The ability of guys like Julius Peppers to cash in come March could be affected by forces other than the final eight
plan. With the union constantly banging the drum regarding a possible lockout in 2011, teams could choose not to hand out huge money in 2010.
Think about it for a second. Who has been talking about a lockout, the NFL or the NFLPA? The owners have expressed nothing publicly other than a desire to do a fair deal; the union has repeatedly proclaimed that a lockout is coming.
As a result, a league source tells us that some teams are beginning to prepare for the possibility of the inevitability of a lockout, in part by making free agency plans with the understanding that there might not be football in 2011.
Said the source, “The owners’ thinking is that if players are being told to save their money for a lockout, then owners should save their money, too. This is already evident in coaches’ contracts with some teams, where salary increases have been less than in previous years and where ‘lockout’ clauses provide owners with savings and an option to terminate the contracts. There have also been rumblings that a new round of layoffs is coming at the team and league levels. Next, owners will try to save money on player salaries.”
The source predicts that a claim of owner collusion is “almost certain.” The teams believe that such charges can be avoided based on evidence of reduced spending in all other areas of the business and the agreed-to removal of the salary floor in 2010.
Basically, then, the owners’ lockout fund will be bolstered not only by $4 billion in television money that will be paid regardless of whether there’s football in 2011 but also by any money that can be pocketed given the evaporation of the spending minimums.
As long as there is Al and Dan around the ridiculous overpaid contracts will keep flowing…
I would hope these 2 sides can stop with the posturing and come to an agreement. There is enough money to go around for eveyone involved.
“The source predicts that a claim of owner collusion is “almost certain.” The teams believe that such charges can be avoided based on evidence of reduced spending in all other areas of the business and the agreed-to removal of the salary floor in 2010.”
That’s the thing – it’s not collusion if all the owners do the same thing because it’s in their individual best interest. And if a football web site can figure out that it would be good to save money in 2010, you can bet that most of the 32 owners have it figured out too.
I have no doubt a charge of collusion will be made, simply because it’s a weapon the union has, and it takes more resources to defend against it than it does to make the allegation. But finding actual proof might be tough. Best thing the owners can do is to shaddafuggup about their plans for 2010 and beyond, to avoid giving the union a stick to beat the owners with.
“Important people” = strippers
The soon to be lost 2011 season is going to drastically effect the NFL across the board, including the 2010 season.
Football as we know it will soon be a-changin. I remember the strike season, that killed my team for a few years, some others too.
I wonder what all the effects will be for next season?
I think the Hampster in you head stopped running
“As a result, a league source tells us that some teams are beginning to prepare for the possibility of the inevitability of a lockout”
How can you maybe (possibility) have a certainy (inevitability)
Guess the Super Bowl parties started early!
That is why Vince Wilfork is screwed. Timing is everything, and for Vince, timing couldnt be worse.
He has no leverage. If the Pats franchise him, and he sits out, and then there is a 2011 lockout, Wilfork just missed 2 seasons, and is 2 years older….
It isnt necessarily “fair”, but Vince probably should just continue being a good soldier, take the lumps as they come, and accept the fact that he is going to get franchised this year, and get a big deal next year if the labor negotiations work out…..
If I were in a UFO visiting earth, I’d try and exterminate too….and I’d start with any millionaire that complains about being treated unfairly.
Real fan’s message to both sides:
” GET THE PROBLEM WORKED OUT NOW”.
Seeing Wilfork (one of the dirtiest players in the league) suffer through a Franchise Tag is Awesome!
I hope the owners stick it to the union and crush the union…….the players will panic and make a deal more favorable to the owners in July or August of 2011 because many will need the money!
One of the big things the Players Union is fighting for is to continue the absurd Rookie Salaries, which make it a BAD thing to have the #1 pick overall.
Why the hell any veteran players are NOT in favor of a rookie spending cap is beyond me. It takes money away from THEM! Hell, they should be lining up with the owners demanding it!
It’s that kind of moronic thinking that has them at a stand still right now.
If one only looks at the single year of 2011, without taking into account any longer term effects:
If the owner simply cash in the 4 billion cash from the tv guys, without paying any money to the players, is that a better deal for the owners than playing?
Florio
Please Read and Consider this.
If a lockout happens how it will effect free agency in the years following the lockout. You said before the owners will get $4 billion in tv money regardless but they will have to pay it back in years after the lockout.
If the lockout happens and the time comes that the owners get $1 billion less then they would have if it didnt for 4 years or $2 billion less for 2 years you can bet the owners will make huge cut backs in player spending.
I can see them making cut backs now as well. Like you said however this league isnt proactive their reactive. They will probably make minimum player salary cut backs right now but if/when money starts coming out of their pockets they will lock up player spending quicker then a hookers jaw after a 12 hour shift.
IMO players and their reps really need to sit down together and go over all these things that could happen if the owners put a lockout into effect. They also need to look at if its worth in the long run to fight for extra money in the new cba and allow a lockout to happen. Because if that happens the money they lose in the lockout and the years before and after it could be more then the money they fought for in the new CBA.
Solution: Take it to an objective mediator. Both sides present thier positions. Agree to accept the findings. The priority tree goes:
1. The best interest of the NFL
2. The best interest of the Cities (fans-ticket prices)
3. The best interest of the Owners and the veteran players
4. The best interest of the players in their first four years.