tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

The NFL Remains Closed For Now

Yesterday with much fanfare, every talking head who's job is dependent upon the NFL was trumpeting the end of the lockout when the owners voted 31-0 to approve a collective bargaining agreement with the players. But the players put an end to the party by not taking a vote and in fact some claimed that the owners were trying to pull a fast one. Is it hard to believe that Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder wouldn't try to pull one over on the players??

From what I have been able to find out, the terms of what the owners approved requires that the players recertify the union by July 26th and that the terms and conditions of the old collective bargaining agreement would be in effect. The parties would have until July 30th to agree to any changes. If they cannot come to an agreement, then the terms of the old agreement would remain in effect for the next 10 years. I have been involved in plenty of labor contract negotiations and I cannot imagine a labor union ever agreeing to something like this.

Since the rookie cap, revenue split and retiree benefits supposedly have been agreed to, unless these terms of the old CBA are inconsequential, I find it hard to believe that DeMaurice Smith would agree to only a 4 day period to renegotiate. I have to laugh when I hear people say that the players are greedy. The players have reduced their share of the revenue split. They have agreed to a salary cap for rookies. So who is greedy??

What people need to remember is the NFL is the players. They are the product. People don't go to the games to see Jerry Jones on the sidelines. They go to see Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald. NFL players have the shortest career span of any of the 4 major sports. By the time they hit their late 20's and early 30's many of these guys are done physically. Do they make a good buck?? You bet they do. But, they physically and mentally pay for it.

This deal will ultimately get done. But the owners shameless attempt to embarass and pressure the players is a disgrace. In case they don't realize it, it's the players who are putting people in the seats, getting fans to buy jerseys, caps and hats, and paying for the outlandishly priced NFL Sunday Ticket.