pats1

KontradictioN

This area of the NFL isn't really my area of expertise, but I've gone on record before and I'll do it again: there is NO CHANCE IN HELL that there will be a work stoppage in 2011.

__________________

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


CREDIT - Sicilian

PatsFanSince74

Yeah, it kind of would be the ultimate example of "bite your nose to spite your face," wouldn't it? But people have acted a lot more irrationally before, so I'll wait until the deal is signed before I celebrate.

__________________
It is what it is. It wasn't what it wasn't.

KontradictioN

The deal is probably a good ways off from actually being signed, but this is great news for football in 2011.

__________________

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


CREDIT - Sicilian

spacecrime

Smith should spend more time talking to the owners and less to the media.

If you read the article, no one is trying to finalize anything. He is still demanding the owners open their books before negotiating begins.

I've belonged to several unions, been through two strikes, one with the UAW, and I would not bet on any owner opening thier books to the players. Not just the players, but to ANYONE otgher than the IRS.

This is just yet another stupid ploy on SMith's part. Maybe it will work. Maybe not. But I am sick of him already. Should lock him and Goodell in a room together, then never open it up.

__________________
“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

N.Eman

Glad negotiations heading forward now

__________________

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


PATRIOTS MAGNETIC

BSR

I wish I was as optimistic as you all are. I'm thinking no football in 2011. They are just too far apart right now.

DaBruinz

N.Eman - Negotiations aren't moving forward though. As spacecrime pointed out, the NFLPA wasn't the NFL to open the books for all teams before negotiations begin. You can't have it both ways..

One of the telling things is the mentioning of the Packers books. How, even though revenue when up 12.1 million, player salaries went up 14 million.

And I question the claim that the split was only 52-48 in favor of the NFLPA..

PatsFanSince74

Especially for the Pats. I kind of see a lot of their rebuilding as coming together that year (not that I've given up on great things in 2010). I think a lot of us (myself included) are in denial about the impact of Tommy losing that season as he approaches 35, both for the team and for his own personal record book (would mean that he lost two of his prime seasons, one to injury and the other to a strike).

__________________
It is what it is. It wasn't what it wasn't.

MoLewisrocks

Much of what they say for public consumption is rhetoric. But I thought I sensed a rhetorical shift and softening of DeMaurice's stance when he was interviewed at the rookie symposium the other night and he said he was aware that among players there is no support for a work stoppage...but you still have to try to find a fair settlement...

Based on that I think a settlement or decertification will be the ultimate end game and either way the games go on. And therefore likely under terms that owners largely dictate. I think in the good old days there were fewer constituents in the NFLPA who knew which end was up and they largely bought into union rhetoric. I think today with the proliferation of information available to them via internet players are more likely to dig a little deeper and inclined to insure their half of the golden goose doesn't get cooked. I think the fact that the uncapped season has unfolded to be about as far from the player panacea their union predicted has opened a lot of eyes.