Regardless of the specifics, the owners have handled this brilliantly. Ask for a bigger piece of the pie, lock out the players, take a vote to save the season at the 11th hour and if they don't take it, then say "Hey, we tried .."
History has shown us when there's a labor dispute between players and owners, the players usually bear the majority of the blame because of their visibility. Every NFL fan knows who the Colts' quarterback is. You have to really follow the sport to know who the Colts' owner is. As far as the public is concerned, they're all rich guys. It doesn't matter there are subsets of rich guys, very rich guys, and obscenely rich guys.
From my standpoint, I'm still hoping the season gets scrapped. Every game the Raiders don't play is one they don't lose.

Max wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

Regardless of the specifics, the owners have handled this brilliantly.

And I think that was Burwell's point, and I credit him for taking a risk and standing up for what he felt was right, even though it might prove to be unpopular.

There hasn't been a lot of blowback to the owners because no games have been canceled yet and most people haven't bothered to read enough about it to know this thing was initiated by the owners.
Where the NFLPA has erred is in the assumption football can come up with the same type of labor agreement as the MLBPA. That ship left the dock forever when guys like Joe Montana, Randy White, Steve Largent and Doug Flutie crossed the picket line in '87.

Other then Burwell mentioning the Owners came up with an 11th hour proposal to put in front of the players, I don't see how they pulled a fast one.

It's a deal that the owners ratified in preparation of a player's acceptance. If it's accepted, awesome, and if not, well we'll see. Is Burwell suggesting that the owners shouldn't have offered a solutation to the lockout though? That's where the reading is bad. He's calling it "pulling a fast one" and I'm calling it "attempting to end this lockout before the entire customer base gets screwed over".

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the points about mumbo jumbo, I have no idea. I heard the owners say it included everything that was discussed, covered, and agreed to. I heard the players say they need time to read it. Neither of those statements make me feel like the owners are hustling into CMA mode.

tkihshbt wrote:

The players need to "review" the CBA until about mid-August. That way we can skip over most of the completely meaningless preseason games.

Good point. I'm sure these guys aren't excited about two-a-days in 100-degree heat.

artie_fufkin wrote:

I don't know how the fan base has gotten screwed over, Alz.

I didn't say that they did. I said "before they did". I consider losing games or a season to fall under "NFL fans getting screwed over".

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

alz wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

I don't know how the fan base has gotten screwed over, Alz.

I didn't say that they did. I said "before they did". I consider losing games or a season to fall under "NFL fans getting screwed over".

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Apologies I mis-read your post.

forsberg_us wrote:

"Alz. I presume the owners would have to refund, with interest, the price of tickets for any games that aren't played."

I can't speak for fans of other teams, but I wouldn't be getting a refund.  The Rams didn't require season ticket holders to buy season tickets until the lockout was resolved.

I thought the Giants were the only team that didn't make their season tickets holders pony up. But I might have heard that on ESPN, which doesn't really recognize the Rams exist.
The lockout is over ... and it took 90 seconds for the first Brett Favre comeback rumor to be floated. Unbelievable.

alz wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

"Alz. I presume the owners would have to refund, with interest, the price of tickets for any games that aren't played."

I can't speak for fans of other teams, but I wouldn't be getting a refund.  The Rams didn't require season ticket holders to buy season tickets until the lockout was resolved.

I thought the Giants were the only team that didn't make their season tickets holders pony up. But I might have heard that on ESPN, which doesn't really recognize the Rams exist.
The lockout is over ... and it took 90 seconds for the first Brett Favre comeback rumor to be floated. Unbelievable.

For all that is holy, please let the man just stay retired. I'm really tired of Brett Favre.

I hope he comes back.  It will be nice to see the circus move to Philly. 

The Vikings will suck no matter who their QB is.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"For all that is holy, please let the man just stay retired. I'm really tired of Brett Favre."

Judging by the reaction I heard this morning on the radio, the entire football world is Favred out.

That is why I want him back.  As punishment for being such a pest the dead horse needs beat.

"Jay Glazer reported the Vikings have agreed to send a 2012 sixth-round pick and a 2013 conditional sixth-round selection to the Redskins for McNabb."

Wow. That's pretty much giving him away.

APRTW wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

"Jay Glazer reported the Vikings have agreed to send a 2012 sixth-round pick and a 2013 conditional sixth-round selection to the Redskins for McNabb."

Wow. That's pretty much giving him away.

That is what I thought.  McNabb is a pretty good QB.  He might be able to settle in away from the big media teams.  I thought it interesting that they resigned Jackson.  If this trade goes down they have McNabb, Jackson and Webb.  I was excited to see what Webb can do.  I hope they find a place on the field for him.

I thought the Seahags are going to sign Jackson?