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	Topic: Lockout Update: Players Locked Out Again
Russell_108 Admin Membership: Starter Joined: September 04 Total Posts: 15000 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 04/29/11 20:22 The Appeals Court in St. Louis voted 2-1 to grant the NFL and NFL Owners an emergency stay in the lower court ruling of lifting the lockout. For those wondering what that means: the appeals court has re-instated the lockout that was lifted earlier in the week until they make a conclusive ruling on the appeal later next week. If they vote in favor of upholding their temporary decision to stay the injunction and make it permanent until both the owners and players' sides are again argued in the appeals court, it will mean the lockout will last another 6-8 weeks. If they decide to lift the temporary stay and reinstate the ruling by Judge Susan Nelson earlier in the week, it would lift the lockout until the appeals are heard and there will at least be some rules and guidelines in place and allow for more time for both sides to litigate an agreement that ends this whole disturbing, frustrating, ridiculous ordeal. I am well on record as being more sympathetic to the owners side. They only did what the NFLPA would have done if the last CBA deal hadn't been so generous to them: they opted out. Both sides had it written into the last CBA that if after two years, either side wasn't happy with the deal, they could opt out, and the owners saw players salaries expand well beyond what they expected. Now, personally, I don't have a problem with how player salaries have expanded as they deserve to make as much money as a team is willing to pay them (meaning the owners are the ones to blame as they actually agree to paying some players ridiculous amounts of money). There's a salary cap system in place that makes every team spend a minimum amount of about 85% of the max salary cap. The owners have presented proposals that will continue to have the player salaries to keep increasing every year, just not tied directly to a percentage of the revenues generated by the league. So that means the players wouldn't be paid any less than they currently are: they'd still get more money, just not as much more. The installment of a real rookie salary cap would benefit veteran players and owners alike as it could allow the minimum salaries for veterans to increase. By combining these two things, the NFL could use some of the revenue that they aren't all giving in player salaries tied to a certain percentage increase based on revenue each year to improve medical and pension benefits for retired players. After all, this is one area the NFLPA says is an important issue for the next CBA. As is player safety on the field (but I think the players need to recognize they create that problem themselves as it's always one player laying out another with big, vicious, sometimes dirty hits and not an owner chop blocking down on a lineman's knees from behind). Maybe if the NFLPA told the players they need to stop trying to make a Sportscenter moment by delivering the most rocking hit they can deliver but instead learn how to cleanly tackle or at least not launch themselves like missiles so they don't hurt a fellow NFL player. The NFLPA doesn't see it that way though and think the owners need to make better, more protective gear and cut down on the unfair fines levied to players who make these vicious hits. But since their stance has been all along that they are fine with what the last CBA was (weaker benefits, the ridiculous rookie salary structure, the injury issue), they really show their true colors: They want the NFL to take care of all these problems, as long as they don't do it by cutting down on the players revenue share percentage, even if a new system that would still ensure they get paid more money (just a lower percentage of raise than it would be in the last CBA) each season and also allow for these areas of concern to be properly addressed. The players say they're being asked to take a pay cut and that's not true. They're being asked to take lower pay raises each year to help pay for improvements to things the players say they want, but obviously only as long as it doesn't prevent them from making as much money as they can right now. Anyone else find that just a tad hypocritical? Or am I just being unreasonable, misinterpreting the issues, and not understanding how the poor players "just want to play football" (a term that if I hear come from DeMaurice Smith's mouth one more time I may just have to punch my television). ---- On any given Sunday any fantasy team can beat another, only to still lose Monday night.
Jon_115781 Membership: Starter Joined: December 09 Total Posts: 8 Offline	Post Date: 04/29/11 20:57 Russ, I am in agreement. I blame both parties for not getting this thing done. But I blame the players a little more for seemingly wanting to go to court, and fight this with judges and lawyers. I really don't think they had any intention of bargaining. There simply needs to be a resolution, beyond some sham of a union decertification.
Russell_108 Admin Membership: Starter Joined: September 04 Total Posts: 15000 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 04/29/11 21:11 Totally agree. The union decertifying was nothing more than legal wrangling to force the issue into the court system where the players have the much stronger legal position. The NFL previously had agreed to the union's right to decertify at any time and now it is coming back to bite them as it set a precedent they are struggling to overcome now despite their point of the decertification as a sham and that the union is still operating as a union despite it. And once a new CBA is in place, the union will "magically" reappear. It may be obvious, but what is obvious is irrelavent in the court of law. Only thing relavent in the courts is who has the better legal position and the better lawyers. And while the NFL is the NFL and can afford the best lawyers, DeMaurice Smith is one of the best lawyers already when it comes to these types of litigation. That's why the NFLPA named him their Executive Director when Gene Upshaw passed away. They knew that with an upcoming legal battle likely, they needed someone who could be a legal bulldog. ---- On any given Sunday any fantasy team can beat another, only to still lose Monday night.
Throwball Heroes_118522 Moderator Membership: Starter Joined: June 10 Total Posts: 8454 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 04/30/11 05:33 I have no sympathy for EITHER side. All parties involved are to be blamed and yes, there is blame to be had. Player salaries are out of control in my opinion. The league minimum is $320,000, by many of our standards that is a "comforable" salary. Yet owners are willing to shell out MILLIONS to players, the NYG with a $140 million payroll. I can understand players negotiating for the best contract they can and be "secure" in the future. Hell, I am still furious when I think of how much the Raiders (not being a Raider fan) paid in guaranteed money to JaMarcus Russell! Ridiculous! I can understand owners wanting to turn a profit (and win championships), but opting out or not being able to agree outside of our court system is beginning to frustrate me. If this drags on another 6-8 weeks I believe it will get worse before it gets better. I am tired of all the legalese, tired of the courts and the judges and the postering by both sides. Get a deal done! Take your money (and lumps) and let's play some football! ---- Stephen http://www.the6thfloor.com/category/fantasy-football-2/ "Bringing confusion and contradiction to YOUR post!" "RSIIBITSI"
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