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All Encompassing Lockout Thread
- Thread starter AcresHomesTexan
- Start date
gary
Hall of Fame
Players' secret lockout insurance could have sparked talks
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../secret-lockout-fund/index.html#ixzz1SBkIrIdV
From the moment he was elected executive director of the NFL Players Association in March 2009, DeMaurice Smith always took the long view when it came to negotiations with the owners on a new collective bargaining agreement. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
It's one of the reasons that slightly more than a year ago he received approval from the executive committee to secure insurance that would pay each player roughly $200,000 if there were no football in 2011.
Smith disclosed the fund to only a handful of people outside of the executive committee. However with negotiations seemingly at a standstill late Wednesday night, the decision was made to play one of their aces in the hole. So in the relative quiet of the sides' New York City bargaining room the next morning, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth informed the owners of the previously secret lockout fund.
Was that the shove in the back that moved the sides closer to a potential agreement? Only the owners know for sure, but a source close to one of them said the disclosure definitely got that side's attention. Perhaps for good reason.
The common perception has been that the players' solidarity would crumble once they started missing paychecks. However the foundation beneath that line of thinking would be as solid as Jell-O if the players could couple the insurance with a large financial award from U.S. District Judge David Doty, who previously ruled the owners had illegally created a $4.3 billion lockout fund for themselves by renegotiating their TV deals at the expense of the players.
"Players Association leadership looked into this as a last possible resort to keep players together in case games would be missed," one players-side source said of the insurance war chest. "It was never intended to be used as a bargaining chip or negotiating point until things became critical."
Thursday was a critical point. If the sides could not advance negotiations then the possibility of hundreds of millions of dollars being lost to canceled preseason games was real. And if the owners allowed the impasse to get that far, what was to stop them testing the players' pain threshold by extending the lockout into the regular season?
The Players Association began informing its membership about the insurance fund over the past week and brought it up in the negotiating room for the first time Thursday. There's no way to know at this time whether it was the final oomph that pushed negotiations onto positive ground, but it's hard to believe it didn't have some impact considering the talks were "not in a good place" the previous night when the sides broke for the day.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../secret-lockout-fund/index.html#ixzz1SBkIrIdV
From the moment he was elected executive director of the NFL Players Association in March 2009, DeMaurice Smith always took the long view when it came to negotiations with the owners on a new collective bargaining agreement. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
It's one of the reasons that slightly more than a year ago he received approval from the executive committee to secure insurance that would pay each player roughly $200,000 if there were no football in 2011.
Smith disclosed the fund to only a handful of people outside of the executive committee. However with negotiations seemingly at a standstill late Wednesday night, the decision was made to play one of their aces in the hole. So in the relative quiet of the sides' New York City bargaining room the next morning, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth informed the owners of the previously secret lockout fund.
Was that the shove in the back that moved the sides closer to a potential agreement? Only the owners know for sure, but a source close to one of them said the disclosure definitely got that side's attention. Perhaps for good reason.
The common perception has been that the players' solidarity would crumble once they started missing paychecks. However the foundation beneath that line of thinking would be as solid as Jell-O if the players could couple the insurance with a large financial award from U.S. District Judge David Doty, who previously ruled the owners had illegally created a $4.3 billion lockout fund for themselves by renegotiating their TV deals at the expense of the players.
"Players Association leadership looked into this as a last possible resort to keep players together in case games would be missed," one players-side source said of the insurance war chest. "It was never intended to be used as a bargaining chip or negotiating point until things became critical."
Thursday was a critical point. If the sides could not advance negotiations then the possibility of hundreds of millions of dollars being lost to canceled preseason games was real. And if the owners allowed the impasse to get that far, what was to stop them testing the players' pain threshold by extending the lockout into the regular season?
The Players Association began informing its membership about the insurance fund over the past week and brought it up in the negotiating room for the first time Thursday. There's no way to know at this time whether it was the final oomph that pushed negotiations onto positive ground, but it's hard to believe it didn't have some impact considering the talks were "not in a good place" the previous night when the sides broke for the day.
GP
Go Texans!
Wow. The players went Don Corleone on the owners.
I have to think this was a big motivator for the owners to concede some things to the players, which probably brought the deal to the point it is today.
Knowing that the players would have $200k to wait out the 2011 season has got to have been a wake-up call--Owners have the possibility of losing their TV money stash, AND they had zero revenue coming in due to canceling the season. Advantage: NFLPA. Game, set, match.
