases get completed we will have an NFL that will look a lot like MLB. A lot of have and have nots. It will not be the NFL I have come to love where almost any team could turn it around in a 2 year span with the right breaks and good management. I soured on baseball after the last strike which just entrenched the advantage large market teams have over smaller market teams. Be ready for rules that will make half of the NFL a farm team for the big boys. Much of the free market policies wanted by the players will create this type of system - not that I necessarily blame them, but they really only care about their own $$.

Your most likely wrong. Just like the last time the union decertified and won in court, as soon as the owners know they are beaten, they will come to an agreement with the players. It's favorable for both sides that the current structure stays in place. This is simply the only way the players can gain any leverage. Remember, the last time the union decertified, that's what brought about free agency and a salary cap. The very things that make the NFL what you love.Personally, I'd be perfectly happy for the NFL to revert back to what it was pre-salary cap. I'm a Cowboys fan though...

 

[plastik]

Statement from NFL as per http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/03/nfl_the_union_left_a_very_good_deal_on_the_table.html

MARCH 11, 2011

NFL: "The union left a very good deal on the table"

This is the statement released by the NFL:

The fastest way to a fair agreement is for both the union and the clubs to continue the mediation process. Unfortunately, the players’ union has notified our office that at 4pm ET it had “decertified” and is walking away from mediation and collective bargaining, presumably to initiate the antitrust litigation it has been threatening to file. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, the clubs offered a deal that would have had no adverse financial impact upon veteran players in the early years and would meet the players’ financial demands in the latter years.

The union left a very good deal on the table. It included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; ensure no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

The union was offered financial disclosure of audited league and club profitability information that is not even shared with the NFL clubs.

The expanded health and safety rules would include a reduction in offseason programs of five weeks (from 14 to nine) and of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) from 14 to 10; significant reductions in the amount of contact in practices; and other changes.

At a time when thousands of employees are fighting for their collective bargaining rights, this union has chosen to abandon collective bargaining in favor of a sham ‘decertification’ and antitrust litigation. This litigation maneuver is built on the indisputably false premise that the NFLPA has stopped being a union and will merely delay the process of reaching an agreement.

The NFL clubs remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached. The NFL calls on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

 

[Dexter Manley]

Well as this process as been going forward, I have come to realize why I am completely on the side of the owners if the player's decertify. When the court cases get completed we will have an NFL that will look a lot like MLB. A lot of have and have nots. It will not be the NFL I have come to love where almost any team could turn it around in a 2 year span with the right breaks and good management. I soured on baseball after the last strike which just entrenched the advantage large market teams have over smaller market teams. Be ready for rules that will make half of the NFL a farm team for the big boys. Much of the free market policies wanted by the players will create this type of system - not that I necessarily blame them, but they really only care about their own $$.

Your most likely wrong. Just like the last time the union decertified and won in court, as soon as the owners know they are beaten, they will come to an agreement with the players. It's favorable for both sides that the current structure stays in place. This is simply the only way the players can gain any leverage. Remember, the last time the union decertified, that's what brought about free agency and a salary cap. The very things that make the NFL what you love.Personally, I'd be perfectly happy for the NFL to revert back to what it was pre-salary cap. I'm a Cowboys fan though...

Yea, I'd prefer that the salary cap never come back.

 

[Black]

Mort reporting NFLPA decertifies in federal court in Minneapolis.

Now what, men?

 

[Touchdown There]

Obama is going to be pissed if there is no Bears football in 2011.

 

[Mark Wimer]

:X

NFL -> <- NFLPA

 

[Blutarsky]

College fantasy football?

 

[shader]

Now what? I really don't know. I suppose that the owners have plans for this, so I guess now we see what happens. There is no lockout now, right?

 

[Ksquared]

There will probably be a large majority that will fill that way, since the largest population centers have the most people by definition and will have a major advantage in raising much more $$ for their teams to succeed. So as I said, here comes MLB and the Yankees. The question will be what owner with a big enough potential $$ base and deep pockets will break the bank of the other teams. Will this guarantee they will win, no but they have wide margins of error where small market teams will not be able to make a mistake. And the small markets will become the KC Royals of football, develop a good player and he will go to a "big" market team when he is hitting his prime.

 

[J-Dawg]

Statement from NFL as per http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/03/nfl_the_union_left_a_very_good_deal_on_the_table.html

MARCH 11, 2011

NFL: "The union left a very good deal on the table"

This is the statement released by the NFL:

The fastest way to a fair agreement is for both the union and the clubs to continue the mediation process. Unfortunately, the players’ union has notified our office that at 4pm ET it had “decertified” and is walking away from mediation and collective bargaining, presumably to initiate the antitrust litigation it has been threatening to file. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, the clubs offered a deal that would have had no adverse financial impact upon veteran players in the early years and would meet the players’ financial demands in the latter years.

The union left a very good deal on the table. It included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; ensure no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

The union was offered financial disclosure of audited league and club profitability information that is not even shared with the NFL clubs.

The expanded health and safety rules would include a reduction in offseason programs of five weeks (from 14 to nine) and of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) from 14 to 10; significant reductions in the amount of contact in practices; and other changes.

At a time when thousands of employees are fighting for their collective bargaining rights, this union has chosen to abandon collective bargaining in favor of a sham ‘decertification’ and antitrust litigation. This litigation maneuver is built on the indisputably false premise that the NFLPA has stopped being a union and will merely delay the process of reaching an agreement.

The NFL clubs remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached. The NFL calls on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

Not really sure why the union would have rejected this deal, it seems pretty fair to me. The owners even softened their stance on an 18 game season. De Smith has some explaining to do.

 

[shader]

That statement sure makes the players look bad. I'd like to see a counter-statement from the Union.

 

[Couch Potato]

In my opinion the NFLPA believes it has more leverage and power than it has, buoyed by the earlier Doty ruling. Their decision to decertify rather than extend negotiations and reach a bargained agreement will cost them.

 

[Chadstroma]

The biggest problem in negotiations? Lawyers. The biggest winners in the breakdown of talks? Lawyers.

 

[Chadstroma]

Obama is going to be pissed if there is no Bears football in 2011.

Well, if he is as much of a fan of the Bears as he is of the Sox... he will be very sad for the players.... you know.... er.... eh...... uh.......

 

[Eastwood]

Well Herm Edwards thinks we'll have football week 1. Hopefully all the lawyers play FF and realize they have to get this thing done!

 

[Chadstroma]

:X NFL -> <- NFLPA

 

[Mello]

Well Herm Edwards thinks we'll have football week 1. Hopefully all the lawyers play FF and realize they have to get this thing done!

We are doomed.