NFLPA* Agrees To Meet To Discuss Options Further

by Christopher Gates on Jul 22, 2011 4:30 PM CDT in NFL

That's the good news.

The bad news is that, according to ESPN, they won't be doing so until Monday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter got his hands on a copy of the letter that the NFLPA* sent to the players concerning the matter. It reads as follows:

"Guys, To keep you abreast of the latest developments, we are reviewing the latest proposal for a settlement. Because of the passing of Myra Kraft in Boston, the NFLPA will not be making any public statements in honor of the Kraft family. Our recommendation is for everyone to stay put and keep doing what you are doing where you are doing it. We will meet again on Monday to discuss our options and the direction we want to go. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks for your patience. Your Player Reps."

Hard to get too bent out of shape at either side for this, given the circumstances.

So, it doesn't look like we should expect too much movement during the weekend on the lockout front. We don't know that for sure or anything, mind you, but that's what it looks like as of now.

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I wish I had a nickel for everytime I left work on a Friday reading a report like this

I’d have like a whole dollar probably.

Skol!

by DM_Purp on Jul 22, 2011 4:47 PM CDT reply actions

hear that which is why I called it an echo the first time they talked about it... :p

Childress gone, TJack gone, new stadium on the way: it's like that Christmas when Santa brought prostitutes!

by Grime on Jul 23, 2011 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions

what circumstances?

some owners wife passes away and the whole league is put on hold? i guarantee maybe 2% has even met this lady. The pats even voted for the new CBA, so whats the hold up? This is simply a way for the players to delay their vote…BS

by redhearring on Jul 22, 2011 4:49 PM CDT reply actions

They said due to the passing they won't make a public statement which could easily translate into pointing the finger at Kraft and the other owners to add some small details never discussed and try to sign and say our portion is done.

After hearing Goodell and the way he basically came to the podium and acted as if it was a mutual deal, the hesitation on the NFLPA’s part is expected, at least by me.

There is no method to the madness of my MOJO!!!

by rlott#42 on Jul 22, 2011 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

hopefully by Wednesday...

or else I lose my one chance to see the Vikings play live when they visit Nashville for the first pre-season game. :(

by Odin'sDrunkenSon on Jul 22, 2011 6:08 PM CDT reply actions

Look at it this way.

If you were in labor negotiations, and your employer went public with a statement that said, “The deal is done and we’ve ratified it.” But you hadn’t seen the version of the deal they’d ‘ratified’, would YOU be irate?

I know I would.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 22, 2011 7:05 PM CDT reply actions

I would certainly be one of the 1900 that reacted negatively(ah shit, here we go again-type moment)

But it sounds like overall the deal isn’t too bad. The players will request to change a couple things, but hopefully it’s not enough to have the owners disagree too heavily. I think the owners see that they’ve been outed as far as the huge PR-move they made so I think the owners want it done and done now.

Skol!

by DM_Purp on Jul 23, 2011 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't sound like an agreement anytime soon....

From Y!Sports…

“In any case, here’s what actually has to happen before a new CBA can be ratified and a new league year can begin. First, all the final deal points and language must be agreed to by the NFLPA board members (player reps), and then, there has to be a vote to recommend the agreement to the Brady plaintiffs. If the Brady plaintiffs approve the settlement, and the court of Judge Susan Richard Nelson approves it as well, the process of recertification must then begin.

First, the board members have to agree to re-form as a union — that’s the easy part, though there are some players who would prefer to leave the antitrust avenues open as a trade organization. Then, the legal process of recertification must begin; a process that involves several federal entities. And finally, a 51 percent majority of the players must vote via paper union cards to recertify. The players would like to do this at their team facilities, but that’s still being worked out.

And THEN (yes, God help us, there’s more…), the union can negotiate the things that only a union can — various grievances, benefits, rules regarding discipline, drug policy and drug testing. This could get complicated in that the players want a voice from their side when player discipline is brought down, as opposed to the unilateral nature of rulings that has marked the Roger Goodell era.

