AndyJohnson

I have a very bad feeling about the CBA expiring. I am far, far from an expert, but to me it does not look good.
If it does go to an uncapped year, I expect that, much the opposite of what is being considered, that owners will become frugal and there will be many free agents who either can't find a team or have to accept a miniscule contract compared to what we have seen.
The owners sound like they are looking forward to an uncapped year. These owners have always worked as a group, knowing spending wars or selfish motives would upset what they have, which is the best ownership situation in pro sports. I cannot imagine them looking forward to outbidding each other without limit and giving all of their profits to the players. It is almost suicidal.
I do not think a brand new union head is a good thing for labor peace. He needs to establish himself and these guys usually think obstinate is better than soft in that regard.

I see a strong possibility that if something isn't done before too long that a lockout in 2011 is realistic and maybe probable.

Please post your opinions on this, whether you are aware of other factors I might be missing. I'd also like to know what everyone thinks: If this did happen, which would essential be the players rejecting a cap and the owners rejecting any uncapped system, who would you hold most to blame, players/union, or owners?

BradyFTW!

Well, it has been underreported that along with the salary cap, the salary floor will go away as well. I wonder who will become the Kansas City Royals of the NFL...

It'll definitely be interesting to see whether players, on the whole, are paid more or less without a cap.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

maverick4

I think there are more than a few owners who would freely spend in order to dramatically increase the chance of a championship. Not just Snyder and Jerry Jones either. I also see it as a way for several quality veteran players to sign with the Patriots in the hopes of getting a ring.

Sean Pa Patriot

a uncapped years is a bad thing. .. sorry to say, they need to work things out.. And if we say go to the super bowl next year, its a bad thing when it comes to fa... Get it done dummies...

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



We going to take it one game at a time

eom

I wouldn't hold anybody to blame -- I think that's pointless.
it's just 2 parties dividing up a ton of money.

but as more of an answer, I think the onus to get something done probably falls on the players.
if they decide to dig in they'd just better be sure it's worth it to them in the long run because the owners aren't going to just get pushed over on this.

also, one thing I'd just like to mention is that while the image of the typical nfl player is some guy pullin' down 10m/year, the reality is the majority of their voting membership are probably 1m and down type guys, so they may have somewhat different issues than the terrel owens of the world.

Fencer

Cincy is an obvious candidate to go cheap.

Motown Tigers? Perhaps.

Weirdo Raiders? Ditto.

Ditto any team whose owner wants to move it.

PatsWickedPissah

I don't do the au currant AIG blame thing, but it's hard for paying fans in this economy to sympathise with near billionaire owners or with multi-millionaire players.

__________________
RIP Vince Flynn. Condolences to family and friends.

BradyFTW!

I also can't help but wonder how veterans and fringe-level players are going to treat the possibility of a work stoppage. Remember, one of the things that we learned from the NBA lockout is that a lot of these players, even the really rich ones, just don't save money. They need that constant paycheck. take the NFL, where careers are shorter, the contracts are smaller, and nothing's guaranteed, and I dunno what the effect will be. If it goes to a work stoppage, though, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the owners will win out. The losers will be the players and the fans.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

spacecrime

Unfathomable to me. Not disputing you, I believe it, but how can someone who has ... what's the NFL average career? 3 years? ... three years to earn a bunch of money before getting dumped back into the real world not bank a good part of that earnings?

What a shock it much be to go from spending thousands a week to looking under the sofa for quarters for gas money.

Joker

listened to this topic being bandied about today on EEI...seems the prevailing perception is that the players stand to lose quite a bit...it is incumbent upon the two parties to come to an agreement before 2011...why risk the unknowable when you have the golden goose right on the table in front of you.