Here we had Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, IIRC, screaming about how they signed a bad deal back then and now the players have to pony up and sign a bad deal themselves...and it looks like the owners, once again, got seriously owned. I know there's no "true winner" here, but if there was one to be decided upon, it seems the players could be called the victor in this saga. LOL.
Playing that 'lock-out insurance' card is brilliant! The players have nothing to lose if pre-season is canceled, but the owners have almost a $ billion on the line. And couple the lock-out insurance with a good chance that the players could win the $4.3 billion tv deal, I think it's obvious that the owners got caught with their pants down.
Well played, DeMaurice Smith, well played.
Well played, DeMaurice Smith, well played.
SheTexan
Hall of Fame
Playing that 'lock-out insurance' card is brilliant! The players have nothing to lose if pre-season is canceled, but the owners have almost a $ billion on the line. And couple the lock-out insurance with a good chance that the players could win the $4.3 billion tv deal, I think it's obvious that the owners got caught with their pants down.
Well played, DeMaurice Smith, well played.
BUT! What about the rookies? Are they covered with this insurance? Since a huge hunk of the BS going on had to do with how much to pay them in the first place, would they still be left out in the cold, with NO big bucks? Just wondering.
Good question! Hopefully the answer does not matter in the long run because they get a deal done.
SheTexan
Hall of Fame
I hope so DB! So tired of this nonsense! Takes the joy out of my fav professional sport. Sure making me think twice about the entire business of pro football! It really SUCKS, on all levels!!
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Don't see how that would be if the policy was signed for 1 year ago.....and it would certainly not cover UDFAs.
GP
Go Texans!
The upside, though, is that this ought to give us a solid 10 years of consistency.
NBA fans are about to understand what NFL fans were going through all through the late winter, spring, and midway through the summer. Sucks to be them.
I live for NFL. Period.
Allstar
Bona fide
mortreport Chris Mortensen
In fact, owners have now abandoned the right of first refusal issue on this year's free agents. They'll have 72-hour period to re-sign
It's looks like smooth sailing now, fellas. Owner's meeting next Thursday is most likely the end of the lockout, if not sooner.
In fact, owners have now abandoned the right of first refusal issue on this year's free agents. They'll have 72-hour period to re-sign
It's looks like smooth sailing now, fellas. Owner's meeting next Thursday is most likely the end of the lockout, if not sooner.
I think a lot of players and teams will take advantage of this and get deals done during this exclusive period. It's going to get real crazy when the flood gates open.
False Start
On # 69
Finally!
Allstar
Bona fide
JasonLaCanfora Jason La Canfora
If "handshake" deal comes by Tues as expected, I hear estimates of 10 days for all procedural matters resolved so that free agency can begin
AlbertBreer Albert Breer
As we reported on Total Access, after two furious days of talk, agreement in principle expected early next week. Nearly nothing in the way.
These reports are from the NFLN guys, who seemed more pessimistic than the ESPN reporters. Breer wouldn't even use the word "close"(as in a deal is close) yesterday.
If "handshake" deal comes by Tues as expected, I hear estimates of 10 days for all procedural matters resolved so that free agency can begin
AlbertBreer Albert Breer
As we reported on Total Access, after two furious days of talk, agreement in principle expected early next week. Nearly nothing in the way.
These reports are from the NFLN guys, who seemed more pessimistic than the ESPN reporters. Breer wouldn't even use the word "close"(as in a deal is close) yesterday.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
Agreed - and hopefully Leach will be one of those re-signed before FA even begins.
OTOH, there will also be a number of vets who are waived in order to free up cap space. Reggie Bush seems to be a prime candidate for this.
I can't remember who was saying it (might have been Schefter), but he calculated that if the average NFL team has 40 players under contract (just an estimate on his part I believe), and the TC roster limit is 90, that means there will be 1600 players signed in a matter of 2-3 weeks.
Allstar
Bona fide
That would be nice, but could never happen. Things change too frequently. New issues will arise. People will always be greedy.
gary
Hall of Fame
I just hope that is good enough for both parties to opt in again once it is up.
Playing that 'lock-out insurance' card is brilliant! The players have nothing to lose if pre-season is canceled, but the owners have almost a $ billion on the line. And couple the lock-out insurance with a good chance that the players could win the $4.3 billion tv deal, I think it's obvious that the owners got caught with their pants down.
