For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

Well, I mean the biggest question other than when the season will start.

For me, the biggest unanswered question is roster size manaement for 2011.

IRA and PUP
I don't expect an changes in IR or PUP rules, although that could happen.

Rookie Roster Exemptions
I expect this for at least part of the year, unless there is an increase in the 53 man roster size.

Free Agent Roster Exemptions
How many weeks will a free agent be given before he counts against the roster?

2011 Roster Size
Perhaps there will be a permanent change in the roster size, active roster size and/or Practice Squad size; or not. Even if there is no permanent change, there could be a larger roster size in 2011 only. I expect a larger Practice Squad also to accomodate a couple of more UDFA's who are probably hurt most by the shorter camp time.

BOTTOM LINE
I expect (hope for) an effective roster size of 56 for the 2011 season, plus the IR and PUP lists. I prefer this to long roster exemptions, although that is the other option. In any case, it is clear that many players will not be ready for the season because of the shorter camps. This is true for everyone, but especially rookies and free agents, and most especially undrafted rookie free agents.

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

One more time. What is the league rationale for only dressing less than the 53 on game day? Too much like a girly mon MLB style rule to me. I pay big ticket prices. Why should I see less than a team's best available out there???

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

Great point, and I'd like to see a team be able to protect half of its Practice Squad.

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

I sure hope they just make it an even 60. Considering how many young players every team will suit up, losing all this camp time is gonna KILL the product otherwise. I mean 3 extra players is sure to help. Id just rather see the xtra depth bumped up closer to maybe 7. But then with that, practice squad players might lose PS eligibility, and a host of other issues obviously enter into the equation. Its going to to bumped. It'll be interesting to see to what degree.

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

Rookie wage scale. I want to see what the salary structure will be and its list management implications for veteran FA acquisitions.

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

Teams should be able to remove injured players from their roster and put them on a disabled list ala MLB......instead of having to either IR them or carry them on the gameday inactive.....do away with gameday inactive and have all 53 available to play....:)

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

The league rationale is that, by midseason, there are going to be teams with injured players who simply aren't able to go. By setting the game-day roster at 45 instead of 53, it acts as an "equalizer."

The interesting thing is that BB was asked about this a few years back, and he is actually NOT in favor of expanding the game-day roster.

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

Can they please put in a "Your cheerleaders must be at least as hot as the Chargers cheerleaders" clause for every team?

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

And here's what he had to say about it specifically. Yet, I cant help but wonder if this one single year, he'd ammend his thoughts based on circumstance.


“There is a certain movement out there among different teams and coaches and media, and so forth, about expanding the rosters. They are saying if we have more players [on game day], we’re already paying a certain number of guys, so why not let them all play? But I think the downside of that, the more players you have, the more specialization you have.

“So now you have a kickoff guy, a field-goal guy, a snapper, a punt return guy, a kickoff return guy, a blocking tight end on goal line, a receiving tight end on third down. Then defensively you need all the people to match those, so before you know it, you have a plus-50 punt return guy, then you have a guy on a long field to return punts, you have a lot of ball-handling situations.

“So yeah, you can take the roster to 70 and find a spot for everybody, for that one situation, kind of like in college – you have a field-goal snapper, you have a punt snapper, you get 20 guys to do 20 different things. I’m not sure that is good for the game. … I don’t know if the fans want to see that or don’t want to see that. I think that’s an interesting question. Do they want to see 50 guys out there playing, or do they want to see 30 they know and can keep track of? …

“It’s obviously a longer discussion here, and I didn’t mean to get carried away. I just love to help you guys about [laughter].”

Re: For Me: The Biggest CBA Question Is?
 

Protect them from what? Having a better opportunity to make about 10 times more money with some other team that actually wants them to play in real games?