CBA - not looking good - New England Patriots Forums

DefenseRules · 02-24-2006, 09:28 AM

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9261946
Lights fading on labor talks as deadline nears
By Adam Schefter
Special to NFL.com

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 23, 2006) -- Amidst the buzz surrounding football's top prospects is the buzz kill of what is transpiring in the current labor talks.

Little progress, little hope -- big problem.

NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw informed a group of 10 agents on Wednesday -- just as he is scheduled to address all agents Friday morning -- that he currently has no reason to be encouraged.

And then, after his Friday meeting, Upshaw is scheduled to leave Indianapolis, with no new Collective Bargaining Agreement deal in sight. NFL officials, who are no more optimistic than Upshaw, then would also leave Indianapolis, dealing a blow to any of the sides' remaining hopes.

The union has a soft deadline of Friday for a new deal, a hard deadline of next Thursday, before Upshaw insists there will be uncapped year in 2007. And then, potentially, a strike in 2008 -- a scenario nobody wants.

With little progress made in labor talks, Gene Upshaw foresees an uncapped year in 2007.
The 10 agents Upshaw spoke with Wednesday were Tony Agnone, Mark Bartelstein, Ralph Cindrich, Ian Greengross, Van McElroy, Paul Sheehy, Fletcher Smith, Jim Steiner, Mike Sullivan, and Angelo Wright. Their tones were far more somber than upbeat.

Meanwhile, each team trying to get under the salary cap or plot its offseason moves is waiting to see whether or not there will be a new CBA. At this point, it looks as if the teams can proceed as if there will not be one, which could be devastating to some.

The teams that will have the most restructuring and slashing to do by next Thursday are the Oakland Raiders ($31 million over the cap, as of Wednesday); the Kansas City Chiefs ($24 million over the cap); the Washington Redskins ($23 million over the cap); the Denver Broncos ($22 million over). And as of Wednesday, before they restructured running back Curtis Martin's contract and released some veterans, the Jets were $25 million over, a figure that is now considerably reduced.

Teams with the most space under the salary cap include the Arizona Cardinals ($23 million), the Minnesota Vikings ($21 million under), the Green Bay Packers ($19 million under), the Cleveland Browns ($18 million under) and the San Diego Chargers ($17 million under).

Teams over the cap this offseason are going to be squeezed without a new CBA. Teams under the cap this offseason are going to have a huge advantage over the other teams. Never will being under the cap mean more than it will this offseason.

***T-ShirtDynasty*** · 02-24-2006, 09:32 AM

This sucks.

Pats726 · 02-24-2006, 09:49 AM

Upshaw wants that pessimism out there...thinks it is to HIS advantage..players need to light a fire under his ***** to get this done..Me thinks the deal is closer than one thinks...IT is also interesting that 10 agents are there with the union..look who is controlling things?? WHy is it that rookies who have DONE nothing get these BIG contracts?? Does anyone think these agents have more influence than the players??

Willie55 · 02-24-2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pats726

Upshaw wants that pessimism out there...thinks it is to HIS advantage..players need to light a fire under his ***** to get this done..Me thinks the deal is closer than one thinks...IT is also interesting that 10 agents are there with the union..look who is controlling things?? WHy is it that rookies who have DONE nothing get these BIG contracts?? Does anyone think these agents have more influence than the players??

Man I hope you're right.

***pats1*** · 02-24-2006, 10:31 AM

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

Quote:

NFL | Upshaw tells agents to be ready for an uncapped 2007 season
Fri, 24 Feb 2006 08:19:59 -0800

ESPN.com's John Clayton reports NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw told a seminar of agents Friday morning, Feb. 24, to prepare for a 2006 season without a collective bargaining extension, setting up an uncapped year in 2007. "March 3 will be the beginning of a new league year and we are just not there yet," Upshaw said. "I'm taking the position now that it won't get done." Three major issues were cited by Upshaw as the reason for no collective bargaining agreement extension. 1) Neither side can agree on the percentage of total revenues that will go to the players. 2) The NFLPA won't agree to any type of CBA extension that doesn't have a new revenue sharing plan in the future. 3) Upshaw's third difference is the league's "G-3" program in which money is loaned to teams by the league to finance new stadium construction.

Pats726 · 02-24-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pats1

http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

What is Upshaw's take on the G-3 program??? And what arew the "players" interest in this?? I really wonder why they even have any??

Willie55 · 02-25-2006, 07:14 AM

Quote:

UPSHAW FAKING IT?

There's a theory making the rounds in media circles that NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw is spewing doom-and-gloom rhetoric regarding the status of the CBA negotiations as the result of a plan by Upshaw and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to get the owners to reach an agreement regarding the issue of expanded revenue sharing.

On Friday, Upshaw was extremely pessimistic during a meeting with agents regarding the prospects of getting a new deal done.

The fact that the media was invited to the portion of the agent seminar in Indianapolis during which Upshaw spoke has strengthened for some the notion that it's all a ruse aimed at prodding the owners to get their house in order ASAFP.

An industry source opined to us on Friday that, despite the "sky is falling" routine, a deal could be worked by the time the owners meet in Dallas on March 7. This would mesh with things we've been hearing for the past couple weeks regarding progress at the bargaining table.

So perhaps things are moving in the right direction -- and perhaps all that's needed now is a spark from the owners to extend 12 years of labor peace.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm