Fantasyfootballer.com's Gridiron


    
      
        Fantasyfootballer.com's Gridiron
        (https://www.fantasyfootballer.com/cgi-bin/theGridiron/YaBB.cgi)
      

        the Gridiron >> the Sidelines >>  NFL Labor Talks - What the heck is going on?
        
(Message started by: DirkDiggler on Feb 19^th, 2006, 11:21am)

Title: NFL Labor Talks - What the heck is going on?
Post by DirkDiggler on Feb 19^th, 2006, 11:21am

Interesting article from the Washington Post regarding labor talks. The NFL might be in trouble. They are talking delaying free agency until April 1st. If agreement is not reached 2006 free agency will be a nightmare cause the signing bonuses can not be spread out as much. In addition, 2007 would be uncapped year. Then NFLPA will deunionize.

Good summary of what is going on:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/18/AR2006021801300.html

Title: Re: NFL Labor Talks - What the heck is going on?
Post by StegRock on Feb 20^th, 2006, 6:54am

Though this surely looks like a nasty, knotted ball of twine, it is interesting... and promising how the players seem to be genuinely, though perhaps indirectly, interested in maintaining a level economic playing field for the sport by wanting revenue-sharing to be a part of the new deal... Maybe I'm missing the "overtly" selfish motive, but it seems like doing the right thing for the game and the league is at least part of their m.o. Here are a few intriguing quotes from the article along these lines...

"...people on the management side maintain that certain changes that would come with a season without a salary cap -- such as players needing six seasons of experience, instead of four, to be eligible for unrestricted free agency -- might keep it from being the bonanza for players' salaries that Upshaw and the players envision."

"Upshaw said the players will stop participating in a stadium-loan program that they fund in cooperation with the league if there are no ... revenue-sharing deals."

"On the revenue-sharing issue, Quinn said that the union has 'repeatedly made clear that we will not agree to any form of salary cap that does not deal with the 'free-rider effect' which unfairly benefits a handful of high-revenue clubs.'"

I mean... here's the proverbial "bottom line"...

Upshaw says, "They (management) don't believe they're going to have to do this, but that's the only way the low-revenue clubs can afford their commitment to us."

...but still... there's at least a concern for the smaller-market teams, something you definitely do NOT see baseball players even caring an iota about. [smiley=shrug.gif] Then again, maybe I'm just an eternal optimist, always trying to see the good in people... (until they totally let me down).