Well played, DeMaurice Smith, well played.
Setting it up was brilliant.
Playing the card..... that was gangsta
GP
Go Texans!
You'll be watching. Old habits are hard to break.
I'm reminded of The Godfather, when Clemenza says that every few years there's gotta' be a war among the families...too much bad blood that's gotta' be settled. Then things calm down. Rinse and repeat.
GP
Go Texans!
GP
Go Texans!
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Somehow, I don't see how a 7 to 10 year span difference for the length of the CBA will not potentially be a "sticking" point for the parties. That's a pretty significant difference.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
XI CMURDER IX
Gig 'em
I just read that the new CBA will not have franchise tags. Does that mean unless Peyton is resigned he becomes a free agent? 
gary
Hall of Fame
Really?I just read that the new CBA will not have franchise tags. Does that mean unless Peyton is resigned he becomes a free agent?
GP
Go Texans!
I just read that the new CBA will not have franchise tags. Does that mean unless Peyton is resigned he becomes a free agent?
Link or excerpt from article?
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I just read that the new CBA will not have franchise tags. Does that mean unless Peyton is resigned he becomes a free agent?
I doubt that you will come up with a legitimate link for this happening. The owners would never concede to no franchise tags after conceding to FA term/conditions.
As to your question, the last mention on this question is pretty much answered.....even though it is a 3 week old source........it remains the most reliable.
More NFL CBA Updates: Franchise Tags Will Carry Over, Tenders Meaningless
drs23
Veteran
Playing that 'lock-out insurance' card is brilliant! The players have nothing to lose if pre-season is canceled, but the owners have almost a $ billion on the line. And couple the lock-out insurance with a good chance that the players could win the $4.3 billion tv deal, I think it's obvious that the owners got caught with their pants down.
Well played, DeMaurice Smith, well played.
DB saved me some keystrokes. I was fomulating that post practically verbatim.
Good show DB.
Last edited:
drs23
Veteran
It looks like we'll finally see football after all!
+1
I think I'm getting a little giddy.
Allstar
Bona fide
What harm has really been done? No OTAs? We will have a full pre season and season. Why are you so upset?
XI CMURDER IX
Gig 'em
I was getting first right of refusal tags mixed up with franchise tags. My bad :kubepalm:
Allstar
Bona fide
Albert Breer
Sides have no plans for owners & players to meet again unless necessary. Details expected to be worked out via email, phone, thru lawyers...
Albert Breer
... This, of course, is another good sign of the direction of things. Like I said yesterday, virtually nothing standing in the way now.
Sides have no plans for owners & players to meet again unless necessary. Details expected to be worked out via email, phone, thru lawyers...
Albert Breer
... This, of course, is another good sign of the direction of things. Like I said yesterday, virtually nothing standing in the way now.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Glaringly absent from any reporting is if there will be any increase in roster numbers and active roster numbers........especially for THIS year where there will have been lessened/foreshortened REAL preparation.
How are contract signings going to be handled by player agents, since there has been no mention of setting up these rules for the new CBA? This really has a potential for chaos.
How are contract signings going to be handled by player agents, since there has been no mention of setting up these rules for the new CBA? This really has a potential for chaos.
Yvette
Waterboy
So far it looks like training camp rosters only.
We're gonna suck so bad this year.
EllisUnit
Vote RED!!!
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?????!!
TEXANRED
Texan-American
Yes.
Allstar
Bona fide
mortreport Chris Mortensen
It ain't over til it's over. Filed to ESPN that NFL & NFLPA negotiations necessary Mon and Tues in Wash DC w Judge Boylan.
Main point : NFL/NFLPA need more hard negotiations on unresolved issues when hoping tough stuff was over. Talk location DC or NY conflicted
Regardless of the work left, there is still optimism. And if it gets done, as expected, it will be a 10-year agreement.
It ain't over til it's over. Filed to ESPN that NFL & NFLPA negotiations necessary Mon and Tues in Wash DC w Judge Boylan.
Main point : NFL/NFLPA need more hard negotiations on unresolved issues when hoping tough stuff was over. Talk location DC or NY conflicted
Regardless of the work left, there is still optimism. And if it gets done, as expected, it will be a 10-year agreement.
