DeMaurice Smith: 'lockout is coming in March'

[falcon057]

DeMaurice Smith: 'lockout is coming in March'

Posted on: September 8, 2010 1:07 pm

Edited on: September 8, 2010 4:22 pm

Posted by Will Brinson

Of all the frustrating offseason storylines , there's one that's perhaps most annoying: the impending NFL lockout in 2011. DeMaurice Smith, the union leader for the NFLPA, confirmed his belief on Wednesday that he think a lockout is coming.

“I still feel that a lockout is coming in March,” Smith told Bloomberg Sports .

Smith's biggest point of contention is the NFL refusing to actually provide financial information relating to their claim that they're not pulling in enough cash. (Enough here, of course, is relative.)

“If this model is not working, i.e. teams are losing money, then we’re willing to see the evidence of that and make the changes,” Smith said. “But prove it. If not, what’s the justification for getting a billion back from us?”

Smith, along with most players, doesn't care for the also-impending possibility of an 18-game season.

“We don’t look at two extra games as being divorced from the health, medical and safety standpoint,” Smith said. “It’s impossible to divorce one part of this from the whole.”

That may be true -- however, it seems pretty likely that the league will get its 18-games one way or another. Also likely, as expressed by Smith's quotes, is the NFL locking its players out.

Owners and players are just too far apart right now, and because the 2010 season is beginning and because 2011 seems so far away (regardless of whether it's true or not), the urgency to really sit down, negotiate and hammer out a deal just isn't out there for either side.

Which is why there's a pretty good chance that the most important people, the fans, will end up suffering the most.

enjoy this year and hope they dodn't srew it up!

[Peyton]

Yep, it's going to happen. The owners have to do it to save themselves......from themselves.

[chris30277]

if there is a lockout do they still have a draft? or does everyone up for the draft role over into the following season?

[falcon057]

Yep, it's going to happen. The owners have to do it to save themselves......from themselves.

And they have by far the #1 sport out there. go figure!!

[Falcons 'til Death]

I know I may sound too optimistic about this but I think this is just some saber rattling. We still have 6 months for them to work something out. Usually these things go to the H-hour before they get down to some serious negotiating.

[Peyton]

if there is a lockout do they still have a draft? or does everyone up for the draft role over into the following season?

Yes, there will still be a draft.

[dyoshot]

God in heaven I hope he's wrong. This offseason was already bad enough. I don't think I can take football being gone for an extended period of time.

[Peyton]

I think what most people don't realize is that the issue here isn't the owners vs. the players.

It's really owners vs. owners, just as it was in baseball before the last deal was struck.

The Jerry Jones's and the Daniel Snyder's of the world could really care less about the revenue split, because they are bringing in so much peripheral revenue.

For other owners it's important for them to get the player's cuts lowered, because there are players that are making more from playing than the owners are making, and that's really kind of twisted.

[ukfalc]

Owners and players are just too far apart right now, and because the 2010 season is beginning and because 2011 seems so far away (regardless of whether it's true or not), the urgency to really sit down, negotiate and hammer out a deal just isn't out there for either side.

It's disgraceful that the 2 sides haven't made a more concerted effort to get together and resolve this issue, especially during the last 7 months.

Last time the CBA was extended, the owners had extensive round table negiotiations to clarify the revenue sharing issues between themsleves and to finalsie their position in the negotiations, before lenghty negotiations with the NFLPA. This time, even though it has been more than 2 years since the owners opted out of the CBA, there don't appear to have been any face to face discussion. I've seen a few references to some telephone discussions/negotiations having taken place, but that's it.

It looks like both sides are happy to let it go to the wire...

[Tandy]

I really, really hope this doesn't happen, but it looks like it will.

I remember back in '82 - that was horrible. The last strike wasn't so bad - but that one in '82 was miserable.

I guess I won't early renew my Season Tickets this year. sigh

[Tandy]

It's disgraceful that the 2 sides haven't made a more concerted effort to get together and resolve this issue, especially during the last 7 months.

Last time the CBA was extended, the owners had extensive round table negiotiations to clarify the revenue sharing issues between themsleves and to finalsie their position in the negotiations, before lenghty negotiations with the NFLPA. This time, even though it has been more than 2 years since the owners opted out of the CBA, there don't appear to have been any face to face discussion. I've seen a few references to some telephone discussions/negotiations having taken place, but that's it.

