Comments on: Union still believes lockout is coming, we believe it isn’t

By: aious

aious — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:42:04 +0000

The owners have much of the leverage and everyone knows it.
The players will want a lot and chances are they won’t get much
They will cave in the end as they should because they will be looked upon as the bad guys

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:18:27 +0000

@Bigbluefan …
I’m not arguing the merits of the NFLPA position, but if you are a worker in a large corporate machine, you are less than nothing to the people in power. It doesn’t matter how hard you work, how much you produce, how loyal you are, or how diligently you protect the company’s interests. If the power brokers want to buy a new jet and think they can fund it by cutting your pension, they will. If they want to make their shareholders think profits are up when they’re not, they’ll simply reduce labor costs by outsourcing your job to a country that pays pennies on the dollar to what you earn and doesn’t pay benefits. That’s the reality.
Have labor unions screwed up some things? Yes. Have some labor bosses become corrupt? Yes. Can each worker acting on his/her own behalf expect a fair shake from corporate ownership?
Sure … about the time the Easter Bunny starts delivering solid gold eggs.

By: Bigbluefan

Bigbluefan — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:00:17 +0000

The players are doomed
D Smith is a fool
The owners are rich good for them last time I checked that was still ok in this free country of ours.
Owners right the checks players cash them the owners do not own the teams to make a bunch of jocks rich they own the teams to make money for them.
Did a single Cowboy or Giant or jet sign the note for the new stadiums that were built no the owners did. What does a player do to make the game better or to make the team more money?
No NY Giant or even a jet for that matter has made more money for there team the Mara Tish and johnsons take the risks 1.5 billion of them to build the new Meadowlands and that note is due every month with or with out the primadonna players.
This is just another glaring example of what is wrong in America today. If not for people like the Mara’s there would be no NFL
Unions used to be important now they are just in the way of progress the union officials get richer while they stir up the pot and cause problems between workers and owners.
All unions should be outlawed and people should stand up for themselves if you a hard worker you get paid if not bye bye

By: Mista T

Mista T — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:57:32 +0000

Greedy players, getting hosed by corrupt NFLPA bosses, may to find themselves watching replacement players on TV next Fall. Hopefully, there will be a few star players who see through the b.s. espoused by Smith & cronies to cross the line. Some combination of Manning, Brady, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss etc should be adequate — why should these guys give up multimillions in the twilights of their careers to line Smith’s pockets?
With 2011 TV contract revenue assured, the owners hold all the cards. Hopefully, the Lockout of 2011 will break the back of the NFLPA.

By: Hap

Hap — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:45:12 +0000

The union is trying to make ownership think they are ready. They are NOT.

By: bugslayer

bugslayer — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:35:05 +0000

Take the owners out at the knees?…LMMFAO REALLY? Stop yourself Floyd your starting to make my sides hurt!
As a previous poster alluded to a players career is generally 4 years or less, and while they all don’t make millions the league minimum is alot more than most people make, and you’re going to use up one of your 4 years on strike? Good thinking there….not to mention it cuts your chances of having that “big” stat year that converts into that big contract year.
To think guys walking away from very high paying jobs because they want more is going to get sympathy from a public that is largely unemployed or at least underemployed is just insane. Sack up and play.
C’mon guys…walk into your bosses office Monday and demand %60 of the businesses profits as your pay….there will be a new burger flipper in your shoes before you can blink.

By: DieHardSkinsFan21

DieHardSkinsFan21 — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:22:46 +0000

Ashley Judd looks incredible naked.

By: Floyd the Barber

Floyd the Barber — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:52:16 +0000

How could anyone side with the owners??
They’ve just secured a HUGE telephone video deal – of which the players won’t get cut.
They’ve also squeezed the TV networks into continued payments even if there’s no football. They’re building huge new palaces – of which the players get none of the luxury box revenue.
The owners are beyond filthy rich, yet they want givebacks.
I hope the players strike and take the owners out at the knees.

By: Catamount

Catamount — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:51:28 +0000

FWIW, Nobodybeatsdawiz: We is first person plural, not third person.
I don’t think the sides would go to arbitration and accept the findings.
The Union attorneys have the spotlight. They are more valuable the more this escalates. Don’t expect a willing compromise until the players get scared. Remember, the average NFL career is about 4 years, the average NFL player doesn’t make millions per year.
Finally, to complain about the small market teams not spending in free agency is ridiculous when they finally have the right to do what they think is right for the financial security of those teams. Why not let the need to win drive the market? I am not saying do away with the cap, but what is wrong with capping the amounts a player can earn as well, assuring others will earn more? What benefits the majority will win. This would cause a rift in the union. If it is the last best offer, it could be the splinter the owners need to win the battle.

