NFL Lockout Thread

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:32 am

NFL general counsel Jeff Pash is staying positive before the owners' meeting in Indianapolis today, but let's see if any of his words come true. I wish he'd get his group together with the NFLPA's lawyers and make this happen. Anyway, not a bad story on the lockout if you're still reading these things:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... _headlines

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:45 am

As reported by ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, the first NFL scheduled event has been cancelled: The Rookie Symposium. Here is his story this morning:

The NFL is cancelling next month's rookie symposium in Canton, Ohio, due to the unresolved labor situation, a league source said, in what is thought to be the first event wiped off the league's calendar by the impasse.

The symposium is designed to teach rookies life lessons on dealing with football, finances and their new lifestyle. Many players who have been through the symposium have said it has been a positive first step in their transition into the NFL.

But with the NFL and NFLPA at an impasse and with both sides waiting for a June 3 court hearing before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on the legality of the ongoing lockout, the event is not going forward.

The symposium was scheduled to kick off June 26 and would have been held in Canton, the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, for the first time.

Up until now, teams have laid off or furloughed employees, but no events had been wiped off the NFL calendar.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:47 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
As reported by ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, the first NFL scheduled event has been cancelled: The Rookie Symposium. Here is his story this morning:

The NFL is cancelling next month's rookie symposium in Canton, Ohio, due to the unresolved labor situation, a league source said, in what is thought to be the first event wiped off the league's calendar by the impasse.

The symposium is designed to teach rookies life lessons on dealing with football, finances and their new lifestyle. Many players who have been through the symposium have said it has been a positive first step in their transition into the NFL.

But with the NFL and NFLPA at an impasse and with both sides waiting for a June 3 court hearing before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on the legality of the ongoing lockout, the event is not going forward.

The symposium was scheduled to kick off June 26 and would have been held in Canton, the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, for the first time.

Up until now, teams have laid off or furloughed employees, but no events had been wiped off the NFL calendar. Greg, is this the same Rookie event that you've been going to every year since the dawn of time?

I have a bad feeling that this will be the first of many "cancelled" events this summer.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue May 24, 2011 3:25 am

No, the NFLPA's Rookie Premiere did take place as planned last weekend in Los Angeles. Fox's Jay Glazer has been writing about it as he was there last week. That event is put on for the card companies and they take photos of the rookies in their NFL uniforms and pose them for their rookie cards, which likely will start coming out late next month and in July. It looks like the Players Association and Reebok went forward with that event. Tom said Cam Newton wore 00 for his photos, which means he's not wearing No. 2 this year.

The Rookie Symposium gathered all of the rookies together and told them how to act as professional football players, how to give interviews, what demons to watch for, how to manage your money, etc. It's crazy that the NFL would cancel that, but since that is an NFL-sponsored event -- unlike the Rookie Premiere which was an NFLPA and NFL-sponsored event -- I guess it makes sense.

But it sure gives you the indication that nothing is getting settled by the end of June and like you said Glenn more cancellations could be on the way.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:36 am

Courtesy of Pro Football Talk.com, here's a look at teams that have cutting pay because they have locked the players out:

Arizona Cardinals: A one-week forced furlough for all non-contracted employees. Cardinals coaching staff are contracted employees and have already seen their salaries cut by 35%.

Baltimore Ravens: An across-the-board reduction in non-player pay of 25 percent.

Buffalo Bills: Plan no layoffs or furloughs but have imposed pay cuts for all employees, up to 25 percent.

Carolina Panthers: Owner Jerry Richardson has told employees he won’t cut their pay, lay them off or furlough them during the lockout, even if it lasts several months.

Cleveland Browns: No plans to cut employees’ pay. Mike Holmgren says if it has to happen, it starts with him.

Dallas Cowboys: No plans for any pay cuts or layoffs.

Detroit Lions: Mandatory two-week unpaid furloughs have begun.

Green Bay Packers: Have cut pay but will refund the money if no games are missed.

Indianapolis Colts: Promised not to cut coaching staff pay even if the lockout extends into the season.

Kansas City Chiefs: Every employee will see a pay cut, no layoffs or furloughs.

Miami Dolphins: Team employees who make more than $75,000 a year will have their pay cut 20 percent. Those with salaries of $50,000 to $75,000 will face a 15 percent pay cut and those making less than $50,000 will face a 10 percent pay cut.

New England Patriots: No decision yet on whether to cut pay.

New York Giants: Promised not to cut coaching staff pay even if the lockout extends into the season.

New York Jets: Football operations employees will take a 25% pay cut. Everyone else will have mandatory furloughs. If no preseason games are missed, the employees will be reimbursed for the money.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders aren’t reducing pay or putting employees on furlough but are telling employees to sell season tickets.

Philadelphia Eagles: Promised not to cut coaching staff pay even if the lockout extends into the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Promised not to cut coaching staff pay even if the lockout extends into the season.

Seattle Seahawks: Promised not to cut coaching staff pay even if the lockout extends into the season.

League office: All employees have taken a 12 percent pay cut, while Roger Goodell and Jeff Pash have cut their salaries to $1 as long as the lockout lasts.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue May 24, 2011 5:39 am

Tweet from NFL.com's Jason La Canfora: Derrick Mason, Ravens player rep, said he thinks lockout could last several more months. Doesn't see any movement from 3 months ago.

Old School · Post by **Old School** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:01 pm

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
Tweet from NFL.com's Jason La Canfora: Derrick Mason, Ravens player rep, said he thinks lockout could last several more months. Doesn't see any movement from 3 months ago. That's what I've been saying Greg. The owners told the players they were opting out of the CBA two years ago and nothing has been done. They have hunkered down on both sides and are litigating and I dont think suddenly there will be any epiphany by either party. Does not bode well for us

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:20 am

Carolina owner Jerry Richardson says waiting for litigation to solve this is ridiculous:

"I can speak for the owners -- we had a very productive day yesterday," Richardson said Wednesday. "Pretty much, the day was spent discussing labor -- there were some playing rule discussions, too -- but I think we know what our options are. And we're in a waiting mode. I think we all need to see what's going to happen in July (when a ruling is expected). And then we'll go from there."

Despite being in waiting mode, Richardson took exception with the idea that the owners aren't in any particular rush to get something done. Richardson has been a part of every court-ordered mediation session -- six in all -- in Minneapolis.

"I think there's been a sense of urgency on our part, starting two years ago," Richardson said. "There's always been a sense of urgency. It makes no sense what we're doing now. We aren't even negotiating."

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:24 am

I really wish people would start top talking about negotiating and actually ... you know ... negotiate. All this lip service accomplishes nothing. There is nothing preventing either side from picking up a phone and starting to talk to the other side. Neither side is showing any serious interest in getting a deal done. Both are just sitting on the sidelines waiting for the next hearing on June 3.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:31 am

What's next? ESPN.com's Andrew Brandt gives some insight and wonders if the NFLPA has any strategy outside of litigation:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6583317