We are starting to see reports that the NFL and the players union are making progress in their negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.
I can only hope this is true.
I keep reminding myself that up until this point, there really haven’t been any surprises in the stalemate. I have to believe both sides knew that in mid-June the process would likely be exactly where it has turned out to be.
The owners knew that Judge Nelson in Minneapolis would probably side with the players. The players union knew that the 8th Circuit would likely be more favorable to the owners.
Now, however, it’s game on.
I hope I’m correct in believing that no one-the league, the owners and the players-want any part of the season impacted by the labor situation. I understand that the labor issues are real and they are critical. The importance of those issues cannot and should not be minimized.
At the same time, the time to get something done without any impact to the season is drawing closer. No, it’s not time to panic. But it is time to get down to serious business.
Thankfully, it appears that both sides are doing that.
It doesn’t surprise me at all that just at the time when the calendar dictates higher stakes, the negotiations seem to kick into a higher gear. The two sides are pretty much at the point that they have to get serious unless they want to risk losing some portion of the season. If that were to happen, we all know the financial price to pay would be astronomical.
Again, I’m only speculating, but I don’t think anyone wants to pay that price.
It is usually a tricky proposition to know exactly what to believe in situations such as these. Both sides are trying to present their positions in as positive a light as possible and both sides are trying to simultaneously justify their positions.
That is all part of the process and to this point, I haven’t become too worked up about the process. What does concern me is the eventual outcome. Like everyone, I am hoping that recent developments point more towards a timely settlement than a fall without football.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is, indeed, the case.
Are you optimistic that the two sides will reach an agreement in time to allow for the entire season to be played? Or are you more pessimistic than that?
Thanks for reading and posting your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: NFL Labor
Can’t believe how you & Woody are always on the same page, bay…..
never seizes to amaze me….lol.
I’ll read something here on the blog that you’ve posted and Woody’s got the same subject going in a few days or within 24 hrs.
Yeah Bay,Miami was the subject on NFL Network last night,when I was watching,those guys agreed that Chad Henne,wasn’t the answer at QB,so I say let Orton go to the highest bidder.Whether it be the Dolphins,Cards,or even the Skins,just as long as we get value outta him,a lot of us want him outta here so Tebow will get his shot,but let’s be realistic,we need to start getting value outta the players we trade.
I agree with starting Tebow and bringing in Delhomme to groom him.
BTW,Kerry Collins said he would come back and play for another year for the Titans to help groom Jake Locker.I think Tebow could learn a lot more from Delhomme than he could from Orton.jomho.
Couldn’t believe how inaccurate and how slow Henne was with his reads. NFL network showed some unfavorable footage of him.
Yeah but I have to agree with them,Miami needs an upgrade at QB,Orton might not be among the top QBs in the NFL,but he would be a huge upgrade from Henne,and Marshall would be reunited with his QB.I’m sure he would be much happier with Orton.
Is/was Brandstater on their practice squad?
I’ve been saying all along Orton would be the starter this season. I don’t know if he can win the big one but he’s better than most of you give him credit for, that’s for sure. Delhomme ?, you’ve got to be kidding me. If you’re going to bring in someone to mentor a young quarterback, bring in someone who really knows how to play the position. Not a bad thought to bring in someone who had similiar attributes when he was younger to mentor Tebow, thought they may not exist. Not too many QB’s have been able to run the ball up the middle like Tebow can.
My opinion is the best move for the Broncos is to start Tebow. Let him run the show,if he doesn’t win we get another year of high draft picks that should put the team back in contention. The fans will be happy with Tebow under center, even if he has a mediocre season. If he wins, we are on our way. I can’t see keeping Orton on to be a mentor, seems there is a lot of friction between the two players. That can’t be the best situation for the Broncos or Tebow. Maybe we get a couple of draft picks for Orton or a quality DT.
If Tebow starts, Orton has to go for simple financial reasons based on the salary cap.
Yeah rbf1, it must be a generation thing, haha, but he obviously loves to read some of our comments as much as I like to read his, heck this is like a gold mine for a sports writer, free info and opinions galore, enough to give them endless material, only wish we could get a piece of the pie, LOL.
Jake Delhomme knows the fundamentals of football,and could mentor Tebow for a year,and wouldn’t cost very much,you have your opinion and I have mine!
And no I’m not kidding,Delhomme hasn’t played up to par the past couple of seasons,but look at his career stats,not shabby!!!
BTW…they don’t want Tebow running up the middle,they want him to be more of a pocket passer.
McCoy, Gase and Elway will help Tebow anyway, there are definitely not going to count on either Orton or Delhomme or any other vet QB to teach him their bad habits, LOL. Money is the only reason we need to go to another vet QB if Tebow starts like I believe he will. And Delhomme has a shoe in the door with Fox here, it’s just a pretty simple deduction…
The amount of greed that fuels the NFL execs and NFLPA execs tells me 2011 could be a lost year for a lot of rookies and veterans. Just sad that fans & players and retirees are the ones to suffer along with the league/stadium employees that are not execs.
I agree on the monies between Tebow and Orton, 18 million between the two. No way Orton stays.
We should be able to get Delhomme for a one to two year deal…. makes sense as far as budget and QB familiar with system.
Charlie Casserly share some information last night on NFL network on the mad scramble that could take place with FA if and when lockout is resolved. Phones will be ringing of the hook with players agents/NFL Teams.
We gotta have a backup Qb tho,Orton’s salary is way too much,Quinn sucks,so Delhomme would be a reasonable backup at a cheap price.
