NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Thanx for the updates Sven & drd23.

Seems like the Owners haven't bothered ticking all the boxes, no wonder Al Davis' team obstained and the players won't be returning in a hurry if these important issues are not resolved. 31 Owners = douchebags.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

The interesting thing is that the vote was 31-0.

That tells me that what was voted on was very owner friendly for Mike Brown and Ralph Wilson to agree to it

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

This looks like it could go on for some time. I can't believe the owners changed the document, voted on it and then sent it back to the players. That approach will only breed discontent from the players.

There are reports of a telecon between Goodell and DeMaurice during what was supposed to be a 10 minute break (that turned into a 75 minute break) so I'm assuming it was about the changes to the document.

My guess is the 31-0 vote by the owners is meaningless and everyone will be back into negotiation mode pretty soon.


and by the way - tweet of the week contender (edited for accuracy)

On Friday 22nd July 2011, @Supermex13 said:
Hey @LulzSec RT @GeorgeAtallah: If News of the World was covering the lockout, full transcripts of conversations between Roger and De would be up already

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Goodell incompetence shining brightly. He misleads the NFL media last week with defending the pre-season would go on including the HOF game and suddenly does a backflip knowing too well that the HOF game was never a hope and if I may add my cynical prediction... first two weeks of the pre-season will be swiped due to mini-camp preps. Logic would say that but not Goodell. Interesting how soon we're in the know before the re-certification of
the NFLPA takes and what processes and demands are catered for with a mini-camp. One week of pre-season games would suffice if this dispute pushes into another fortnight of re-negotiating which wouldn't surprise me.

Goodell is mealy the owners puppet.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

That 75min teleconference that Sven is talking about was before the vote (at 5pm US EST, the vote occurred after 7pm), so who knows what they were talking about. Its important to remember that neither De Smith or Goodell have any power in accepting any deal

It seems its getting back to being petty. Following on from the reports that the owner slipped in new stuff and the players deciding not to vote until they'd gone through what the owners added exactly, the 2 sides cant even agree on if the PA* has the new document

League official claims De Smith and leaders have had the documents.... this is strongly refuted by NFLPA

http://twitter.com/mortreport/status/94216064858210304

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And these dont sound good either

wow! in a 2nd email to players de smith says the nfl may be in violation of federal labor laws by trying 2 coerce plyrs into forming a union

http://twitter.com/SI_JimTrotter

Email says NFL's rough timeline violates fed labor law: "Those laws prohibit employers from coercing their employees into forming a union."

http://twitter.com/AlbertBreer

 

[Dagless]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I find it hard to believe that the owners would actually think to get this voer the heads of the players - ie the owners at least legitimately think it was a discussion point and the players missed it/DeSmith missed it. If that's the case, it's their own house that needs demolishing. They gave the power of negotiation to DS and he looks to have ****ed it up.

Just as likely a last minute power play by the players.

But obviously this is all Goodell's fault, right Woodson.....

 

[Dagless]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

So can any of the players can name what was slipped in?

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

I simply don't value Goodell's communication values and his judgements with misleading the fans and NFL media who seem to slowly realise this guy is a goose of a commissioner.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

So can any of the players can name what was slipped in?

Dont think that they can legally divulge any of it. There is a reason why everything thus far has been leaked anonymously. And they've supposedly only had the document for a couple of hours.

 

[Dagless]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Dont think that they can legally divulge any of it. There is a reason why everything thus far has been leaked anonymously. And they've supposedly only had the document for a couple of hours.

By current accounts the stuff that was 'slipped in' was actually discussed by DeSmith after the conference call.

Sounds like he ****ed up.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

By current accounts the stuff that was 'slipped in' was actually discussed by DeSmith after the conference call.

Sounds like he ****ed up.

Where did you see that? Adam Schefter reported that they were talking about how to lift the lockout should both sides approve

That said, it wouldnt surprise me if De Smith messed up. Doesnt seem like the communication skills on either side are all that great.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

This shit is confusing.

According to George Wilson, the Bills Player Rep has said that there is no plan to vote tomorrow

Wilson said information was absolutely untrue.

“There is no timetable for a vote to be held,” Wilson said

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...t-see-owners-proposal-before-conference-call/

But according to Chris Mortensen the players are

The NFLPA executive committee and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith saw the details approved by the NFL owners late Thursday night, and told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen they expect to have a player vote Friday.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...-labor-agreement-players-expected-vote-friday

EDIT: More detail on why they supposedly will:

Despite the fact that Bills safety and NFLPA* representative George Wilson called reports that the players will vote Friday on the proposed, pre-approved labor deal untrue, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the players are indeed expected to vote on the proposal Friday.

