IS THIS A LOST DRAFT FOR THE NFL?

[Sez.EJ]

Note the portionS I bolded in the below article (S) :THOUGHTS?



Monday could be critical day for NFL labor

By BARRY WILNER, AP Pro Football Writer 1 hour, 34 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP)—If these are not fun times for football fans, they arecaptivating days for lawyers.



The NFL lockout is back in force after a short hiatus last week. A St. Louisappeals court could determine as early as Monday whether the league deserves apermanent stay of an injunction granted to the players in Minnesota to block thelockout.
“We are in uncharted but fascinating legal territory,” agent and attorneyRalph Cindrich said as he examined the short-term reinstatement of the lockoutby three judges from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. “The owners’lockout is temporary now; it can become permanent after the same three judges doa detailed review. If the lockout is reinstated, it puts the players down onpoints big.”

If it’s not, something Cindrich predicts, league business could resumealmost immediately, even as more NFL appeals are filed. Cindrich believes thateven though those judges voted 2-1 Friday to review the matter, they won’toverturn Judge Susan Richard Nelson’s original determination that the lockoutwas preventing the players from earning a living.

With the draft behind them, the 32 teams can’t have contact with anyplayers. That includes veterans along with rookies just selected. It also meansundrafted free agents, who usually sign contracts hours after the seventh roundconcludes or the next day.
“You just do what you do and abide by the guidelines the league puts out aswe go along,” Rams general manager Billy Devaney said. “Everybody’s in thesame boat; we’re not stressing out or anything. It’ll eventually get settled andyou just go with it.”
Going with it for the players means training on their own. For first-roundpicks, it means devouring the playbooks they were able to get from their teamsduring Friday’s short break in the lockout.

“The quarterbacks and offensive linemen and wide receivers, these young guys, can you imagine? With no mini-camps and no OTAs, if they show up Aug. 1 to training camp, they’re going to be so lost,” Montana-based agent Ken Staningersaid. “It may be a lost draft, other than the elite-elite.”

For coaches, it means evaluating how they addressed their needs in thedraft, and which undrafted players they might approach when allowed to do so.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett has all his plans organized for offseasonworkouts and minicamps.
“What we did is we laid out the entire calendar for the offseason assumingthere was no lockout,” Garrett said. “So all of those dates were in place soonafter the season ended. But obviously we had to be responsive to the lockout andwhen the players came back, and we’ll continue to do that based on what the newrules are.”
Those rules are uncertain even if the players win the next round in theappeals court. Among the league’s options is reinstating the 2010 guidelines,which featured more limited free agency and no salary cap. And no minimum forspending, which could come into play more than ever with some owners who fearprofits will continue to decline.
“It’s a chaotic time,” said Ben Dogra, agent for Sam Bradford(notes) and PatrickWillis(notes), among many other players. “There are a lot of moving points, and itmeans daily uncertainty.”
Amid the uncertainty, one message rang clear at Radio City Music Hall duringthe draft. It was delivered by the fans, who repeatedly booed Commissioner RogerGoodell and also chanted “we want football.”
Goodell responded, “So do I.”
For now, getting football back is in the hands of the judges.

[Sez.EJ]

NFL rookies wallow in lockout limbo

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer Apr 30, 8:26 pm EDT



EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—There wasn’t much time to celebrate duringChristian Ponder’s(notes) first day as a Minnesota Viking.
The Florida State quarterback, drafted 12th overall to take over for thedeparted Brett Favre(notes), knew time was of the essence when he arrived at teamheadquarters on Friday, and he spent all day meeting with coaches and going overXs and Os while the lockout was temporarily lifted.
“We don’t know how long this window will be open so we have to takeadvantage of every moment and try to get him the information that we think he’llneed to come back, whenever that is, with a working knowledge of what we’retrying to accomplish,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said after introducingPonder.


Ponder’s cram session wasn’t unique. Rookies across the league scrambled toget in, meet coaches and pick up playbooks before the doors were shut again.
“I’m ready as soon as this lockout is over,” Chicago Bears first-roundpick Gabe Carimi(notes) said. “I can’t wait to come and start playing. I’m sureeveryone feels that way too.”
The lockout was restored Friday night after the owners were handed a legalvictory by a federal appeals court. The labor fight threatens to rob this year’srookie class of precious preparation time in the offseason to get them ready tomake the leap from college to the NFL.
“It’s back to how it had been before so we pretty much can’t pass anythingout,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “Once the draft is over today, we aredone talking until this thing is worked out.”
The lockout prevents rookies who didn’t make it to headquarters on Fridayfrom speaking with coaches, picking up playbooks and working out at teamfacilities. Organized practices and minicamps also are off limits until thelockout is lifted again, which could come as early as next week or drag into thesummer, depending on how things play out in the court system.
And the rules are iron clad.
Raiders second-round pick Stefen Wisniewski(notes) took a tour of the team facilitySaturday with his uncle Steve, who is the Raiders assistant offensive linecoach. But even having a family member on staff won’t allow the youngerWisniewski to have contact with his coaches during the lockout.
“I don’t think the NFL recognizes family loopholes,” Wisniewski said.“He’s my coach and he also happens to be my uncle, but I’m not going to be ableto talk to him.”
Coaches are concerned about having enough time to get the youngsters readyto contribute. That is particularly true for quarterbacks who may step in andplay right away, including Ponder, Cam Newton(notes) in Carolina, Jake Locker(notes) inTennessee, Blaine Gabbert(notes) in Jacksonville and Andy Dalton(notes) in Cincinnati.
“We’re going to have to make up for lost time,” Vikings offensivecoordinator Bill Musgrave said. “Whenever something transpires, we’ll be ableto hit the ground running and be able to overcome whatever feeling of beingbehind the eight-ball that we may experience.”
The uncertainty was making some of the rookies a little antsy.
“I’m just ready to get in and get to work,” Dalton said. “With the wholelockout situation, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Once the chance comes,I’m ready to get in and get going.”
Some players are pulling out all the stops to get up to speed. It wassuggested to Denver Broncos second-round pick Rahim Moore(notes) during hisintroductory news conference that he contact first-round pick Von Miller(notes) to geta look at the Broncos defensive playbook.
“That would be a great idea,” said the UCLA safety. “A playbook is veryimportant to get so we won’t come in with nothing on our minds. You know wewould get to have some type of (introduction) to the team. But, that’s a greatidea. I’m going to try to get in contact with him and get his numberimmediately.”
Ponder said he would start contacting his new teammates right away, tryingto forge a bond and chemistry with some of them during the time off.
“It’s tough, especially with the uncertainty,” Ponder said. “We have noidea what’s going to happen and I’m praying I’ll be back here in two weeks forminicamp or whenever we’re allowed.”
While many veterans are welcoming the extra time away from what theyperceive to be offseason busy work, the rookies are eager for the orientation toget under way.
“With the lockout situation right now you don’t know when you’ll be able totalk to your coach again, when you’re going to get to the facility,” Panthersthird-round draft pick Sione Fua said. “For me, I’ve just got to take care ofbusiness on my end. Stay in shape, stay on track to graduate and when I get thecall to come in, just be ready to go and be in shape.”
It’s not much easier for coaches, who believe they need as much time as theycan get to start molding the youngsters and preparing them for an increase incompetition many aren’t ready for when they leave school. They also cannot signcollege free agents to fill out their summer rosters, which keeps hundreds ofprospects out of work for now.
“We’ll just be fluid,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “We’ll react towhat’s going on. We have to play by the rules and until we’re told otherwisenow, I guess those will be the rules.”

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[Brown Warrior]

I think this looks like good news if that bloodsucking lawyer is right. The NFL could be open for business early next week if the judges (as this guy expects) don't overturn Nelson's ruling. At that point, the owners will be in a really nasty little corner where they're continued efforts to shut down again will just look shitty to the fans.

[Sez.EJ]

I myself hopes the judge ruled in favor of the players on Monday. Not because I believe they are right, but becuase it opens the doors for football to resume; and hopefully forcing this thing forward with the eventual agreement on a new CBA

[Jax Dawg]

My fear is if the courts don't back the owners into a corner they won't make any effort to reach a resolution on a new CBA until mid August or even later which would further jeopardize next season.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

I think this looks like good news if that bloodsucking lawyer is right. The NFL could be open for business early next week if the judges (as this guy expects) don't overturn Nelson's ruling. At that point, the owners will be in a really nasty little corner where they're continued efforts to shut down again will just look shitty to the fans.

And I think the owners are best served if this happens. I think they need to save face, so taking a beating in court means they didn't back down but were forced to open up business. The NFLPA gets the victory.

Now, if the players screw that up after the court ruled for them, well they get the bad press.

A defeat but went down fighting for the owners.
A victory for the players.

Perception is reality. I know it is more complicated than that. What is silly is the players did force this hand in court (they didn't want to mediate) only to get back to the bargaining table.

[Legendary]

I don't see how the NFL going to monitor every single employee to make sure they don't meet each other. I mean what will stop the nephew talking to his uncle of Oakland Raiders. or Colt going to the Coach's house for a barbie.

What will stop 5 or 6 players going on holiday in Croatia, and meeting the coach there for a short coaching sessions.

The NFL can stop players using training ground and club facilities but not outside.

How can one judge say it is illegal and next judge say it is legal.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Legendary

How can one judge say it is illegal and next judge say it is legal.

Judge Nelson said open for business. The owners went to a 3 judge panel and asked them to review Judge Nelson's ruling. Because the 3 judge panel agreed to listen to the arguments, that places a stay on Nelson's ruling. That 3 judge panel hasn't ruled on anything, but because they have accepted the case it places a stay on the ruling that their going to rule on.

My money says they uphold the Nelson ruling.

[Sez.EJ]

We should find out tomorrow. I'm glad they are moving quickly

[Brown Warrior]

Legal experts say it would be tough to find legit grounds to overturn her ruling. Even the temporary stay was only 2-1, not unanimous. I'd bet we're open for business by Wednesday.