Like Bay,I agree we only need 2 QBs on the roster.God forbid if Tebow got hurt and we had to rely on Quinn to win games…GEEESH!!!!
Don’t say that BFE! It brings back memories of bringing in Simms to win games!
LMAO!!!!
Gotta go pick up a dog,Bronc on guys!
With only two QB`s that gives us an extra roster spot. You gotta like that.
I guessed that we would have a CBA a few weeks after the 8th Circut ruling. But I was just guessing it seemed logical since both sides don’t want to lose profit and Smith wouldn’t be able to win through the courts forcing him to negotiate. But all in all I see Tebow starting next season and Orton playing somewhere else. I don’t mind that though because he was a poor sport when he backed up Tebow last year so I am almost positive we wont miss him.
So I wonder what the rookie salary cap will look like and how it will effect teams like Detroit that had a top 5 pick multiple years in a row?
Mikey I don’t see how it could be retroactive, it will probably apply only to this year’s draftees and forward, not years past. And it’s not a cap, it’s a wage scale, meaning each draftee might be given a limited amount of years on their contracts and signing bonuses might be done away with, both of which will lessen their take but it’s impossible to know for sure exactly what will be done at this point because all of this info we got is just an overall view of a proposal and was very limited as to how they will handle the scale, plus many things could change and many more details will have to be worked out before it is signed.
However the salary cap for teams will be also of interest since the amount will probably change and they want to force teams to spend most of it every year to eliminate so called “cheap” teams so that players get equally compensated no matter what team they are on and the end result will render the league even more evenly competitive.
I’m in favor of the rookie wage scale.
Looks like some of the Broncos have been out at Red Rocks getting in a good workout.
Go Broncos!!
Old news reported last week but good to know they’re still out there as of yesterday.
Brian…you and me too buddy!
No more 50 million dollar contracts for a Rookie flop!
You get it you earn it!
So I guess if Pittsburgh is forced to spend all of their salary cap money,the rest of the NFL better look out,lol.
I was kind of hoping that they would do the rookie scale like they do it in the baseball draft. 1 through 10 or whatever can get up to x amount signing bonus. 11-25 up to x amount 26-75 up to x amount and so on with the scale dropping conmsiderably. I am not sure what the top draft pick gets but a few years ago the #7 draft pick received 2.8 mil signing bonus on his contract, and his 3rd year in the bigs his salary is about 450,000 for the year.
I wonder how many of these “high dollar” players could live there current lifestyles on that kind of money?
I am sorry Brian I Worded that bad, I meant that if a tram were to end up in a couple year slump like Detroit. But you did answer my question thank you. I am also for the wage scale it was just something that came to mind for me. I was thinking of it as a cap, and if that were the case if the Panthers were to end up dead last in the league again would the reach their cap after 2 seasons and have to trade picks the third season. But now I understand it as a scale not a cap.
I guess I’m Brian now, LOL.
Who’s Quinn?
I know they don’t want Tebow running up the middle. My point was a mobile QB like Tebow would be better off with a mobile QB as a mentor. I don’t know how anyone could not consider being able to throw on the run as an asset to be utlilzed. There are too many teams that rush the QB well. It keeps the opposing defense off balance it you can roll out and complete passes on the run. It’s nice also if the QB is a beast like Tebow who can tuck it in if he needs to and get that first down in the 4th quarter to win the game. JMO
Lol sorry Bay I guess i was a little delusional this morning.
I remeber this one guy who was a great mobile QB and could throw on the run quite well. I’m trying to think of his name….oh yeah John Elway. LOL! I can bet you once this CBA thing gets resolved Tebow will be picking Elway’s brain like a zombie!
I think I should take that as a compliment even if it was a simple mistaken identity. Being compared to baylinorcrush….hopefully baylinorcrush doesn’t take it as an insult to him LOL!
There’s a BIG difference in throwing on the run and running up the middle,Elway was the best at throwing on the run,but Steve Young was great running the ball up the gut,but if you remember his career was cut short due to concussions.
I think Tebow should be allowed to use his God given talent of being able to use his legs,that’s what makes him so dangerous,but he needs to learn to throw 1st and run when there’s nothing else available,which includes throwing the ball away when he needs too!
Only way you have a long career in this league is to stay healthy!
Just one man’s opinion that don’t mean a Helluva lot!
Now its 5:00(Beer Thirty)here,and the Beast From the East has a powerful thirst,time to go get an ICE COLD BEER!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
Tebow can start this year if we get some kind of pre-season, we’ll be a running team anyway, the game won’t be all on his shoulders. I’m more worried if Moreno can carry the load. Orton is kind of a salary problem, but he’ll start if the season starts too late. I want Tebow to start simply because it will feel like we are truly moving on, but the likely hood drops every week we don’t have a CBA. Von Miller is likely the only rookie who will start if they can’t get a deal done soon, but either way I want a better season than last.
BFE, well said bro. I couldn`t have said it any better. Good call.
I’ll just mention that John Elway’s most famously talked about play in his career was a run, not a pass. His “I’ll do whatever it takes to win ” attitude made us all fans of his and that is why he is considered by many to be the best QB to ever play the game. If I remember right, he had a pretty long career playing QB in a rough and tumble sort of fashion. Tebow has the same attitude, that’s why we like him.
If money talks, then you’d think they’ll reach an agreement in time, so as NOT to impact the season. As you said, the costs to both sides are astronomical. Last year the NFL raked in $4 billion. That’s some serious money to lose out on. I think they’ll reach an agreement in time, but both sides will have to give something up to make it happen, and for all to benefit.