NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

So, between year 1 and 4, newton could be on something like say, $5M a year, and then say he performs well, panthers activate the option on the 5th year, at which time Newton would then get a guaranteed payment of $15m.

That's a lot less/better than the notion of a rookie getting a lump $20m or $30m first off.

Which follows what i was saying before, newton wouldnt get his hands on $20-25m up front.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Eagles have begun putting the tents up at Lehigh in Arizona for Training Camp.

Ding dong, the witch is dead.

 

[camsmith]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Aren't the NBA having CBA problems too though?

Bring on the NFL season..

 

[larkis]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I'll see it when I believe it. Done my university timetable to ensure I have all of Monday and most of Tuesday is off so I can watch NFL. Fingers crossed.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

thank **** for that.

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

If Thursday this week (July 21) is the day that the CBA comes into force then there's going to be one hell of an "off-season" for the teams. Everything is going to be compressed into 21 days.

Apparently the teams will get a 72 hour window to exclusively (yeah right!) negotiate with uncontracted players on their teams and then bang, let free-agency begin.

Training camps were scheduled to due to begin on the 23rd, although some of them may have been just rookies, but most will be underway by the 29th.

The HOF pre-season game is scheduled for the 7th of August which is only 17 days after the 21st. The first round of the pre-season starts on the 11th, which gives most teams 3 weeks to be ready

The good news about the CBA is that apparently its a 10 year deal

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

The good news about the CBA is that apparently its a 10 year deal

Doesnt mean much if either side can easily opt out of it in a couple of years

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Doesnt mean much if either side can easily opt out of it in a couple of years

too true - I haven't heard any opt out details as of yet, but I'm sure there'll be clause for both sides in the new CBA

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

too true - I haven't heard any opt out details as of yet, but I'm sure there'll be clause for both sides in the new CBA

You havent heard any details because they havent been decided yet. Here's a run down of the (relatively minor) issues still to be finalised

$320 million in benefits that were lost in the 2010 uncapped season

A provision in the new CBA that would allow teams to use the franchise tag just once on any player

The settlement of the Brady v. NFL lawsuit.
As Mortensen reports, it's possible that this could include no free-agent restrictions on all named plaintiffs, including Peyton Manning(notes), Logan Mankins(notes), Drew Brees(notes), and Vincent Jackson(notes).

The damages in the lockout insurance case.
When Judge David Doty ruled in favor of the players in the case that proved the owners were strong-arming several television networks to set up a lockout slush fund, $4 billion in TV money went into escrow, and both sides are awaiting a ruling from Doty on final damages. It's entirely possible that the players' last-minute request for lost benefits is reflective of the fact that the owners would rather not find out what's behind Doty's "Door #1" when it comes to damages. Doty has generally ruled in favor of the players, and the owners were caught red-handed in trying to illegally fund an extended work stoppage.

The opt-out language of the deal.
The estimation is that the new CBA will last 10 years, but the owners opted out of the last CBA after just two years. Who will be allowed to do so in the new CBA, under what circumstances, and after how many years?

Final details of the nature of preseason workouts from a full-contact perspective

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...-minute-issues-lead-to-more-ta?urn=nfl-wp3477

and the

Settlement of the television damages case stemming from U.S. District Judge David Doty's ruling that owners did not act in the best interests of players as directed by the previous CBA in creating "lockout insurance."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...yers-set-mediation-monday-tuesday-sources-say

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

The latest news

NFL Free Agency not expected to begin until about a week after labor deal finalized, sources say.

http://twitter.com/SBJLizMullen/status/92990887394680832

NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams today, instructing key executives to attend Thursday's owners meetings in Atlanta.

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/92996958163185664

My understanding is the players' pursuit of $320 million in lost 2010 benefits has emerged as biggest remaining issue here.

http://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/92995417045868544

A player rep said that, assuming the two sides have addressed unresolved issues, NFLPA is planning to vote Wednesday to approve settlement.

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/

 

[superfreak]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Once NFL labor deal is done, Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik is off and running with full schedule
By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist

On the day the NFL lockout finally ends, Bucs general manager Mark Dominik's day-planner:

3:17 a.m. — Wake up. Look at clock. Go back to sleep. After all, this isn't Jon Gruden's day-planner.

6 a.m. — Wake up. Check the newspaper. Yeah, the lockout really is over. Yippee.

