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travisduncan
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Update: Friday 11:21 a.m PDT
Reportedly some teams have invited players back to team facilities, but the NFL Players Association has advised players not to return to team HQ's until the players vote on, and agree to the new CBA.
The general consensus among the national media is that things will be worked out over the weekend or early next week. The remaining issues appear to be just exactly how to reform the union, and as the ability for the players to opt-out of the CBA early (as was the case in the last CBA) instead of guaranteeing 10-years of labor peace.
There are some alleged insiders who believe that there a still major hurdles to overcome with other details and we could be looking at weeks not days until training camp opens and free-agency begins.
________
According to NFL, the owners have "ratified" the proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement with the players.
It was believed that once that happened, the players would simply take a vote and then team facilities could be open as early as Saturday with teams beginning the process of re-signing their own players on Sunday and Monday and that the official league year would begin Wednesday.
But not so fast.
Reportedly the players aren't going to be willing to rush back to work and it could be yet another struggle before the lockout is actually really over.
Shortly after it was announced that the owners had approved the CBA, NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith wrote the following in an e-mail to players:
“All:
As you know the Owners have ratified their proposal to settle our differences. It is my understanding that they are forwarding it to us.
As you may have heard, they apparently approved a supplemental revenue sharing proposal. Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions.
As you know from yesterday, issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open, other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms remain unresolved.
There is no agreement between the NFL and the Players at this time. I look forward to our call tonight.”
Some media believe that this is a major setback. Peter King of Sports Illustrated said the deal is in major trouble late Thursday night. Others are more optimistic.
If the owners had it their way we could be looking at league year beginning on Wednesday but now that may not happen because some players allege the owners tried to slip things into the new CBA the players never agreed to.
Saints fullback Heath Evans tweeted, "Here is what the "Real" fans need 2 know: The owners tried 2 slip many things n2 the CBA "they" voted on that were NEVER agreed 2!#PRPlay"
Either way, the lockout is not over-but it has to be close. As it stands late Thursday night, the players are not scheduled to vote on Friday and at least a few player reps don't expect a vote to take place Friday.
As far as the actual owners vote, the loan hold out in the voting process was good old Al Davis and the Raiders who had "profound philosophical differences" and abstained from voting, making the final vote for the new CBA 31-0.
Meanwhile the Hall of Fame game scheduled for Aug. 7 between the Rams and the Bears this year and traditionally the first preseason game of the season has been canceled.
Assuming the players do vote relatively quickly and re-certify the union in the next few days, possibly before Tuesday, training camp could begin next Wednesday, but player rep Chester Pitts said it could be next weekend for the 'Hawks, but that was shortly before it became apparent the players weren't in a hurry to take a vote.
The NFL, all sides, players and owners and the powers that be, understand the value of having the league be the center of the sports universe, even in July. Extending the lockout drama until the very last moment, ultimately keeps the league in the headlines, and research shows that off-season conversation translates to increased interest once the games begin.
From a fans perspective the deal and the drama doesn't mean a whole lot despite the massive about of coverage from the main stream media. We simply expect to see the same game we saw last season on the field-who gets paid what doesn't really affect that in a major way believe it or not.
We can hope this will keep ticket prices from going from very high to astronomical, but even that doesn't seem likely. Also we won't miss any football it appears despite the last minute surprise from the players. And that thing about an 18-game season. Well the current 16-game format will be in play until at least 2013 and any additional games would need the approval of the Players Union.
Alas, the lockout continues to drag on, but there is an end in sight.
Stay tuned.
Reportedly some teams have invited players back to team facilities, but the NFL Players Association has advised players not to return to team HQ's until the players vote on, and agree to the new CBA.
The general consensus among the national media is that things will be worked out over the weekend or early next week. The remaining issues appear to be just exactly how to reform the union, and as the ability for the players to opt-out of the CBA early (as was the case in the last CBA) instead of guaranteeing 10-years of labor peace.
There are some alleged insiders who believe that there a still major hurdles to overcome with other details and we could be looking at weeks not days until training camp opens and free-agency begins.
________
According to NFL, the owners have "ratified" the proposed 10-year collective bargaining agreement with the players.
It was believed that once that happened, the players would simply take a vote and then team facilities could be open as early as Saturday with teams beginning the process of re-signing their own players on Sunday and Monday and that the official league year would begin Wednesday.
But not so fast.
Reportedly the players aren't going to be willing to rush back to work and it could be yet another struggle before the lockout is actually really over.
Shortly after it was announced that the owners had approved the CBA, NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith wrote the following in an e-mail to players:
“All:
As you know the Owners have ratified their proposal to settle our differences. It is my understanding that they are forwarding it to us.
As you may have heard, they apparently approved a supplemental revenue sharing proposal. Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions.
As you know from yesterday, issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open, other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end of deal terms remain unresolved.
There is no agreement between the NFL and the Players at this time. I look forward to our call tonight.”
Some media believe that this is a major setback. Peter King of Sports Illustrated said the deal is in major trouble late Thursday night. Others are more optimistic.
If the owners had it their way we could be looking at league year beginning on Wednesday but now that may not happen because some players allege the owners tried to slip things into the new CBA the players never agreed to.
Saints fullback Heath Evans tweeted, "Here is what the "Real" fans need 2 know: The owners tried 2 slip many things n2 the CBA "they" voted on that were NEVER agreed 2!#PRPlay"
Either way, the lockout is not over-but it has to be close. As it stands late Thursday night, the players are not scheduled to vote on Friday and at least a few player reps don't expect a vote to take place Friday.
As far as the actual owners vote, the loan hold out in the voting process was good old Al Davis and the Raiders who had "profound philosophical differences" and abstained from voting, making the final vote for the new CBA 31-0.
Meanwhile the Hall of Fame game scheduled for Aug. 7 between the Rams and the Bears this year and traditionally the first preseason game of the season has been canceled.
Assuming the players do vote relatively quickly and re-certify the union in the next few days, possibly before Tuesday, training camp could begin next Wednesday, but player rep Chester Pitts said it could be next weekend for the 'Hawks, but that was shortly before it became apparent the players weren't in a hurry to take a vote.
The NFL, all sides, players and owners and the powers that be, understand the value of having the league be the center of the sports universe, even in July. Extending the lockout drama until the very last moment, ultimately keeps the league in the headlines, and research shows that off-season conversation translates to increased interest once the games begin.
From a fans perspective the deal and the drama doesn't mean a whole lot despite the massive about of coverage from the main stream media. We simply expect to see the same game we saw last season on the field-who gets paid what doesn't really affect that in a major way believe it or not.
We can hope this will keep ticket prices from going from very high to astronomical, but even that doesn't seem likely. Also we won't miss any football it appears despite the last minute surprise from the players. And that thing about an 18-game season. Well the current 16-game format will be in play until at least 2013 and any additional games would need the approval of the Players Union.
Alas, the lockout continues to drag on, but there is an end in sight.
Stay tuned.
