NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

We're one step closer. The NFLPA* reps have unanimously ratified the new CBA and the lockout is lifted.

NFL players voted to OK a final deal Monday, days after the owners approved a tentative agreement, and the sides finally managed to put an end to the 4½-month lockout, the longest work stoppage in league history.

"This is a long time coming, and football's back," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "and that's the great news for everybody."

At a joint appearance outside the NFL Players Association headquarters, Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith were flanked by some of the owners and players who were involved in the talks. They spoke shortly after the NFLPA executive board and 32 team reps voted unanimously to approve the terms of a deal.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6799301/nflpa-oks-deal-roger-goodell-says-football-back

Here is the new tentative timeline:

Tentative NFL timeline

• Monday: Teams can go to 90-man rosters and the official free-agent list will be distributed to teams.

• Tuesday: Trades can commence. Teams can sign rookies and undrafted free agents beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Teams can reach agreements with all free agents and signed players are allowed to enter team facilities.

• Wednesday: Players can begin reporting to training camps 15 days before their first preseason games. New York Jets and Houston Texans would be the last two teams to report, on Sunday.

• Thursday: Teams can begin to cut players at 4 p.m. ET.

• Friday: Teams can begin to file free-agent signings to the league office at 6 p.m. ET.

• Aug. 4: Deadline for recertification and ratification of the collective bargaining agreement by the players.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6799301/nflpa-oks-deal-roger-goodell-says-football-back

Assuming at least 50%+1 players sign their union cards (which logically will just be a formality), the CBA will be ratified and then the CBA will be official.

 

[PHX]

Shit yeah. One lockout down, one to go.

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

It's OVER. Commissioner Goodell announces the BIG NEWS everyone needed to hear.

Hip hooray.

That's the way you do it, bag the commish relentlessly until he comes good.

Lock this thread now.

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I would rather not have to go through all that again for a long time, and thankfully the CBA is binding until the end of the 2020 season.

It's now time to get back to the business of putting teams together and I'll start a free agent thread ASAP.

 

[beez]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Awesome news, for someone's who's only followed the NFL in the past year I can't understand the frustration you long time supporters have gone through, however I'm pumped for the new season.

 

[Changamagic]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Well that's all i needed to hear! Looks as though I'm off to Philly for pre-season game (Eagles vs Ravens)...

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

May we never speak of this again

 

[Burningleviathan]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Woooo!
Gotta be quick on cutthroat leagues and that now!

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Just for closure on the rookie salary issue, the following is from
http://ht.cdn.turner.com/si/images/2011/07/25/New_2011_Deal_Summary_7.pdf

As a quarterback, the 1st pick in the 2011 Draft may earn $22.03M over four years,
plus an option year salary of $14.3M (assuming a 5% growth rate) in his 5th year

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

yep, basically $5m a year, then option for $15m (which will vary depending on averages etc in that year) in the fifth.....for top 10 (or is it 16) draftees.

That's a massive

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

yep, basically $5m a year, then option for $15m (which will vary depending on averages etc in that year) in the fifth.....for top 10 (or is it 16) draftees.

That's a massive

Fifth year salary options:

Picks 1 to10 – Salary of the average of the top ten players at player’s position

Picks 11 to 32 – Salary of the average of the top 3rd through 25th players at player’s position

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I've read that the 5th yr option is a team option. So what if a player picked 1-10 is in his 3rd or 4th year and it's clear he's not going to be worth top 10 money in his 5th year. What are a team's option?? Simply not exercise the option after 4 yrs? does player become a FA?
And how does the club trade him as other club will also be reluctant to take on his contract if he's not worth top 10 money.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I've read that the 5th yr option is a team option. So what if a player picked 1-10 is in his 3rd or 4th year and it's clear he's not going to be worth top 10 money in his 5th year. What are a team's option?? Simply not exercise the option after 4 yrs? does player become a FA?
And how does the club trade him as other club will also be reluctant to take on his contract if he's not worth top 10 money.

A Team Option give the franchise the ability to extend the contract by 1 year.

IIRC the option must be exercised by the end of the 3rd year. If a team does exercise the option, the 5th year is added to the length of the contract to the value that Sven listed earlier. If a team doesnt, then that player becomes an UFA at the end of his 4th year.

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Good article explaining how the revenue split problem was solved and by whom...

Joe Siclare Gets His Props

If you have never heard of Joe Siclare, you’re not alone. If I’d previously heard of him before reading Peter King’s recent Sports Illustrated blurb on the NFL’s treasurer, I’ve forgotten.

But when you’re sinking into that couch on Sunday, September 11 and trying to process nine games at once, you can thank Siclare for helping to make that happen.

On the thorny issue of splitting up the revenue pie, the two sides were getting nowhere. Citing an unnamed exec in the room, King writes that U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan was blunt. “Look,” Judge Boylan said, “you’ve got to come up with some new idea. You guys keep talking past each other instead of to each other.”

So Siclare had an idea. Give the players a bigger cut of the easy money, and less of the money that takes more money to make.

Specifically, the players get 55 percent of the broadcast money, 45 percent of the money generated via NFL Ventures (that’s merchandise and promotions), and 40 percent of local team revenues (tickets and stadium stuff).

“It wasn’t like inventing cold fusion in the sink,” Sinclare told King. (Or, as the case may be, discovering plutonium by accident.) “It’s just common sense. For the owners, it recognizes the revenue areas that will require the additional investment to grow the game.”

In the end, it helped break a logjam that allowed the two sides to devise a simple, transparent formula that requires no trust or guesswork.

.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

GG
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

May we never speak of this again

^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

For 10 years at least anyway

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Could still be a post-lockout lockout, and until it's ratified all training currently going on would be canceled.

Goodell Holding Up CBA Ratification

From the day the owners and players agreed on a deal to end the lockout, it has been widely believed that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement would be ratified by August 4. But it’s now August 3, and ratification is no sure thing.

In fact, Steelers defensive back Ryan Clark, the team’s NFLPA representative, says that unless NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is willing to budge on matters of player discipline, the CBA won’t be ratified tomorrow.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Clark said today he thinks the issue could affect all the recently signed free agents around the league. Under the rules the owners and players agreed to when the lockout ended, those players can’t practice until the new CBA is ratified.

The failure to ratify the CBA wouldn’t be a disaster — it wouldn’t create another work stoppage — but it would represent a disappointing step backward for the NFL. And it would be troubling for the players who signed new contracts since the lockout ended, and for the teams that are counting on those players.

So while the owners and the players seem to be mostly on the same page about the league’s finances going forward, they’re not on the same page regarding player discipline. That’s an issue where many players still lack confidence in Goodell.

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Goodell Refuses to Yield Authority

As the deadline for getting the CBA completed in order to allow free agents to participate in practice on Thursday inches closer and closer, a source with knowledge of the dynamics of the discussions tells us that one issue has emerged as the source of a potential impasse.

Per the source, Commissioner Roger Goodell refuses to surrender full control of the league’s personal conduct policy.

Read Full Article

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Goodell Elaborates on His Unwillingness

Asked whether he’d be willing to permit some external body review his decisions, Goodell said (per Steve Reed of CarolinaGrowl.com), “The answer to that is no, I’m not going to be open to that. I’m not going to hand off the brand and the reputation of the NFL to somebody who is not associated with the NFL. I promise you that. That is one of the number one jobs as a commissioner in my opinion.”

Full Article

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

This confirms the blatant egotistic boneheaded arrogance that explains why he remains much the despised person by players and fans alike. A committee (of a mix of former players & NFL media) could handle league’s personal conduct policy with more credibility even if Goodell announces the penalty.

It's a win/win for all, but Goodell's sheer arrogance and inconsistency ain't gonna solve anything. Does Goodell care for the game? Does Goodell think he is ABOVE the game? This is a serious situation now. The quicker the Owners denounce him as commish, the better.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Report: NFL, NFLPA work out final details of new CBA

Though it’s not clear who blinked on the question of whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will retain exclusive control over the league’s personal conduct policy, it’s clear that something happened to push the matter to a resolution.

Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com reports that, late Wednesday night, the NFL and the NFLPA worked out the last remaining details of the new CBA.

Next up, the NFLPA representatives will explain the terms to players, who’ll vote at camp on Thursday. Once at least 50 percent plus one of the players vote in favor of the deal, everyone will be able to practice as of 4:00 p.m. ET.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/04/report-nfl-nflpa-work-out-final-details-of-new-cba/

 

[Dagless]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Can't blame Goodell for wanting to hold onto his baby. Each commish tries to create 'their' legacy. Sometimes it's thrust upon them. Goodell reckon's his is the financial stability of the NFL but more importantly, player discipline.

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Can't blame Goodell for wanting to hold onto his baby. Each commish tries to create 'their' legacy. Sometimes it's thrust upon them. Goodell reckon's his is the financial stability of the NFL but more importantly, player discipline.

Joe Bloggs (the next guy) could of had the financial state of the NFL expand FWIW. That's a no-brainer call.

The fact that Goodell didn't handle the safety policy well enough.. Adrian Anderson eat ya heart out!! by undermining the officials (Week 6) and not being consistent with head/ helmet contact collisions & fines. Knee jerk reactions / vague explanations don't solve anything. The Goodell legacy isn't one to be remembered for keeping the consistency. How the fines amounts varied was quite baffling. Not even the NFL media could understand it.

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Goodell Retains Full Control

Commissioner Roger Goodell dug in his heels regarding his ability to have full control over all discipline imposed, or not imposed, under the personal conduct policy.

He’ll reportedly get what he wants.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Goodell will keep that power under the new CBA.

It’s not yet known why the NFLPA caved on the reasonable and fair position that some outside entity should have the ability to review Goodell’s decisions. The fact that the policy actually impacts only a handful of players every year probably influenced the outcome. If the NFLPA could trade a concession from the league that helps all players for a provision that impacts not many at all, maybe that was a good deal.

That said, I think I’ve finally figured out why Goodell wants to maintain exclusive control over the policy. And I’ll share it during the opening segment of today’s PFT Live.

There’s a name for that device in the broadcasting industry. I’ll tell you what that name is in segment three of today’s PFT Live.

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

It's official: Players ratify new labor deal with league


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...r-deal-with-league?module=HP11_headline_stack

By Albert Breer NFL Network
NFL Network Reporter
Published: Aug. 4, 2011 at 04:49 p.m.