Is an NFL lockout Possible

[BenchFiedler]

-First of all, I believe the NFL needs to do some major changes in players' contract, free agency, and rookie bonues. Otherwise, a major lockout is not too far away.

-I don't think it makes any sense whatsoever for a rookie who has not proven "jack s%*t" like Alex Smith to get a signing bonus of more than 20 million. What is the NFL turning into.

-What is really pisssing me off are those players holding out who want more money after they allready signed a written contract, and by law could be taken to court for breach of contract.
It's like a domino effect, look at Hines Ward who suddenly is not happy and wants more millions.
-The game is not be the same anymore and these players are ruining the fun. Players healthy as a pill of viagra are not showing in camp just because they need more millions.

Just imagine next year, what would be Matt Leinhart's signing bonus? At this rate in 10 years, an unproven rookie could get up to 100 million in bonuses without playing a down...(Kellen Winslow is a millionaire without playing a down)

 

[FinsAreLife]

-First of all, I believe the NFL needs to do some major changes in players' contract, free agency, and rookie bonues. Otherwise, a major lockout is not too far away.

-I don't think it makes any sense whatsoever for a rookie who has not proven "jack s%*t" like Alex Smith to get a signing bonus of more than 20 million. What is the NFL turning into.

-What is really pisssing me off are those players holding out who want more money after they allready signed a written contract, and by law could be taken to court for breach of contract.
It's like a domino effect, look at Hines Ward who suddenly is not happy and wants more millions.
-The game is not be the same anymore and these players are ruining the fun. Players healthy as a pill of viagra are not showing in camp just because they need more millions.

Just imagine next year, what would be Matt Leinhart's signing bonus? At this rate in 10 years, an unproven rookie could get up to 100 million in bonuses without playing a down...(Kellen Winslow is a millionaire without playing a down)

look man, that is one minor problem.....the NFL is the best running league currently, we are far from a lockout, and a lockout wont be caused due to rookie signings, they even had an article/cartoon in sports illustrated awile ago that had all the other league commishes and their head of player associations fighting and the NFL commish and head of player associations were working together, were in good shape, no lock out for awile i believe

 

[FinInYpsi]

Well, technically K2 got hurt in his 2nd game.. but I got what you meant.

I do think it is absolutely rediculous what they get, and I was actually thinking the same thing when Alex Smith got his contract. I would not be surprised to see something keeping this in check developed within the next 5 years.

 

[FinsAreLife]

i mean they'll come to conclussion about it but there wont be a lockout

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

actually if there is a holdout it will be an owner versus owner type of thing.

The veterans have to come together to take standard rookie contracts. Basically the money spent on rookies is going to be spent. It is just the idea of giving it to the right people. The people who earned it.

 

[rookieholdout]

-I don't think it makes any sense whatsoever for a rookie who has not proven "jack s%*t" like Alex Smith to get a signing bonus of more than 20 million. What is the NFL turning into.

I know what you mean, they should adopt more of an NBA style contract for rookies, where they dont get jack sh*t for their first contract.

 

[FinsAreLife]

I know what you mean, they should adopt more of an NBA style contract for rookies, where they dont get jack sh*t for their first contract.

i do agree with that, i just dont think a lockout will happen over this one thing, they will come to an agree meant in 2-3 years like the NBA just did

 

[CitizenSnips]

wow. chill. People think to much. Just because ronnie browns not signed yet, people are calling for the apocalypse.

 

[FinsAreLife]

wow. chill. People think to much. Just because ronnie browns not signed yet, people are calling for the apocalypse.

yeah i know

 

[rookieholdout]

You know, if we wouldnt have sucked last year this wouldnt be happening. I think we just need to win the superbowl to avoid these big first round rookie contracts... but then again thats just me.

 

[Surferosa]

Theres a VERY good chance of a lockout/strike, but not because of rookie salaries (like the Ronnie Brown saga). The two most contentious issues in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires in 2007, are:

1. Players contracts are not guaranteed
2. Revenue sharing

NFL players are the only athletes in the big 4 team sports (big 3?) that are not given guaranteed contracts. Given the length of the typical NFL career (~3 years?), this is something that is bound to change eventually, even if it rocks the competitive balance of the league. Billy Hunter (Lead Rep for the NFL Players Association) helped deisgn the current CBA with Pete Rozelle and Tagliube, so I dont think hes going to demand major changes to the current model. However, whoever succeeds him as President of the NFLPA will SURELY fight for guaranteed contracts. At the moment, there is no new agreed-upon CBA after 2007. That scares the crap out of me.

As for the second issue, Revenue sharing (TV and ticket sales) has been THE staple of NFL for almost 50 years. More than anything else, its the singular reason the league is ALWAYS competitve. However, there are many revenue-related issues (such as stadium naming rights) that have yet to be sorted out between the owners and the league.

Were bound to hear more about these two issues over the next year.

 

[rookieholdout]

And to answer the topic at hand, I dont think an NFL lockout is possible because i really think the whole world would go into a state of complete chaos... I dont think people could go one whole year w/o football, its just not possible.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

Theres a VERY good chance of a lockout/strike, but not because of rookie salaries (like the Ronnie Brown saga). The two most contentious issues in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, which expires in 2007, are:

1. Players contracts are not guaranteed
2. Revenue sharing

NFL players are the only athletes in the big 4 team sports (big 3?) that are not given guaranteed contracts. Given the length of the typical NFL career (~3 years?), this is something that is bound to change eventually, even if it rocks the competitive balance of the league. Billy Hunter (Lead Rep for the NFL Players Association) helped deisgn the current CBA with Pete Rozelle and Tagliube, so I dont think hes going to demand major changes to the current model. However, whoever succeeds him as President of the NFLPA will SURELY fight for guaranteed contracts. At the moment, there is no new agreed-upon CBA after 2007. That scares the crap out of me.

As for the second issue, Revenue sharing (TV and ticket sales) has been THE staple of NFL for almost 50 years. More than anything else, its the singular reason the league is ALWAYS competitve. However, there are many revenue-related issues (such as stadium naming rights) that have yet to be sorted out between the owners and the league.

Were bound to hear more about these two issues over the next year.

I highly doubt there iwll ever be guaranteed contracts in the NFL. That would kill the NFL.

 

[BenchFiedler]

wow. chill. People think to much. Just because ronnie browns not signed yet, people are calling for the apocalypse.

My thread was not intended for Ronnie Brown, but to all the ridiculous high contracts to unproven rookies and veteran players wanting more millions.

 

[Surferosa]

I highly doubt there iwll ever be guaranteed contracts in the NFL. That would kill the NFL.

I agree it would kill the NFL. It scares the crap out of me.

If you look deeper into the whole Terrell Owens saga, his entire argument is based on the lack of guaranteed contracts in the NFL. And as despicable and deplorable as he is to ask for more money (I hate that guy), he makes a semi-valid point. The Eagles have no absolutelyt ZERO intent of honoring the final backloaded years of his 7 year, $50 million contract. Moreover, if he begins to play poorly, and no longer warrants the contract he signed, they will either cut him outright or ask him to take a pay cut. Given that precedent, why shouldnt he (or any player for that matter) be allowed to renegotiate his deal after a GOOD season?

Trust me, I hate this guy more than anyone, but he is making an argument that the NFLPA will surely reitterate the next time they return to the negotation table with the League. Guaranteed contracts will change the landscape of the league and Free Agency, and that would be a terrible shame given the current level of compeition in the sport. I just dont know how much longer NFL players will agree to play without guarnteed deals - knowing full well that their bretheren in MLB and NBA are making a cool $8-10 mil a year whether they play or not.