NFL Lockout Thread

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:16 am

Woo Hoo! Time to sign up for some more fantasy football leagues!

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:32 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:
Woo Hoo! Time to sign up for some more fantasy football leagues!

That's the spirit.

Erok · Post by **Erok** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 1:37 pm

Owners give up right of first refusal idea
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on July 15, 2011, 7:41 PM EDT
The Bribe

All along, PFT has advanced the idea that the owners’ idea about obtaining the right of first refusal with for three free agents this year made little sense and was something the players should refuse.

It looks like the owners have given up on the idea too.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports the owners have abandoned the concept. Teams will have a 72-hour window before free agency starts, which we’re calling “Tampering Season.” (Although that’s likely already happening.)

With this issue out of the way, Judy Battista of the New York Times reports the only real remaining issues left are how the antitrust case and TV contract lawsuits will be resolve. She says we’re on the brink of a deal.

There’s only so many ways we can keep saying that the deal is nearly done. But it’s pretty fun to say.

Erok · Post by **Erok** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 1:38 pm

Lions linebacker says players will return July 25 if deal goes through
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on July 15, 2011, 6:01 PM EDT
Z. Folletttiger

Labor optimism has spread throughout the NFL this Friday. Lions linebacker Zack Follett says he’s gearing up to return to work.

“Just received word it would be the 25th of July we would be able to report back if a deal got done . . . Pending approval by all parties,” Follett wrote via Twitter.

Based on the timeline we passed along earlier this week, this sounds about right. July 28 is the rough target for when free agency would start, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if facilities are open a little earlier than that.

Somehow, we don’t feel right enjoying all this apparent good news until an agreement is actually announced.

Old School · Post by **Old School** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:23 pm

Not so fast. Players guided by Demoron Smith, threatening to blow the deal by getting very greedy
today.....

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 2:59 am

Originally posted by Old School:
Not so fast. Players guided by Demoron Smith, threatening to blow the deal by getting very greedy
today.....

It looks like some of the things the players are asking for will be agreed to by the owners. Things like no more two-a-days with pads, and fewer practices with pads. They are also asking that a franchise tag be used only once on a player rather than three times, which makes sense to me. If you want that player bad enough, SIGN HIM.

I think all of these things will be resolved this week and signed off by the players and owners. Both sides have given in a bit this last week, which is encouraging.

The best news I see from the latest reports is that this will be a 10-year deal. AWESOME!!!! Here's the latest update, which I think is VERY ENCOURAGING:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/67761 ... ting-looms

With the NFL closing in on a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement, owners and players will return to the negotiating table in a mediation setting on Monday and Tuesday to settle a handful of unresolved issues, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

According to sources, the sides will meet in either New York or Washington D.C., and U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan could join them on either day.

Before departing for an overseas vacation on July 9, Boylan ordered a mediation session in Minneapolis on Tuesday. It had appeared that the mediation session would be cancelled after the progress made in New York on Thursday and Friday, but sources say the hope is that mediation will nudge the two sides to a final agreement in time for the players to vote to recertify as a union and approve an agreement Wednesday.

Under that scenario, the owners would ratify the new CBA on Thursday at the league meetings in Atlanta. According to sources, the two sides also could use Wednesday morning to finish their mediated negotiation session, if necessary.

The outstanding unresolved issues, according to sources:

• Players want restoration of $320 million in lost benefits from the 2010 uncapped season.

• Players want to limit use of the franchise tag on unrestricted free agents to a one-time application. Previously, teams could use the franchise tag on a player on three separate occasions with significant increases on one-year guaranteed salaries for every additional year that the player was tagged.

• Settlement of the Brady antitrust lawsuit involving 10 named plaintiffs. The limit of franchise tags on all players could be the anchor to the settlement. That would result in named plaintiffs such as Drew Brees, Logan Mankins, Peyton Manning and Vincent Jackson not being subject to any free agent restrictions in 2012 if their respective teams do not sign them to long-term contracts.

