Tag: 2011 NFL lockout (Page 2 of 16)

Hey NFL, what about your fans?

July 18, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

So the NFL lockout is coming to an end.

Outstanding.

Fantastic.

Hooray.

I’m overjoyed.

Actually, I was overjoyed when I wrote this piece last week. It was about how five months of frustration will vanish as soon as the owners and players agree to a new CBA. Once that puppy has been signed, free agency will begin and all will be right in the NFL world again.

Then I got to thinking: Hey wait a minute, just what did the fans get out of all this?

After months of listening to the owners and players bicker, all fans are left with is football. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice parting gift but we weren’t the ones who were so willing to take it away in the first place. It’s not like the fans went up to the owners and said, “We’re going to suspend football unless you reduce the price of tickets from three vital organs and $10,000 to something a little more cost effective.”

No, we just wanted football to carry on as normal and we were willing to keep spending in a down economy in order to make that happen. So I ask again: What do we get at the end of all this?

The truth is, the fans will once again walk away as losers. Sure, free agency will start again (love that free agency!) and the games will soon follow. But are the owners dropping ticket prices? What about beer or other concession items? Is parking at the stadiums going to be cheaper? I know that some teams were willing to give fans a break on season tickets with the threat of the lockout lasting all year, but what happens when the season goes on as normal? Will the owners give fans a deal just for suffering through months of their greediness?

I love the NFL and I will return. The moment the lockout lifts I’ll be one of the many people pounding the daily rumor mill to see who is signing with whom. But not once did I read about what the league planned to do for us. Granted, maybe teams have something in store for fans that I’m not privy to, but I doubt it. With the league expected to double its profits over the next two years, I highly doubt that anyone is willing to give fans a break. No, the only thing I envision happening when the lockout ends is the league standing there with its hand stretched back out.

I’m not suggesting a mutiny here, but as fans we need to remember who this lockout was all about and it certainly wasn’t us. At the end of the day, the only thing we’re going to receive is the opportunity to continue to line the pockets of those who were at the root of our frustration these past five months.

Hooray.

External Sports, NFL

2011 NFL lockout Anthony Stalter NFL lockout nfl lockout news nfl lockout rumors

Five months of frustration about to vanish with NFL lockout coming to an end

July 15, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

If you were one of the many NFL fans that said you were done watching football because of all the greed that has taken place over the last five months between the players and owners, you can officially stop lying to yourself right now. Because once the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been signed, you know damn well that the first thing you’re going to do is check the rumor mill to see what your favorite team has in store in terms of free agency.

And hey, I’m not judging you. There have been many times over the last couple of months that I wanted to say that I too was done with football. That I wasn’t going to dump a couple of hundred dollars on NFL Sunday Ticket and only further line the pockets of the super-rich. But I would have been lying to myself as well.

According to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, the “economics” of the labor agreement are done and there have been several reports over the last couple of days that state the CBA will be signed anytime between now and Tuesday. Once that happens and the free agent winds start blowing, what happened over these last five months will quickly fade until nobody even remembers how nasty this entire process has been for everyone involved. People may say differently. They may say that they will never forget what has transpired and won’t return. But the truth of the matter is that the NFL is still king. As long as gambling and fantasy football (which might as well be gambling) never ceases to exist, people will continue to watch. It’s the most popular sport in America.

For those few and far between that really won’t come back, I commend you. Instead of spending countless hours this fall watching players and a game that you have zero impact on, you’ll turn a blind eye and do something else. Don’t line anyone’s pockets but your own. I wish I could do the same thing but I’m not as strong as you are. I love the NFL and no matter how much frustration it has caused fans over these last couple of months, I’m going to welcome it back with open arms once the games count in September.

Sure, like a scorned lover I won’t dive back in with two feet. I’ll proceed with caution as if the water is infested with piranha. But over time, I’ll be fully invested again. It’s football after all.

Friday Quick-Hitters:

– Brandon Marshall told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that his wife did not stab him and that he truly did slip on a vase. This is also the same Brandon Marshall who once said he slipped on a McDonald’s wrapper and wound up putting his forearm through a television set. So this is either the unluckiest, goofiest human being on the face of the planet or my man is doing some lying.

– The new salary cap in the NFL will reportedly be $120 million and will also come with a salary floor. Thus, some teams will be forced to spend money on free agents just to qualify for the salary floor. That means you, Malcolm Glazer…

– James Harrison has released a lengthy statement apologizing for his harsh comments on commissioner Roger Goodell and teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall. Of course, the only thing he apologized for in reference to Goodell was his “careless use of a slang word.” Nothing like apologizing without really apologizing, eh James?

– Tom Watson hit a hole-in-one in the second round of the British Open today to give him his 15th ace of his career. I think I speak for all weekend golfers who have never hit one hole-in-one in their lifetime (not to mention 15) when I say: Congrats, Tom…you douche bag.

External Sports, Golf, NFL

2011 NFL lockout Anthony Stalter Brandon Marshall James Harrison NFL lockout nfl lockout ending nfl lockout rumors NFL salary cap Roger Goodell tom watson tom watson hole in one

NFL lockout to be over by July 21?

July 11, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

There is growing belief “inside league circles” that the NFL and NFLPA will have an agreement in place that can be ratified during the July 21 league meetings in Atlanta says ESPN.com.

As one NFL owner said this weekend, there’s “no reason to believe it won’t get done.”
Other people familiar with the talks now think an agreement in principle will be put in place in the next seven to 10 days, a handshake deal that would allow each side to ratify the deal to start the 2011 season.

Of course, as usual, not all of the news is positive.

However, one member of the players’ negotiating team who has been a constant presence at the table said that players feel they have made significant concessions and overtures “that have not been reciprocated.”
He stated that negotiations Wednesday and Thursday will be the most telling days on whether an agreement indeed will be finalized within the July 21 time frame because “we’ve basically reached the limits of compromise.”
The same source added that the players have agreed to cut rookie compensation in half but won’t agree to a deal that does not allow for the rookie class to become free agents at the end of four years.

According to the article, if the deal were to be ratified by July 21, all preseason games would still be played. That said, I can’t envision a scenario in which the Hall of Fame game will still be played on August 7. Teams still have to sign rookies and free agents, get players into camp, and get them into some type of game shape so injuries don’t become a huge problem heading into the regular season. If the league were to keep the preseason games as scheduled, it could open a Pandora’s Box where players are dropping left and right because they’re not in proper game shape. I know a lot of players have been working out this entire time, but they’re still going to need 3-4 weeks to get in football shape. (If not more.)

But in terms of the lockout in general, I won’t get my hopes up until the first free agent is signed. That would signal the official end of the labor dispute. Until then, it seems like the framework of any deal between the players and owners is constructed on top of a deck of cards. The entire thing could come crashing down at any time. Still, the latest reports remain positive and as I wrote earlier this month, I believe a deal will be in place by the end of July.

External Sports, NFL

2011 NFL lockout NFL lockout nfl lockout news nfl lockout rumors nfl lockout updates

Appeals court upholds lockout – will it halt labor progress?

July 8, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out Judge Susan Nelson’s order lifting the NFL lockout, which essentially handed the league and owners a key victory. Will this ruling now affect the recent progress that has been made between the players and owners in terms of the labor negotiations?

This verdict was hardly surprising, although the timing certainly was. It was thought that the court was holding its opinion because negotiations toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement were progressing and the judges did not want to influence the talks. Still, it was assumed weeks ago that the appeals court would throw out Judge Nelson’s ruling, so one would think that talks will continue to progress between the two sides until a deal is in place. After all, if the owners were counting on winning this verdict then they wouldn’t be pushing hard to come to a new CBA agreement like they are now. They would have waited for the ruling before their next move.

Of course, as I’ve written for weeks now, this situation remains fluid and you never know whether or not talks will break down in an instant. But the owners would be smart to keep things moving forward. Not only would they risk a $12 billion judgment from the anti-trust suit that is still in play, but the appeals court ruling also states that rookies and free agents not under contract cannot be locked out. So while the owners could theoretically lock most of the players for an entire season, it’s obviously not in their best interest to do so. What has always been in everyone’s best interest is that a new deal be put in place and the season goes on as normal.

The first preseason game is scheduled for August 7. It’s not imperative that the preseason starts on time, but it would be nice if the players and owners could come to an agreement within these next couple of weeks so that teams can get players in camp. It would be a shame if anything derails the current progress that has been made, especially when there’s still a chance for the season to start on schedule.

External Sports, NFL

2011 NFL lockout nfl appeals court NFL lockout nfl lockout update

NFL News & Notes: Lockout Update, Haynesworth, & MJD’s knee

July 7, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Players and owners in the “red zone” in terms of labor talks?
A league source tells SI.com that the players and owners are “in the red zone” with regard to the labor negotiations. The source says that back in March, “we weren’t in the same stadium.” But now the two sides are apparently inching closer to wrapping up a deal thanks to the momentum that has been created over the last couple of weeks. The two sides will continue talks on Thursday and Friday, with five players and DeMaurice Smith conversing with Roger Goodell and five owners. While these discussions remain fluid, talks continue to progress.

Redskins won’t release Haynesworth
Mike Shanahan and the Redskins appear determined to leave Albert Haynesworth in NFL purgatory. Philadelphia Sports Daily says that the Skins will not release the DT quickly after the lockout and if any team wants him, they’ll have to trade for him. Apparently Washington doesn’t want to give into what Haynesworth wants, which is to be released. I can’t envision a scenario in which Haynesworth is still a Redskin by the start of the season, but you never know. Shanahan has proven time and time again that he can be stubborn.

MJD: The Jaguars are scared of my knee
In an interview with the Florida Times Union, running back Maurice Jones-Drew says that the Jaguars are “already kind of scared of my (surgically repaired) knee” and are “anxious to throw Rashad (Jennings) in” for more carries. As Rotoworld.com points out, Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter insists that there have been no discussions in the offensive staff room over MJD’s knee, although the team’s official website did run a story earlier this week about how the coaching staff wants to get Jennings more involved. Seeing as how the NFL is largely a two-back league now, it wouldn’t be surprising if Jennings did get more touches next year – regardless of whether or not there is concern about MJD’s knee.

Asomugha to receive $19 million a year?
NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora seems to think that free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha could receive a contact that approaches $19 million a year. If so, it would make Asomugha the highest paid player in NFL history. La Canfora believes that the Bucs could be serious bidders for the cornerback, which makes sense given Aqib Talib’s legal troubles. The Texans are also reportedly interested in Asomugha, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lions also got in the mix once the lockout lifts. The Eagles, Ravens and Jets have also been mentioned as possible suitors.

News, NFL

2011 NFL lockout Albert Haynesworth Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew NFL lockout Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha rumors rashad jennings Washington Redskins

Tag: 2011 NFL lockout (Page 2 of 16)

Hey NFL, what about your fans?

Five months of frustration about to vanish with NFL lockout coming to an end

NFL lockout to be over by July 21?

Appeals court upholds lockout – will it halt labor progress?

NFL News & Notes: Lockout Update, Haynesworth, & MJD’s knee

FOLLOW US!

CATEGORIES

Pages