It looks like both sides are happy to let it go to the wire...

I don't think anyone appreciated Gene Upshaw and Paul Tagliabue enough. They turned this league into a true success and during their tenure - they worked things out.

[Falcons 'til Death]

I think what most people don't realize is that the issue here isn't the owners vs. the players.

It's really owners vs. owners, just as it was in baseball before the last deal was struck.

The Jerry Jones's and the Daniel Snyder's of the world could really care less about the revenue split, because they are bringing in so much peripheral revenue.

For other owners it's important for them to get the player's cuts lowered, because there are players that are making more from playing than the owners are making, and that's really kind of twisted.

I think what could be the main sticking point in all this is the implantation of a rookie cap. The NFLPA won't go at all with it unless that money that was earmarked for the rookies is somehow divided amongst the vets. As far as the more liberal spending owners, they should make it permanent that the top 4 teams can't sign FA"s unless they lose one of equal value.

If anything it should promote parity within the league. Then keep the cap, it

may not keep the Synder's and the Jones' in line but it will give the rest of the league some chance of being competitive.

Edited September 8, 2010 by Falcons 'til Death

[Goal Line D]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DAM*****************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tim Mazetti]

No, he is not wrong.

[ukfalc]

I don't think the rookie cap will be a sticking point. If anyhthing, it (togethew with the proposed nmove to 18 games) may be one of the issues that will help resolve the impass.

The owners opted out of the CBA, because they wan't to reduce the % of league revenue that the players from the figures previously agreed. I can see the NFLPA talking tough on rookie cap and the question of 18 games, but agreeing to make concessions on both issues provided that the players retain the % of league revenue that they currently get. With less of that money going to the top 10 rookies and the league getting more TV revenue from 2 extra weeks of real football, that could leave the veterans slightly players better off.

[rootee]

Hate to see a lockout. A rookie cap is really needed asap. Pay the proven vets the big$. No to the 18 game season

[FireDawg85]

Yes, there will still be a draft.

I got a question for anyone who can answer. If there is a lockout, it will only involve players that are in the union right? If so, will the people we draft be able to play since they are not in the union?

[kirbyr]

The NFLPA want's a rookie cap too, that's something they actually agree on. But they want healthcare for every player which is incredibly expensive.

[Falcons 'til Death]

I got a question for anyone who can answer. If there is a lockout, it will only involve players that are in the union right? If so, will the people we draft be able to play since they are not in the union?

You mean teams find scab players to fill in while the real players are locked out? Yeah, that has been tried before but that happened when the players went on strike.

[Tribal Chief]

OK so what in the #### am I suppose to do with no NFL on Sunday (yes I know they've been talking about it since last year). We wait 6 freakin months to see football and they are really gonna let this ish happen. The weekend isn't complete with just college on Saturday. We need the NFL.

[NCFalconfan]

Eh, nothing worse than gazillionaire's crying over money. Glad I have NASCAR to fall back on. Not for everyone I know, but it works for me.

[Tribal Chief]

Eh, nothing worse than gazillionaire's crying over money. Glad I have NASCAR to fall back on. Not for everyone I know, but it works for me.

Wish I had something to fall back on. Well, I do have CSI: Miami on Sunday nights

[Testasparo]

People will have to learn how to spend time with their families outside of the living room again on Fall Sundays. The horror.

[Guest Gritz]

OK so what in the #### am I suppose to do with no NFL on Sunday (yes I know they've been talking about it since last year). We wait 6 freakin months to see football and they are really gonna let this ish happen. The weekend isn't complete with just college on Saturday. We need the NFL.

If there aren't any NFL games in 2011 I bet that the NCAA will move some of the larger games to Sunday....I know there are some sporadic college games on Sunday now.

There will be more if the powers that be are moronic enough to screw over the fans with no NFL football.

With the recession and the mood many people are in right now it would be a colossal mistake for them not to get something worked out.

The NFL is far too big and too popular for even this potential work stoppage to be crippling but I think they are all underestimating what the damage might be.

[Mojo Risin]

The NFL market has been climbing. This would be a stupid move.