• Workman's compensation. It has been an underpublicized and complex issue for the owners that has resulted in numerous lawsuits. Owners want players to file for workman's comp benefits in the state in which they played, if they suffered an injury. Currently, players have used California as a filing base if they can prove they suffered any injury during their career while playing in that state.

• Settlement of the television damages case stemming from U.S. District Judge David Doty's ruling that owners did not act in the best interests of players as directed by the previous CBA in creating "lockout insurance." The players have asked Doty to place $4 billion in escrow until the lockout is resolved but Doty has not ruled. It is possible the players will use this leverage to gain the $320 million in restoration of lost benefits from 2010.

Under a ratified agreement, teams would have an exclusive 72-hour window to negotiate contracts with their own free agents Friday before those players hit the open market at the start of league-wide free agency on July 25th.

One key concession made by the owners will effectively eliminate two-a-day practices during training camp as a health and safety issue that players termed critical to an agreement, the sources said. Teams will be allowed to have some helmetless and padless non-contact walk-through practices in lieu of a second training camp practice on the same day.

According to sources, teams will also reduce offseason workouts from 14 on-field organized team activities (practices) to nine. Six of those nine practices must be helmetless. Players also will not be subject to reporting for offseason work with coaches until May 1, although one source said that date could be in mid-April. Previously, players could work with coaches beginning in March. March 15 was the designated date in 2011 before the lockout went into effect March 13.

Under the proposed 10-year CBA, players would get a split ranging from 48 to 46.5 percent of a simplified all-revenue model, the sources said. The lower 46.5 percentage would represent an increase in total dollars as revenues grow from new television contracts, as well as allowing credits if three new stadiums are constructed, including one in Los Angeles, where the NFL has not had a team since the 1994 season.

Talks had stalled last week before, according to sources, the sides reached agreement on both a rookie wage system and salary cap on Thursday and free agency rules for 2011 on Friday.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth, a key member of the players' side in the talks, commented on the lengthy negotiations on his Twitter account Saturday night.

Foxworth wrote: "What a long busy week. I'm so tired. I need my daughter to take a nap so I can."

Erok · Post by **Erok** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 8:59 am

That practicing in pads stuff is weak IMO

Waaaaaaa.

Babies. Getting paid all that money and complaining. I'm sure its the prima donna wideouts too crying about that, not the 350lb linemen.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:17 am

I'm not even going to link any stories to this thought, but reports everywhere sure sounds like we'll have a labor agreement to present to the players and owners this week. Get ready folks, the NFL off-season is about to begin!!!

AND IT'S GOING TO BE FUN!!

Erok · Post by **Erok** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:28 am

oh without a doubt.

Theres a process involved as far as I know so it will not be bang bang.

Owners meet Thursday. They will approve it then.

Players must then convene and vote to ratify it (Friday? Monday?) The sooner the better. Not sure if all players have to be there or not.........hopefully players do it Friday and free agency starts Monday. Each players team will then have Mon-Tues-Wed to sign them.... Then by Thurs next week, free agents can sign elsewhere.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:35 pm

Originally posted by W. Klown:
oh without a doubt.

Theres a process involved as far as I know so it will not be bang bang.

Owners meet Thursday. They will approve it then.

Players must then convene and vote to ratify it (Friday? Monday?) The sooner the better. Not sure if all players have to be there or not.........hopefully players do it Friday and free agency starts Monday. Each players team will then have Mon-Tues-Wed to sign them.... Then by Thurs next week, free agents can sign elsewhere. Actually, the process will be faster than that. According to ESPN.com, the players will vote on the new CBA on Wednesday if the lawyers have all of the language ready:

"A player representative confirmed that players will vote on the proposed CBA on Wednesday, assuming both sides address the unresolved issues beforehand. They will explain the CBA and we will vote on it I believe Wednesday," the player said in a text to ESPN.

The owners would then ratify the deal on Thursday and players can report as early as Monday while free agency goes on. Teams will have 72 hours to sign their own players starting on Friday and total free agency will start Monday. Get ready for the ride.