The owners are businessmen, the players, well…, they are players. IMHO the players need to put their egos in check and strike a deal when they can. I doubt they will because they have become their own worst enemy. They feel they are what generates the income when in fact it is the owners and the franchises they own that have created the revenue stream.

Replacement players? Maybe. If I was an owner I would tell them to take a walk. 10 million dollar contracts can set them up for life. For that matter $500,000 for 5 years is more than what most people make in a lifetime.

Sorry players, you loose. Take the deal or walk. You aren’t all that

Here is the real story in all of this. (Follow me on this)

The owners have given in to the players on many issues over the last month. The players have been acting like two year olds. The owners have just said “enough of this crap”, by virtue of ratifying an agreement. The lockout will end, meaning players will be free to go to the facility and work out. So now, its up to the players. If the season doesn’t happen now, it will be the players fault. The players will have to now go on STRIKE, if they don’t like the final deal because there is no lockout anymore.

Brilliant move by the owners.

I’m sorry to say that I believe a strike by the players is coming.

a. D Smith is worried about keeping his job in 2012.

b. Current unsigned veterans fear they will be cut when teams have a window to sign undrafted free agents, so they want to drag this out.

Wow, the posters that think this site is a tool for the owners must be having fun with you guys today.

These guys entertain us every sunday by playing a game that takes such a toll on them that they live shorter lives than the rest of us.

If they want to take a few days to do everything they can to make sure that 32 shrewd billionaires haven’t effed them up the arse for the next ten years, I’m okay with that.

It’s July, people.

There will be football soon enough.

The players can’t get their stories straight because they’re to busy sticking their foot in their mouths.

—————————————————————

That covers the Jets. What about the rest of them?

Issue: Players want to opt out after 7 years.
Solution: Opt out after 8 years with a significant penalty. This is what was originally reported as a target any way.

Issue: Players want to recertify with actual cards being signed at the team facility and owners think that will take too long.
Solution: Let them. You open the doors and allow players to meet with coaches and negotiate (but not sign) contracts. On day one, they all sign their cards and send them back (it’s called Fed Ex overnight delivery).

Issue: Players want penalties subject to independant arbitration (but it can’t be agreed to until they recertify).
Solution: Give it to them. This is how the other leauges do it. The new league year simply wouldn’t start until the recertification is official (see Fed Ex comment). The second that’s complete you sign agreement.

Issue: Resolution of all outstanding lawsuits (the Doty ruling, etc.) which can be combined with the request for players to recoup lost benefits from last year.
Resolution: The players agreed to the terms of the last CBA so they don’t get the $320 MM for that. However, the owners didn’t act in good faith when negotiating the TV contract. The players get 100% of the revenue from the first 2 preseason games. This comes to about $200 MM extra in the players pocket and feels about right. Plus, this has the added benefit of speeding things up if the deal includes a condition that the players loose out on the money for each of the first 2 preseason games missed.

Issues: Players feel disrespected.
Solution: Get over it. You’re big boys. You’re negotiating. Keep emotions out of it.

These donkeys are going to end up costing themselves a boat load of money over “final details” if they are not careful.

1st – 11 people involved in the suit
2nd – 32 player reps

And if it gets pass those:

3rd: 1900 players

Here’s what I don’t get. The NFLPA is claiming the NFL made a power play…but if that’s the case, why did Smith and company leave the meetings as though all was a done deal?

I don’t think there was a power play at all…I think Smith, who might lose his job soon, is pointing a finger and trying to shift the blame.

The media blew the announcement all out of proportion. In Goodell’s conference, he made it clear that it wasn’t a done deal yet…that it all dependent on the NFLPA resertifying.

Now the media is pointing fingers just like Smith is.

The biggest problem I see is too many players are so uninformed by the NFLPA about the process that now they are holding out. Not the fault of the owners. Look at Smith and the player reps.

“And here I sit reading this crap some more…

Time to put it away and go watch Gilligan Island reruns.

MaryAnn or Ginger?”

—————

Both at the same time

Or maybe that’s just me.