CBA issues

[Brown Warrior]

Again, while we can compare the lot of NFL players to even "skilled laborers," it's not at all relevant to the rift. The benchmarks will be the current deal and other major sports (NBA and MLB). That's it... and the NFL players generally have it the worst of the three in many different ways in spite of having the biggest risk of injury.

It's not black and white and I'm afraid that wanting it to be is causing the debate to go a little dark. The crux of the dispute is the owners wanting more money off the top before the formula for splitting up the rest kicks in. The owners agree to spend a specific percentage on players, which keeps the league competitive and at least theoretically defines their partnership in an unthinkably lucrative business.

The debate on who needs whom more? Philosophy. It's a walk on a slippery rock. Let's round it up to "a lot," for both.

The players don't wanna give up what they have without some proof that doing so is in the best interest of the whole, not just making unthinkably wealthy owners even wealthier. They have the power of "no" and they used it. I'm certain it wasn't so Brees or Brady could make more money. They believe what they're doing is right, just as I'm sure the owners do. That's why it's a dispute.

In the end, they'll meet in the middle somewhere. The huge, disgusting shame is that it didn't happen after another extension of the talks. Is it the players' fault or the owners?

Yes.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

Your Post

Spot on. The entire post was energizing for a fan.

Good stuff bro.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

Spot on. The entire post was energizing for a fan.

Good stuff bro.

Thanks.

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

Lets face it, I am not on board with most of you, and I don't care about either the owners or the players.

FACTS.

I told MZ way back when how much facts matter, and I don't understand how some of you flip it into emotions. Who care what you "feel" or what you "think."

Facts!

Emotions drive you and that is fine with me. But don't tell me to take a break when you can't deal with....facts.

Meh.....whatever, Riffer.

You led me into my favorite quote, and I still don't know who said it because it was quoted in a movie and it blew past me: "What you feel matters only to you. What you do about it matters to the world."

[Riffer X]

Dez Bryant - Dallas Cowboys - 2011 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

The local calendar boys didn't comment on this in the NFL Forum, so I thought it would go nice here. This is what some of these chumps do with they monies.

Guess who is going to be broke after his career is over? This guy.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

Dez Bryant - Dallas Cowboys - 2011 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

The local calendar boys didn't comment on this in the NFL Forum, so I thought it would go nice here. This is what some of these chumps do with they monies.

Guess who is going to be broke after his career is over? This guy.

Just like they learned at Oklahoma State - it doesn't take much at all to get this kid really distracted from football. He's already blowing off his taxes. Thatta boy Dez!

Somebody better tell calendar boy the IRS has really good closing speed. You don't want to turn an ankle or pull a hammy when IRS Bounty Hunter - Hal Atosis is hot on your tail breathing down your neck.

The poor guy had the SAME parental role models William Green had so unfortunately piss poor decisions almost seem inevitable. Hopefully someone, like his extremely well paid agent, sets him straight before it's too late.

[Brown Warrior]

Early returns (even those prior to today) seem to favor the players, with a lockout being deemed illegal. I hear the owners will appeal... but wouldn't "day to day operations" have to resume unless/until the appeal is upheld?

I've read repeatedly that we as fans should be pulling for the players at this point because it forces them to the quickest resolution, which is pretty much all I care about in a war between multimillionaires and billionaires.

Judge Nelson asks owners and players why they aren’t in mediation

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on April 6, 2011, 2:36 PM EDT

The court has been adjourned for a second time during Wednesday’s antitrust hearing, with session expected to pick back up at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe has a few interesting facts about the proceedings thus far.

Judge Susan Nelson reportedly mentioned mediation a few times early in the session, and wondered why the owners and players aren’t in mediation now instead. (UPDATE: If mediation was ordered this time, it would be with a judge, not a mediator.)

Nelson also indicated that she’s “having a hard time with is a lockout being legal after a union decertification” according to Bedard.

The NFL’s attorney David Boies spent a lot more time answering questions from Judge Nelson than Jim Quinn, the attorney for the players.

“Nelson was very prepared,” Bedard writes. “Said this is all she’s done for two weeks.”

Perhaps that means we won’t have to wait too long for a decision. Beyond that, we’ll leave the analysis to those with law degrees.

[grumpy_dinosaur]

My hope is that she orders them back to mediation.

[Brown Warrior]

What a big pack of fucking rich, stubborn assholes. I'm starting to seriously hate all of them.

League issues statement on the possible resumption of mediation
Posted by Mike Florio on April 7, 2011, 6:28 PM EDT

If nothing else, the NFL’s labor dispute has rekindled the lost art of letter writing. Missives have been exchanged by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the players and, more recently, the lawyers for the league and the players.

The dispute also has reconfirmed the time-honored art of spin doctoring, with statements routinely issued by the parties. The latest wave of statements relates to the letters that were exchanged on Thursday regarding mediation.

And while both sides want to negotiate, neither side wants to do so in the way that the other side proposes.

Most recently, the league has issued a statement regarding its letter to the players.

“Our letter to the players’ attorneys today proposes negotiations with owner involvement under the supervision of Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George Cohen,” the statement reads. “A copy has been sent to Judge Nelson. The goal of the discussions would be to resolve all outstanding issues and achieve a global resolution. As part of our proposal, we offered to give the players assurances that they will not compromise any legal position as a result of the discussions.”

If both sides truly want to talk (and we’re not sure that both sides do), the current disagreement centers on the fact that a mediated settlement of the Brady lawsuit would most likely be subject to the ongoing jurisdiction of Judge Susan Nelson, while a new Collective Bargaining Agreement would not. And it appears that neither side wants to make the kind of concession necessary to secure their “way” on that point.

So it’s back to the junior-high dance, with the boys lining one wall and the girls lining the other and the music playing and no one on the floor.

[Brown Warrior]

A little glimmer: A conference call was happening this morning between the players, the owners, and the judge... for the purpose of trying to find a way to get back to the table. Having Cohen report to Judge Nelson is a possibility.

Something really needs to happen. Just letting litigation run its course aims at a July resolution and a longer running soap opera of a non-CBA season and ongoing efforts to craft an agreement. Very messy.

Let's hope we get the news that talks will resume.

[Brown Warrior]

Susan Nelson might become the MVP here. The fact that the call lasted an hour and a gag rule was enforced leads me to believe something actually happened.

Mediation conference call over, Judge orders both sides to stay quiet | ProFootballTalk