It’s only after all that happens that the players, as a union, can actually vote to approve an agreement that is fully representative and collectively bargained. A lot of these steps can take place very quickly, and they might not hold up the process too much, but it’s important to realize that the “on/off switch” nature of the remaining negotiations that the owners have portrayed are not accurate. Simply green-lighting what the owners have already proposed isn’t going to happen — and from a legal perspective, it can’t.

That’s not the news anyone wants to hear; we’re all tired of this marathon, and we’re all worried about losing entire preseason weeks. But it’s better to know now that the homestretch isn’t the cake-walk some seem to think it is."

by jcase0 on Jul 22, 2011 7:30 PM CDT reply actions

This is all true

But the Trade Association can agree in principle, and then football business can be restarted, pending finalization of the details.

The matters that are Owner/Union would remain under the “old” system until they were renegotiated. But that wouldn’t stop free agency and football business.

It would mean all ‘final’ versions of the the FA contracts and such in that time would be ‘pending’ the agreement. But that doesn’t stop them from doing everything but rubber-stamp them.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 22, 2011 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't understand why the players got pissy

We have known for at least two weeks that the owners were going to meet in Atlanta on Thursday and if there was an agreement they would vote. Well that happened and now D Smith and the players are acting like this is some great conspiracy and are trying to force their hand. Hey grow a set and tell the owners thanks and as soon as we get a chance to read and understand it we will vote. You don’t have to act like a what was that word Kluwe used oh I remember a douchebag.

I am getting so tired of everyone from politics to sports to society in general taking everything so personally. Even if they are trying to pull something, kill them with kindness. We don’t have to act Joe Thug and escalate every conversation or negotiation to kill or be killed. Chill out people, disarm them with courtesy and hey I bet we can get this done and not miss any real games (sorry I don’t consider pre-season real games)

Peace out

by SouthernNorseman on Jul 23, 2011 10:00 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Again

Put yourself in the place of an employee in a labor dispute with YOUR employer. Imagine they did this in a public statement to YOU and told you to get back to work without having a chance to LOOK at the agreement.

Would you be upset? I know I would. This is their livelihood. They have the right to accept a proper chance to review what they sign.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 23, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe I missed something

I did not read or listen to all of Goodell’s press releases. What I did gather was we passed it and now it is your turn. And oh BTW we would like it sooner rather than later. The only deadline I heard was next Wed and I am not sure that I am correct about that.

My main point was that instead of being all pissy in the press and twitter all they needed to say is we are going to review, discuss and vote. Give an ETA and then shut up.

by SouthernNorseman on Jul 23, 2011 12:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

They passed it with provisions not in the last negotiated session

Then they held a massive PR campaign and said, “WE are ready for business. YOU need to get to work.” That is not negotiating in good faith. That is not honest and above board. That is dirty pool, and a naked power play.

It’s a 10 year deal. And the players had not SEEN it in print yet. I think they can forgiven for saying “Can we read it, please?” It’s only their livelihood at stake.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 23, 2011 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Valid points

However…

And the players had not SEEN it in print yet. I think they can forgiven for saying "Can we read it, please?" It’s only their livelihood at stake.

having not seen it did not prevent many from hysterically “reacting to it” in a manner that is reminiscent of spoiled children. Full disclosure, I have been on the owner’s side from the onset. This only makes the players look even more unsympathetic and stupid.

To this moment, I have no idea what was “thrown in” that was so unpalatable to the players.

by Murgo on Jul 23, 2011 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

An entire supplementary revenue sharing system.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 24, 2011 7:31 AM CDT up reply actions

But wasn't that strictly between teams and nothing to do with the players?

by Murgo on Jul 24, 2011 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Would they have known that before SEEING it?

It certainly ‘could’ have contained further details affecting the players. Like additional money taken off the top, for instance.

Trumpeting “we’re ready” when they ran stuff through before being read was bad form.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 25, 2011 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions

What we know is this...

The players have the football now. Are they going to run out the clock or play ball and get into the endzone?

Thursday night, figuratively speaking, delay of game with official CBA document. 5yd penalty assigned, Resume play of 1st down.
Friday, first down was played. A rushing play with no gain for an off day of silence and remembering someone of significance in the football family.
Saturday, second down is in play. It’s a short yardage pass via phone conversations and what not. Nothing worth spilling your beer for.