6:19 a.m. — First thing, ponder this: Is it a year too early to offer Josh Freeman a long-term contract? Maybe. But how does five years and the mayorship of Tampa sound?

6:30 a.m. — Show up at office. Hide the Red Bull from Raheem. He's going to be fired up enough.

7:06 a.m. — Put on track shoes. It's going to be a busy day.

7:15 a.m. — Study scouting reports on former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, just in case. Study scouting reports on local tattoo parlors, just in case.

7:25 a.m. — Let assistant coaches out of storage closet. Unleash the season.

8 a.m. — Call Davin Joseph's agent. Inform him the Bucs want him back. With a young quarterback, a young running back and a group of young receivers, this team has to have a solid offensive line.

8:15 a.m. — Call Quincy Black's agent. Inform him the Bucs consider him the linebacker they want back the most.

8:20 a.m. — Review the free agent list. Double-check cornerbacks, linebackers and offensive tackles.

8:30 a.m. — Remind co-workers to open the season-ticket windows and brace for the stampede. Operators are standing by.

8:37 a.m. — Review the new labor agreement. How much money are the Bucs required to spend?

8:45 a.m. — If it's that much, call Freeman's agent back. Extend offer to seven years. He can be a state representative.

8:54 a.m. — Call information in Oakland, Calif. Ask for the number for Nnamdi Asomugha. Normal spelling, operator.

9 a.m. — Reach Asomugha. Ask about rumors he wants $19 million a year. Hang up. Laugh loudly for 45 minutes.

9:45 a.m. — Call back. Ask Asomugha if he will consider $19 a year for a million years.

9:55 a.m. — Phone commissioner's office. Congratulate Roger Goodell for getting a raise from that $1 a year he was making during the lockout. Ask if he has made a decision on Aqib Talib.

10 a.m. — Meet with Tiki Barber. Ask for his driver's license to be sure it isn't Ronde playing another trick on you. Tell Tiki you admire his DNA, but right now, the Bucs have no need for a 36-year-old running back unless someone is injured in training camp.

10:30 a.m. — Put on Kevlar vest. Call Plaxico Burress, tell him you have all the weapons you need. Shoot, with Plaxico, it is better to pass on him, not to him.

10:45 a.m. — Fax a contract offer to defensive end Adrian Clayborn, the team's No. 1 draft pick. Tell him the Bucs expect him to ruin the days of a lot of quarterbacks.

11 a.m. — Fax a contract offer to defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, the team's No. 2 draft pick. Tell him the Bucs expect him to ruin the days of a lot of quarterbacks.

11:15 a.m. — Ditto linebacker Mason Foster, the No. 3 draft pick. Foster remains the most likely player to start at middle linebacker.

11:30 a.m. — Call Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Ask if he has polished that NFL executive of the year award that you should have won instead of him.

11:31 a.m. — After all, Dimitroff's team went from nine wins to 13. Your team went from three wins to 10.

11:31 a.m. — Not that anyone is counting.

11:45 a.m. — If Asomugha is really that expensive, check out Johnathan Joseph of the Bengals. He'd look good in pewter, wouldn't he? Signing two to three second-tier free agents could help.

Noon — Lunch with Barrett Ruud. If the order is wrong, ask Ruud to stop the waiter. After he does, measure to see if the waiter got a first down.

12:50 p.m. — Tell Ruud the Bucs still appreciate him, and if the price is reasonable, they would like to have him back. For both parties, however, it is probably time for Ruud to let the market determine his value.

12:55 p.m. — Ditto Cadillac.

1 p.m. — Return to office, send out contract offers to the rest of your draft class.

1:15 — Check the Internet to see who Steelers linebacker James Harrison is ticked at now.

1:45 p.m. — Considering the chatter of Talib, remind everyone that releasing a player has nothing to do with the presumption of innocent until proven guilty. This isn't a courtroom. It's a decision of being tolerated until proven annoying.

2 p.m. — Very diplomatically, please ask Simeon Rice to stop calling. The charges from his home planet are very expensive.

2:45 — Fax the second page of the playbook to LeGarrette Blount, whether he needs it or not. (The first page, which said "break a lot of tackles,'' seemed to work just fine last year.)

3 p.m. — Talk to the trainer about Gerald McCoy's biceps, Brian Price's groin, Clayborn's arm and Bowers' knee. Can you market the Fractured Foursome?