“All in all, despite the games that were played by the NFL, things look much more optimistic,” a source in player leadership told Mortensen.

That meshes with something we were told in the immediate wake of what appeared to be the ultimate switch-and-bait by the NFL, with the owners supposedly changing up some terms and then hoping the players would feel pressured to pounce. Despite the move, optimism remains in place within NFLPA* leadership that a deal could be accomplished.

Per Mortensen, the players are expected to evaluate so-called “finishing points,” fancy talk for “the last stuff we don’t agree about yet.”

Mort also echoes the notion that tension remains not regarding whether the NFLPA* will recertify as a union, but how that will happen.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/22/mort-players-vote-expected-on-friday/

 

[Woodson]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

On Thursday night, NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith held a conference call with the 32 team reps. Neither the player reps nor the executive committee voted on the proposal. However, the NFLPA will have to take some action by Friday to open the doors on Saturday.

All of this led to a chain reaction of concern by players. Veteran fullback Heath Evans(notes) tweeted roughly an hour after the league’s announcement that: “Here is what the ‘Real’ fans need to know: The owners tried to slip many things in to the CBA ‘they’ voted on that were NEVER agreed to!#PRPlay.”

"TRIED" to slip in.. from my understanding sounds like some things were re-worded at the meeting that clearly favours the owners but I think paranoia is more the reaction here.

Futhermore:

Jason Cole from Yahoo NFL states: "The question now is how fast the players will react to what is essentially a 10-year, take-it-or-leave-it offer.

To put this in terms that most folks can understand: the NFL is like someone who is selling a home. The catch is the buyer doesn’t get to have the place inspected before he signs on the bottom line."

Just goes to show the NFL media isn't buying Goodell's feelgood "BOGUS" definition of agreement. Justified

along with this piece of FLUFF:

“With this ratification and with the ratification of the NFLPA board, we will be prepared to open the training facilities beginning on Saturday, this Saturday,” Goodell said. “We will then be prepared to start the new league year next Wednesday subject to the full membership of the players ratifying the agreement and recertifying as a union. Obviously you know that we’re all under a time constraint. That’s one of the reasons we worked to get this agreement completed tonight.”

Again, nothing is complete and the indication that it is done was downright offensive to some players.

source: Yahoo NFL.com

 

[Tassie19Cairns20]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Hmm, Woodson bashing Goodell again for no justifiable reason. Big surprise

The thing that the players think the owners "tried to slip in" was a supplemental revenue sharing proposal which is designed to help the smaller market clubs like Green Bay, Buffalo, New Orleans etc.... The owners didn't talk about it with the players because it has NOTHING to do with the players. This is a team only issue. It doesn't have any effect on the players already agreed upon percentage. This is just to help smaller market teams. For players and the media to say that the owners are changing the deal at the last minute, is just pure ignorance.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/21/de-smith-shouldnt-be-surprised-about-new-revenue-sharing-arrangement/

“As you may have heard,” Smith wrote, “they apparently approved a supplemental revenue sharing proposal. Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions.”

The NFLPA* hasn’t been part of those discussions regarding that issue because the NFLPA* showed no interest in that issue.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Doesnt look like anything is going to happen until next week.

AdamSchefter Adam Schefter
Although an email told players that reps would meet Monday, NFLPA sources say no meeting is planned and talks will continue through weekend.

AlbertBreer Albert Breer
Two things are clear 1) There's urgency on both ends to finish; and 2) players won't be rushed into something they don't like b/c of that.

Greg_A_Bedard Greg A. Bedard
Redskins rep Vonnie Holiday told me NFLPA is working thru weekend and reps hope to be called into a meeting sometime this weekend.

A lot of the people involved are attending Myra Kraft's funeral today, the players need time to go through the 500+ page document before voting and there will likely be some sort of negotiation on the finer points of the agreement still to come

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Just on the rookie wage scale, assumed figures similar to what i guessed.

$5M per year, then a possible $15M fifth year option that in itself is not guaranteed either, for a top 10 draftee.

Full article

Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reported that NFLPA* reps were told in a presentation Wednesday that Cam Newton would make roughly $22 million in the first four years of his contract. (There is room for some negotiation.) The Panthers will have a fifth year option which the players estimate would be worth $14 million, for an estimate of $36 million over five years.

 

[exe ex machina]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Status of new CBA open items...

Full article

The open items are set forth below.

First, the minimum team expenditure would be only 89 percent of the salary cap. The term would be coupled with a guaranteed league-wide cash spend of 95 percent of the salary cap. If half of the teams spend 100 percent of the cap, half could spend 90 percent of the cap, preserving as a practical matter a 10-percent spread between the highest-spending and lowest-spending teams. If, alternatively, all teams have a minimum cash spend of 95 percent, the total cash spend would be 97.5 percent or more, assuming at least half of the teams spend 100 percent of their allotment, with the other half spending 95 percent.

Second, those offseason workout bonuses (such as the $750,000 due to Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson) would be paid if the player reports to training camp and performs the services required of him. Thus, under this term, players who report for work (and then work) would earn all offseason workout bonuses, despite the absence of an offseason workout program.

Third, for rookie pay, an escalator would be available to push the fourth-year salary to the lowest level restricted free agency tender, which is $1.2 million in 2011, but which will increase with the salary cap.

Fourth, players would be guaranteed up to $3 million for the second and third year after a catastrophic injury. Balzer reports that, in the deal approved by the league on Thursday, the number had been cut to $1 million in the second year and $500,000 in the third year.

Fifth, the California loophole for workers’ compensation benefits would continue.

Sixth, the possibility of an opt out was included as an open item. Balzer reports that the final version included no opt out, making it a firm 10-year deal. (It has been reported that the players want a potential opt out after seven years.)

Seventh, payment of $320 million in lost benefits would be made for the 2010 season. In the summary document, the lump sum expressly is linked to the “lockout insurance” case. Basically, the players are proposing the restoration of those lost benefits as the payment of damages for the league’s failure to max out TV money when persuading the networks to pay rights fees during a lockout.

Eighth, a settlement of the Brady antitrust case would need to be made, separate and apart from the labor deal.

Ninth, a player would be subject to the franchise tag only once in his career.

Tenth, short-term injured reserve would be available, along with a possible game-day roster of 47. The deal approved by the owners reportedly limits the game-day roster to 46.

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Welcome back, football.

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/94891967103770625

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Looks like Training Camps will open Wednesday

NFL owners and players have tentatively agreed to a plan that would allow for the players' executive committee to vote on Monday to recommend accepting the CBA and recertifying as a union, a source said Saturday.

According to the source, progress in talks with the owners has put the 11-member NFLPA executive board in position to vote Monday to recommend the 10-year collective bargaining agreement the owners ratified Thursday.

Under the plan, players would then begin reporting to training camps as early as Wednesday to physically vote on whether to recertify, with the hope that it will be done by Friday at the earliest, the source said.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...fl-sides-eye-camps-recertify-vote-source-says

 

[Chism]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/94891967103770625

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Looks like Training Camps will open Wednesday

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...fl-sides-eye-camps-recertify-vote-source-says

Wooottt!!

Great stuff and i am starting to get itchy feet now!

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

This is just speculation on the media's part, but here is a possible timeline for the beginning of pre-season activities

Tentative 2011 league calendar*

Wednesday: Team facilities open,
free agency and trading period begins

Friday: Training camps open

Aug. 11-15: Preseason Week 1

Sept. 8: Kickoff game, Saints at Packers

*Assuming players ratify deal Tuesday

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ficant-progress-in-labor-talks?module=HP11_cp

There are conflicting reports on when full blown Free Agency begins. Some reports say that it'll begin on Wednesday (US Time) and some on Saturday.

At the very latest we'll know by Sunday morning where some of the big FAs will have signed

 

[Dirty Bird]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

In case you've not seen it, Schefter's latest (about an hour or so ago I think) is that the deal is done, with the vote "a formaility" - press conferences arranged for Monday apparently. Haven't we heard that before though??

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...ners-players-come-deal-all-points-sources-say

 

[Sven]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

In case you've not seen it, Schefter's latest (about an hour or so ago I think) is that the deal is done, with the vote "a formaility" - press conferences arranged for Monday apparently. Haven't we heard that before though??

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6...ners-players-come-deal-all-points-sources-say

I share your concern and won't believe any of these predictions until I see some positive news from the group that was formerly the NFLPA.

Maybe tomorrow morning....

 

[drd23]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

De Smith and Roger Goodell would like to hold a joint presser tomorrow afternoon to announce ratified deal after vote... Camps to open Aug. 1, NFLPA wants free agency to begin ASAP

http://twitter.com/RavensInsider/status/95319769720422401

@JasonLaCanfora
Jason La Canfora
Email from Drew Brees to Saints players indicates "expected" deal and press conference Mon. Emails says its possible Tue/Wed/Th teams sign their own players and that "the thought" is full free agency could start Fri, but Brees notes that's not final. The email notes the start of the league year set for Sun 7/31 and says Saints will report 7/31 with a team meeting at 2pm. Full story on NFL Network and NFL.com

 

[Burningleviathan]

Re: NFL Lockout 'A Certainty'

Not celebrating to the deal is done, but thank God it is getting done.