By: jersey73

jersey73 — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 07:22:07 +0000

Another reasons why lawyers will be the death of the United States. They make the rules and laws so screwed up that your average person (or lawyer in Florio’s case) have trouble understanding things.

By: Doc Fluty

Doc Fluty — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:23:09 +0000

i dont care if the owners say were only gonna pay $100,000 per player tops.. if the players dont want it.. i fualt them. Im sure youd be able to find some guys to play football for $100,000… and they wont be worried about 2 a day practices or BS…
The players are greedy for asking for over 60% of profits.
Ask GM how unions can mess things up for everyone

By: IsawFloriokissingBrettFavre

IsawFloriokissingBrettFavre — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:37:42 +0000

@nobodybeatsdawiz
“We” is still 1st person, not 3rd, you idiot.

By: A_V_L

A_V_L — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:24:17 +0000

so can you please explain what would happen if the nflpa argues collusion… the nfl wants to act as a single entity… but in reality they are 32 different corporations fighting for a title…. so if most teams operate on a nonexistent salary floor or salary cap. how is that not collusion? i realize they can say “hey we didnt get together and agree on the” and then they wouldnt be making a verbal agreement. but most teams are following the current salary cap format. and competition-wise that is not the sound decision. in an open free agent market with no salary cap teams should be duking it out. but teams are sittin on their laurels generally following basic salary cap guidlines i dont see how that is not collusion… can you explain?

By: braindead

braindead — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:03:25 +0000

TryTheVeal; Salma Hayek Would look good in a canvas sack dude.

By: kiDDD

kiDDD — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:09:03 +0000

I hope there is a lockout, I am all for getting scabs to play.. I would rather watch a decent game with scabs, then a field full of overly spoiled men, overly paid men playing a kids game.. I am sure there are a lot of people that would play hard for half of what they are making… This is just giving the Owners more leverage.. Smith is effing up…

By: jackybadass

jackybadass — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:19:19 +0000

i saw on fox tv bob krafty of new england is leading the way to keep the boys out.he said he doesn’t make enough?when the replacements come in im goinna do yard work!

By: shadowflames43

shadowflames43 — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:38:36 +0000

Every time the union mentions the lockout, they slash one of their tires on the bus. The NFL makes it clear that it’s winning by not mentioning the lock out, and if I have to come back here a year from now without football, I’ll probably blame the union for it.

By: Bob S.

Bob S. — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:27:14 +0000

… and then finally soccer will be the #1 sport in America.

By: GoBrowns19

GoBrowns19 — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:53:21 +0000

We’ll just hope you’re right. And I don’t care what union any posters belong too, it’s different. They are playing with monopoly money. More money than any human being should be able to spend in a lifetime. They use it to buy 41 cars and 6 houses on 5 continents. So don’t get all high and mighty on unions and fair treatment. I think 7 figures and beyond to play a sport and still get a per diem is fair treatment enough.

By: Bill D

Bill D — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:25:31 +0000

Florio, you probably should have mentioned that De Smith was also a lawyer at Patton Boggs…

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:21:45 +0000

My leanings are with the player’s association, I’m angry at the owners, and I want the players to get a fair deal. But at the end of the day, these are stressful times and football is my release. Like everyone else, I have my own financial concerns and they’re not in 7, 8, or 9 figures. I just want to be able to watch uninterrupted games without hearing all this incessant squabbling.
If I feel that way–and I’m already union-friendly and sympathetic to the players–De Smith is going to have a hard time winning fans to the idea that the league’s actions were tantamount to a lockout even though there wasn’t a lockout.

By: eagles_5_beast

eagles_5_beast — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:21:37 +0000

wtf is the point of this lockout?? i doubt tht players would want to be unemployed for 2011. it doesnt even make sense tht the nflpa is threatening a lockout due to the fact tht even players are against it

By: nobodybeatsdawiz

nobodybeatsdawiz — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:14:19 +0000

we…we….we….we….we..what is it florio, you big time now? speaking in the third person shows yo as a pompous ass

By: Bob Nelson

Bob Nelson — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:12:55 +0000

They sure act militant and upity. It is as if they want to get locked out and play the victim card.
Nobody likes whiners and fake victims.
The Union is setting itself up to fail.

By: bullheel

bullheel — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:03:25 +0000

I dont understand, what does this have to do with Mcnabb, time for a new 5 article Florio.

By: TryTheVeal

TryTheVeal — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:02:57 +0000

I believe Salma Hayek looks good in a sundress…….Just a matter of opinion