3:15 p.m. — Tell assistant you will accept calls from Charlie Ward, Burt Ward and Ward Bond, but if Derrick calls, you aren't home.

4:05 p.m. — Check the playbook. Next to "third down," write "Kregg Lumpkin."

4:30 p.m. — Ponder wisdom of making Freeman's contract 10 years. Make him governor.

4:45 p.m. — Check draft reports again. Teams have less time to evaluate this year, so other teams' practice squads may be enticing.

5 p.m. — Call news conference. Announce that, to drive up attendance, the Bucs will have postgame concerts, too. Also, pro wrestling at halftime.

5:30 p.m. — Go over plans for rookie minicamp, for training camp, for regular-season travel, for London game.

5:55 p.m. — Check late headlines to make sure Talib isn't in any of them.

6 p.m. — Go home. Leave track shoes at the office. For an NFL general manager, tomorrow is going to be busy again.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Really starting to sound promising

 

[larkis]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

3:15 p.m. — Tell assistant you will accept calls from Charlie Ward, Burt Ward and Ward Bond, but if Derrick calls, you aren't home.

4:05 p.m. — Check the playbook. Next to "third down," write "Kregg Lumpkin."

I want to know what he was doing for 40 minutes avoiding calls from Derrick.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

So none of the teams have trained right? The preseason games begin in a few weeks and they havn't even had a preseason lol

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Training camps will occur before the preseason like always if the CBA comes thru soon. They just missed out on OTAs and mini-camps, but they're not huge losses in terms of players being fit or standard of play somehow dropping. Players from teams have been running their own little camps funded by themselves. And every off-season anyway, most players are working out, and training with personal trainers etc.

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

So none of the teams have trained right? The preseason games begin in a few weeks and they havn't even had a preseason lol

The real drawback is contact with the coaches and rookies learning the playbook along with refining their skill set. Fitness and athletism isn't the laughing matter you care to believe as I have no doubts that NFL vets are ahead of AFL vets when it comes to getting the job done from the get-go.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Some more news updates so you guys dont have to look elsewhere

100 percent true. Just confirmed with two club sources. RT @ProFootballTalk: Packers telling players to show up Sat. http://wp.me/p14QSB-AqZ

http://twitter.com/jasonjwilde

NFLPA is drawing up, and hopes to finalize, a near draft of the settlement to review today.

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/93333450962116608

Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller, the lead plaintiff in a class action filed by former players, told Albert Breer of NFL Network that the retired players won’t stand in the way of a settlement of the current labor dispute.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/19/retired-players-wont-get-in-the-way-of-a-settlement/

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Some of the players involved in the anti-trust lawsuit are trying to have the franchise tag removed from them and be free from the tags for the rest of their careers

An NFL source with direct knowledge of negotiations said Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Drew Brees of the New Orleans are requesting to be exempt from the franchise tag for the rest of their careers.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba..._manning_r.html?camp=localsearch:on:twit:pats

The agents for San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson and New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins reportedly are demanding their clients become unrestricted free agents once the lockout is lifted or receive $10 million payments as part of the settlement of the Brady vs. NFL antitrust lawsuit.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...-freedom-10m?campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

Vincent Jackson wants $10 million settlement. But Logan Mankins and agent Frank Bauer have not requested any financial settlement so far.

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/93352863534825472

This is kinda expected (at least by me it was). Reggie White's settlement of his anti-trust lawsuit in 1993 that resulted in Free Agency included a similar clause. It is was allowed him to move to Green Bay (and eventually win his ring).

What do you guys think about them asking for this? They are copping flak from most fans for this on various NFL forums

EDIT: Here are Chris Kluwe (Vikings punter and one of the funniest NFL players on twitter)'s thoughts on these guys:

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Looks like everything is on schedule for the players to vote tomorrow, and the owners the day after....

@AlbertBreer Albert Breer
Lawyers' work is largely done. Document goes to players tomorrow to be reviewed, voted on.

@AlbertBreer Albert Breer
After dinner, I'm told the lawyers & staff will be dotting i's, crossing t's and refining a document to present to the players tomorrow ...

@AlbertBreer Albert Breer
The completed document will go first to the NFLPA executive committee and the NFL's labor committee. Just to make sure I'm clear on process.

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Looks like everything is on schedule for the players to vote tomorrow, and the owners the day after....