What’s in store on Sunday for 3rd down? Monday for 4th down?

There’s a process to get things back in order and move the chains on Tuesday. Preferably NFL and owners desire an union established to work out issues that can truly be COLLECTIVELY BARGAINED for everyone. They gave a date of Tuesday and how things would be on track. This is Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues or 4-5 days to Ponder, figure out how to get out of this Webb, and get the latest weather report from Kluwe.

NFLPA has some serious stuff to go through. Like any bill passed through Congress, there’s good stuff and some stuff that isn’t really necessary but it gets the votes to pass. Does the CBA draft offer enough to get the votes or 17 or more player reps to go along with it? Does it have enough to cause the Brady & Manning lawsuit to stand down? There’s no perfect situation. It is at least better than the 2006 CBA terms.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER is PLAYERS have a lot more to lose if they fall back to 2006 terms instead of the hard work crafted in the latest CBA.

Do you take the red pill or blue pill? Or do you put up a fight for some real bitter medicine and be worse off than the options available now? Losing out on potentially $200 million in revenue to be shared with each preseason weekend game will definitely create some hard feelings when all of it was preventable. Players might see a little pain now is worth it for a 10 year deal. It’s not worth it in my opinion.

Move the chains. The ball is in the NFLPA’s side. Time is running out for setting the stage for a regular season. In case you didn’t know, it’s the NFL and owners who have set the stage for them to perform on. Give the fans a reason to show up by going about it in a positive and excited manner without burning bridges and making a mess of the most important month in the history of football (now and the first game in Sept.).

Side note: If things move forward to establishing labor peace – all players should all be united, bite their tounges, and stand down on their anti-nfl or anti-owner or anti-union or anti-cba tweets once the process gets moving forward. If owners can all get along, so can the players. Very simple. No further need for Harrison-style potshots or name calling and recognition of the newest and latest douchebag. Fans want some football action. Easy as 1 – 2 – 3 !

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jul 23, 2011 2:23 PM CDT reply actions

I don't know how the players have more to lose at all.

Wiping out the preseason is a comparatively negligible hit to the players, as opposed to the Owners. And most fans (myself included) couldn’t care less about the loss. It’s not until regular season games are hit that fans will really care.

The players were not the ones who opted out and created an artificial crisis. The players weren’t the ones who ‘passed’ a deal that wasn’t agreed on and then plastered an artificial deadline.

The owners have negotiated in poor faith at best, in utter duplicity at worst. Would you take them at their word?

And saying the Owners “set the stage” is rather dubious. Tags and Upshaw created a system that turned the League into the most profitable sporting entity, one that benefited from the players being included in the profitability of the League. Mike Brown and the senility that is Al Davis had nothing to do with ‘setting the stage’ for them. No one goes to the Stadium to watch an owner.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 23, 2011 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Sunday progress... 3rd down complete, and inches to go

Monday appears to be a 4th down play into the endzone based on the latest reports.

Everyone wants a season to play. That’s the best thing to come out of it.

Not sure I can say the same about the NBA when so many players are considering playing overseas. I’ll take football over basketball any day.

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jul 24, 2011 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree the NBA is going to wash a significant portion of the season.

The difference is, the NBA regular season does lose money for many teams.

The other difference is, I’d rather watch College buckets than the NBA anyway.

by Shawn Gillogly on Jul 25, 2011 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

It's a touchdown!

Called it perfectly!! Everyone’s moving forward on the same page.
Unanimous both on owners 31-0 and players 32-0.

Now if we can all get along in politics on the debt issue. That is a separate matter and doesn’t belong here. In the grand scheme of things, when trillions are discussed… it makes the price of football look like a bargain at 9-10 billion.

DeMaurice & Roger – I have a feeling you both may be getting a call from Obama and the White House simply because they can learn a few things from your process and how everyone can get on the same page.

(~~no more politics~~ – It’s time for FOOTBALL )

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jul 25, 2011 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions