NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Demonic Assent...

The whole thing is in the courts at the moment. There is an anti-trust suit filed by both ex-players and current players. On top of that, the NFL teams have locked out the players because no CBA exists, and talks broke down last month. That decision to lockout the players is also going thru a court process, to determine if it's legal or not. Meanwhile, the Judge ruling on that has asked both sides to negotiate a new CBA, which is currently on-going.

So there are a bunch of things going on that have yet to be determined.

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

A good conversation about the whole lawsuit issue
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/42478812#42478812

Thanx for sharing the link BL. Regardless of the debilitating revenue sharing pie stalemate occuring... the real sting for the fans is Goodell continuing to be a royal pain in the anus with his future insistence plan for a 16 game cap for players over the 18 game season concept. LA will most likely be the 'city' in which the league thinks will manifest the revenue BOOM judging by the comments on the PFT program.

I guess the $$BILLION$$ the NFL are raking in isn't enough. Goodell has to realise that stability is more a paramount destiny than trying to be a complete try hard tosser by ruining everyone's enjoyment. Owners have to realise that without league leadership pushing for stability, this league will eat itself out of the minds and hearts of the average fan.

On a personal level.. I'll be prepared to do what I've done to the AFL.. lose interest to a point of being very passive about it.

and FWIW.. if the lockout stretches into late June.. an assassination attempt (on either Goodell, any of his side kicks or the doofus NFLPA reps stirring it up) wouldn't be a bad thing. Heck... think of the jobs / desperate times many Americans are struggling to cope with...

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

And here's the latest...

Click to read full article

Mediation not expected to hit paydirt
Posted by Mike Florio on April 17, 2011, 10:08 PM EDT

When Judge Susan Nelson ordered a second wave of mediation last week, most in the media were pessimistic. Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com and I chose to be optimistic.

And now Freeman has crapped all over that glimmer of hope.

Freeman reports, based on “brief telephone and text message interviews with people familiar with the talks” (at least Albert Breer will have company in jail), that neither side is serious about negotiating because each side believes it will win the first major legal skirmish regarding the question of whether the lockout will involuntarily be lifted.

The players presumably think they’ll win before Judge Nelson, and the owners presumably like their chances before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, where 13 of the 16 judges were appointed by Republican administrations, which in a loose red state/blue state sense will make them more inclined to side with the league over the players on the threshold legals issues relating to whether the courts can enjoin a lockout and whether the NFLPA* effectively decertified.

Regardless of who wins, we all lose. Here’s why....

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

The last line of that article you quoted GG couldnt be any more true. Everyone loses if the lockout drags on

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Lastest Developments: JUDGE TO RULE on INJUNCTION REQUEST on Monday

I wouldn't be surprised that if the NFLPA are working on the idea to clamp the Owners to state their position / feeling toward the manner of how Roger Goodell is managing his position and the direction of game. I know it's a far fetched prospect but god knows what other agendas are in the minds of both parties.

NFLPA rep of the Steelers, Ryan Clark, has already taken a swipe at Roger Goodell with his PR stunt of releasing the NFL schedule NOW when NOTHING is guaranteed to happen as yet. Just proves that this LOCK OUT could linger longer than we expect (July? ) and fingers are being pointed NOW to Goodell.

One has to sense that the Owners will GIVE IN... going on guarantees from the Titans head honcho. 2011 Season Guaranteed.

 

[Burningleviathan]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Regardless of what the judge rules, there will be an instant appeal. I think the owners have already drawn theirs up. Lockout will most likely continue as a part of the appeals process. If the stay is denied though, which ever side is on the recieving end will be done for.

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

On Armani Toomer's comment, PFT will probably not take kindly to my picture...

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Mediation to continue MAY 16 source: NFL.com

A somewhat positive 'wheels are in motion' update.

**************************************************************

For those folk who would like more information about the NFL Lock Out..

NFL LockOut.com

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

ok can someone clarify for me with the schedule? They say they've made it so if they miss 3 weeks they can still play all the games. Does that mean it's going to push the schedule forward in the event of a lock out or the current game dates will stand and the missed games will be filled in later down the track?

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

ok can someone clarify for me with the schedule? They say they've made it so if they miss 3 weeks they can still play all the games. Does that mean it's going to push the schedule forward in the event of a lock out or the current game dates will stand and the missed games will be filled in later down the track?

Ifs and whatnots at this stage mean nada Rory. There is still heaps of time to go so until we get to June, with training camps dates needing to be disclosed if anything. I know you're getting very anxious with trying to organize your trip but you'll clearly have to pull back the reigns just like Port Power did in the final quarter yesterday.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

ok can someone clarify for me with the schedule? They say they've made it so if they miss 3 weeks they can still play all the games. Does that mean it's going to push the schedule forward in the event of a lock out or the current game dates will stand and the missed games will be filled in later down the track?

Wouldn't mind a March Super Bowl.

 

[Abaddon]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

ok can someone clarify for me with the schedule? They say they've made it so if they miss 3 weeks they can still play all the games. Does that mean it's going to push the schedule forward in the event of a lock out or the current game dates will stand and the missed games will be filled in later down the track?

They can remove the bye week. They have a week off between the Championship game and the Super Bowl which can be removed. They also have the Super Bowl venue in Indianapolis booked for the Sunday following the Super Bowl. All up they can miss up to 3 weeks and still make a 16 game regular season work.

 

[11sjw]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Interesting... I heard on ESPN that a bunch of "lower-mid tier" players are seeking to appoint their own lawyer to represent them at any future mediation sessions.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Interesting... I heard on ESPN that a bunch of "lower-mid tier" players are seeking to appoint their own lawyer to represent them at any future mediation sessions.

Yeah there are about 70 or so in the group IIRC. Because its a class action lawsuit (and all of the players are members of the action, not just those named), any one of the action members is entitled to be present at mediation (or have a lawyer represent them).

Its been said by plenty of people that its the mid-low tier players that really get hurt by the lockout, and its also these players that stand the most to lose.

If the players take the anti-trust case the whole way and get the draft ruled illegal and the salary cap (and floor abolished), its these players that will see their salaries reduced (and potentially minimum salary restrictions removed) in favour of paying the big name players even more

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

We are part of the way towards resolving the lockout.

Judge rules to end NFL lockout

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson has granted NFL players their motion for a preliminary injunction, therefore lifting the lockout that was imposed by owners on March 11.
....
The immediate impact of the ruling on the status of an estimated 500 free agent players and other player transactions is uncertain. If the league does not get the court to stay the ruling pending an appeal, the league will have to open its doors for players. The NFL also will have to decide whether to impose a similar system that has been in place under the previous collective bargaining agreement that expired on March 11.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6424084

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

“The nation’s labor laws have always applied only where an action involves or grows out of a labor dispute. Such a labor relationship exists only where a union exists to bargain on behalf of its members. Where those employees effectively renounce the union as their collective bargaining agent — and accept the consequences of doing so — and elect to proceed in negotiating contracts individually, any disputes between the employees and their employers are no longer governed by federal labor law. Likewise, the Norris-LaGuardia Act, which applies only to preclude some injunctions in the context of ‘labor disputes,’ also no longer applies here to preclude injunctive relief. The NFL urges this Court to expand the law beyond these traditional dictates and argues that the protections of labor law should apply for some indefinite period beyond the collapse and termination of the collective bargaining relationship. In the absence of either persuasive policy or authority, this Court takes a more conservative approach, and declines to do so.

“This Court, having found that the Union’s unequivocal disclaimer is valid and effective, concludes there is no need to defer any issue to the NLRB. Because that disclaimer is valid and effective, the Norris-LaGuardia Act’s prohibition against injunctive relief does not preclude granting the Player’s motion for a preliminary
injunction against what the League characterizes as a ‘lockout.’

“Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records and proceedings herein, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED that:

“1. The Brady Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction [Doc. No. 2] is
GRANTED;

“2. The Eller Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction [Doc. No. 58] is
MOOT; and

“3. The ‘lockout’ is enjoined.”

For those wondering, what this means is in layman's terms is...

Labor laws and disputes only exist when there's a union, able to bargain on behalf of its members.

When a union decertifies and players all become individuals negotiating contracts, and accept the risks that decertification brings, then those federal labor laws cease to apply.

Meanwhile, the NFL asked Nelson to expand the period that the federal labors laws can apply, to that period after a union decertifies, an indefinite period after a collective bargaining process collapses.

However, Nelson replied that there isn't persuasive policy or authority to MAKE such a 'new' rule, and that therefore instead her court will act more conservatively and rejects the NFL's proposal.

In, other words, the NFL wanted labor laws to include indefinitely beyond a union's decertification, and the judge rightfully rejected that proposal, saying effectively that's not for her to decide, to make a new rule on, a higher court should, and that in the meantime going by existing laws, with the union decertified, therefore the lockout must end.

She also said at the end that the Brady anti-trust case is accepted and will proceed. The Eller case is redundant and wont. And that the lockout is prohibited (enjoined).

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

And to digest what happens from here...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...s-to-know-right-now-about-the-lockout-ruling/

.

 

[mike_]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Excuse my ignorance but I haven't been following the lockout.

I've heard that the season will be postponed, so does this mean fewer games during the season, or is the season going to be cancelled all together?

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Excuse my ignorance but I haven't been following the lockout.

I've heard that the season will be postponed, so does this mean fewer games during the season, or is the season going to be cancelled all together?

Still too early to tell, but there is the potential to start the season 3 weeks late and still have the same amount of games (16 per team) IIRC

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: 2011 Off-Season - Discussion

Is there a 'NFL Lockout for Dummies' resource on the web? I find the whole thing confusing.

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: 2011 Off-Season - Discussion

Unfortunately, it's very convoluted and dynamically convoluted, where new things pop up that add further to the mess.

What's the thing you're confused about?

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: 2011 Off-Season - Discussion

Unfortunately, it's very convoluted and dynamically convoluted, where new things pop up that add further to the mess.

What's the thing you're confused about?

The actual chances of the season not going ahead, and how it is affecting the activities of franchises regarding recruitment, roster management etc etc...

 

[exe ex machina]

There's a smaller chance of the season not going ahead at all. Would only happen if the NFL won the appeal over the lockout being ruled illegal. However, the NFL would have all the power then, and the players would cave in and a CBA would get quickly negotiated and the NFLPA will reform, and the season will go ahead...but at that point we might only have a 9 game season.

If the NFL loses the appeal, the season will go ahead and a full 16 game season will happen.

Whilever there's a lockout in place (like currently), then no teams can talk to players, negotiate with agents/players, sign anyone, trade anyone etc. When the lockout is lifted, irrespective of there being no CBA or a CBA, there will be signings trades etc.

On that last point....see, there are two cases going on....the players are fighting for the lockout to be lifted, and the other case is an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL itself, all about labor laws of players as employees having the rights to play anywhere, not be forced into drafts, dont have to serve 6 years before they can be FAs etc. That anti-trust case is likely to take many months if not years to be resolved. But in the meantime, the case on the lockout has already been heard/won by the players, ending the lockout, forcing football to begin. But the NFL has naturally appealed it, and won in the meantime a stay to reinstate the lockout until the appeal has been ruled on....which is why we have a lockout back on currently.

 

[exe ex machina]

Just when you thought it couldn't get more complicated and nasty...

Complete NFL Shutdown Possible

So if the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Judge Susan Nelson’s ruling that the lockout should be lifted while the Tom Brady antitrust lawsuit proceeds, the league will simply open the doors and allow business to continue as usual until the Brady case is settled, right?

Maybe not.

We’re hearing initial rumblings pointing to the possibility that a loss by the league at the appellate level will prompt the owners to completely shut down all business operations until the players agree to a new labor deal. The thinking is that, if the owners cease all operations, the NFL would not be violating the court order because there would be no lockout. Instead, the league essentially would be going out of business — something for which the NFL repeatedly chided the union in the weeks and months preceding decertification of the NFLPA.

As we hear it, the league accepts the reality that it will take a lot of heat if it pursues this path (and a lot of that heat will be emanating from this web address), but it could end up being the only way to squeeze the players into accepting the owners’ terms, especially if the Eighth Circuit agrees with Judge Nelson.

On one hand, there’s a long way to go before things would ever get to that point. On the other hand, there aren’t many steps left on the flow chart before that point arrives.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

If the whole season is cancelled, any chance NCAA might move some big college games to Sundays and getting CBS/FOX/NBC to cover them?