@AlbertBreer Albert Breer
After dinner, I'm told the lawyers & staff will be dotting i's, crossing t's and refining a document to present to the players tomorrow ...

“dotting i’s and crossing t’s” ………………….and putting vertical lines through all those S’s.

From Twitter poster, HobartBaker

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

With the owners now locked in (they voted 31-0 for the new CBA, with Oakland abstaining) its only the players that now need to agree.

I believe we'll know in the next three hours if there's a deal or not

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Heres a link for the good news than Sven posted

According to sources, owners voted 31-0 to accept the proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement, with the Oakland Raiders abstaining. Sources told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the owners have notified the players they would accept this deal contingent on all union matters being resolved next week, and the players' association being reconstituted as a union.

The likely start of training camps is estimated to be Aug. 1, sources said. The new 10-year CBA has no opt-out clauses for either side, meaning there will be labor peace until 2021 if the NFLPA ratifies the deal.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6791408/lockout-nfl-owners-approve-proposed-labor-agreement

The CBA will be 10yrs with no opt-out clauses so no lockouts for 10 years!! Teams can open their doors on Saturday if the players agree to ratify the CBA

The players are set have a conference call at 8pm US EST (10am here if im not mistaken). Its unclear however if they are voting then or not

Also, the HOF game has been cancelled

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

from http://twitter.com/#!/adbrandt

2011 League Year -- free agency, trades, etc. -- to hopefully begin midday Wednesday, July 27.

Cap number of $120.375M would go into place Wednesday. Teams would have until then to release/restructure to get under the Cap.

99% cash minimum spend requirement in 2011-2012; 95% for rest of deal. Big "get" for Players.

10 year CBA between NFL and NFL Players has no "outs". Hard 10 year deal.

The 99% cash minimum is a HUGE win for the players. The underspending by teams that occurred in the past looks to be dead.

Its also my understanding that the teams will have time (possibly months) to get their salary caps in order, and not have to be under next week

As mentioned by drd23 - awesome news on the lack of an out clause for either side, I'm pretty sure the players would have been big on that issue given the $320m in lost benefits from last year.

and as some have tweeted - It wouldn't be the NFL vote without Al abstaining

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Its not over yet . The NFLPA* isnt happy that the NFL passed their own version of the CBA (not one agreed to by the Players) and are basically using the media to put pressure on the players to agree to a deal they wouldn't had this been kept quiet

"It puts onus on players to make a decision to agree; paints us into a corner with fans. We'll discuss tonight but the idea of reconstituting as a union as never been a slam dunk as the owners have already assumed."

Another high-ranking NFLPA official: "We are not happy here. We had to honor to not vote on an agreement that was not final (Wednesday). This is not over. This actually takes away incentives from players to vote yes tonight."
http://twitter.com/mortreport

and

Players side source: "The NFL passed their own proposal. There are numerous items in the proposal that players never agreed to."
http://twitter.com/sbjlizmullen

These are two emails that have been sent to the Player Reps (who need to vote on behalf of the 1,900 odd players) to ratify the CBA. It doesnt sound too positive

“[The settlement] gives the players only three days–Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week–to try to bargain any changes to the old CBA. Any such changes would have to be agreed to by the owners in order to be incorporated into the Agreement, which would then become final on Saturday, July 30. If the NFL does not agree to the players’ proposed changes, the old CBA terms on benefits, discipline, safety, etc. will remain unchanged for another ten years.

In addition to depriving the players of the time needed to consider forming a union and making needed changes to the old Agreement, this proposed procedure would in my view also violate federal labor laws. Those laws prohibit employers from coercing their employees into forming a union, and could result in any Agreement reached through the procedure being declared null and void,”

As you know the Owners have ratifified their proposal to settle our differences. It is my understanding they are forwarding it to us. As u may have heard, they apparently approved a supplemental revenue sharing proposal. Obly, we hv not bn a part of those discussions. As you know from yesterday, issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open. other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms remain unresolved. There is no agreement between the NFL and the Players at this time. I look forward to our call tonight.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

@MikeSimsWalker: Owners tried to pull a publicity stunt and trick us wit the same garbage deal from last time #wontloseus

@kirkmorrison55: In the words of Coach Lee Corso with pencil in hand, "Not So Fast My Friend" #NFLLockout

EDIT: The tl;dr of my last 2 posts - The owners slipped in extra stuff into the CBA that the players side havent seen before they voted.