Game Changer?

[Buc-man™®]

THANKS A LOT DAGO, YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO

FINISH A GUY OFF.

lol, its all good rev, i bet the 70s were a heII of a time... $hit happens???? :P

[falconsd56]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d820720a0/article/nfl-owners-players-regaining-trust-with-all-revenue-model

BOSTON -- We've heard for nearly four months about an inherent lack of trust between NFL owners and players, with the parties embroiled in a lockout that on Thursday reached its 100th day.

And after all this time, the real fix might be taking trust largely out of the equation.

There's plenty of ground left to cover, of course, with the league and players in their fourth week of hush-hush negotiations, but plenty of progress is being made. Perhaps the biggest bridge to cross was the divide created by a healthy mistrust, and the splitting of the "all revenue" model could now clear the way.

The Top 100: Players of 2011

"The Top 100: Players of 2011" countdown continues on NFL Network on Sunday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show after players Nos. 11-20 are revealed.

Then there's this: League sources said Thursday that NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith has earned the owners' trust and respect in a very big way over the last month. In fact, that part of the equation, coinciding with the legal aspects of the dispute slowing and the lawyers taking much smaller roles, has been integral in getting the owners to move off hard-line stances and listen to players' demands.

One NFC team executive said after this week's owners meetings that the league and players are "within striking distance" of a deal. The parties have spent the last month negotiating the revenue split -- by far the biggest issue on the table. On Thursday, the meetings will reach another critical juncture, as the sides go in depth into the rookie system for the first time since starting the "secret" meetings May 31 in Chicago.

"There are enough legitimate issues to where it could all fall down still," one AFC team executive said. "They're dealing with that stuff."

According to another player source, the NFLPA held a conference call for players during the lunchtime hour Thursday to update the reps, much like owners were given an update earlier this week.

The conference call was similar to those in the past, according to participants, with the players given an update on where things stand and a forum to answer questions. As one participant on the call put it: "It was the same ol', same ol' honestly. We are both still talking and just working toward something. Still lots to do."

This is a complicated deal with a lot of hands in it and a lot of different people's interests being served. But the "all revenue" model has, at least, helped turn a minefield into a far less treacherous path.

The "all revenue" model works on a percentage of the whole pie. That means no wondering if the 2012 revenue will be what the league projects it to be and guarantees the players a fixed percentage of total revenue. As the NFC team executive put it, "I don't know too many people that have total trust in their boss." So is the problem fixed? No. But it does, at least, manage the trust issue.

"In terms of the revenue model, it will absolutely help build back some trust," one well-connected player said. "It certainly doesn't solve it, though. There's still a lot of distrust from a lot of players. Not saying this can't be healed, but it will just take some time. Ultimately, getting this lockout ended will heal a lot of wounds."

One thing that has helped, by all indications, is having the owners and players meet in the clandestine settings that they have over the last four weeks -- first in suburban Chicago, then Long Island, N.Y., then Maryland's Eastern Shore and, finally, over the last couple days on the South Shore near Boston. Still, the players are wary based on the language the owners had written into television contracts, some individuals' actions over the last sixth months and what they've characterized as an overall lockout strategy.

There still would be some projections involved in the "all revenue" model, but there'd be more certainty that the players' take was reflective of the league's success. It might not make the relationship between players and owners a full-blown "partnership," but it would go a lot further in getting there.

"This is a way to repair the trust, or improve it to the best point possible," said the NFC team executive, who was involved in Monday's meeting. "It's a much simpler formula. It's one you don't need a lot of accounting for, and it's a pretty simple way to say, 'O.K., you get 'X' of that', and you build in fail safes. That way, no matter how the league performs, good or bad, the two are joined at the hip. Everyone benefits from the rising tide. Everyone has incentives to raise revenue."

The NFC team exec added: "It puts you in a position where interests are aligned. In any business, you want your rank and file to have the same end goals you do and have the same vision for the future you do." Said the AFC team exec: "It certainly simplifies things and makes it black and white."

And there is a place where the owners and players can find a common ground.

"The simpler the formula, the less trust is needed," a second player source said. "Trust becomes an issue when an expense is subjectively categorized one way or another by either party. The more the formula focuses strictly on revenue, the easier it is to come up with a number."

Again, things aren't necessarily at the goal line yet, and Thursday will be a critical day in talks. But the momentum built thus far is palatable, and both parties are motivated to capitalize on it.

Follow Albert Breer on Twitter @AlbertBreer

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora contributed to this report.

[REV.2000]

$hit happens???? :P

AND IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU, AIN'T READY FOR IT TO HAPPEN!

[Shredman]

Deal pretty much in place.....

I hear next week they lift Lockout

then a 3 day wait untill FA starts

soooooooo maybe by this time next week we are counting down the mins till FA starts :P

[Guest jb aka johnnybuc]

I would hit the ground running. See what Nnamdi, CJ, and Edwards want. Get the best value for position of need.

You all should be elated if they can any one of the three of those guys. Of course you're gonna have some big time competition for any one of them. It sure would be nice to be a free agent right now with all the money these clubs are gonna have to throw around.

[Dago]

I would hit the ground running. See what Nnamdi, CJ, and Edwards want. Get the best value for position of need.

you can forget Nnamdi. You already have far too much money tied up in Robinson and Grimes is going to want a good contract. Far too much invested in one position

[Dago]

Depending on what the new CBA is and what guys we can get to restructure nothing is impossible. Plus, Nnamdi want to go to a winner, not the raiders, titans, or texansfrom the reports we're hearing.

do you even know how much money the Falcons already have tied up at CB? or how much it will take to re-sign grimes?

[SyCo]

Depending on what the new CBA is and what guys we can get to restructure nothing is impossible. Plus, Nnamdi want to go to a winner, not the raiders, titans, or texansfrom the reports we're hearing.

This conversation reminds me of the last time I went to buy a car. I went in with the idea that I was going to leave with something cheap, reliable, good on gas.. I left with a brand new mustang!

[Dago]

Dunta's cap hit this coming year is already near 7 million. The following year it will be 8 million and then 9 million. you can't even think about cutting him for at least another 3 years.

so here we have close to 9 million tied up in Robinson. Grimes is going to command probably 4-5 million.

forget what Nnamdi wants or would be willing to play for. Do you think a guy who is the #2 or #3 cover corner in the NFL is going to accept not being the highest paid CB on a team's roster? give me a break

so that right there puts you up around $25 million for three CBs. I hope the Falcons do this because it would be insanely stupid.

[Dago]

Buyer beware. You have to be a good consumer as well. The falcons are that. Without knowing the rules before you set out to buy something is foolish anyways. We do not know what the new rules will be until the new CBA is resolved!

regardless of the rules, the cap will be at about $120 million

[Guest jb aka johnnybuc]

Deal pretty much in place.....

I hear next week they lift Lockout

then a 3 day wait untill FA starts

soooooooo maybe by this time next week we are counting down the mins till FA starts :P

I was so hoping you were right but it doesn't look like they'll have it done by July 4th like so many of us hoped. If they do they certainly have done a great job of hiding it considering all the media attention it's getting!

[Guest jb aka johnnybuc]

regardless of the rules, the cap will be at about $120 million

Which means the BUCS are gonna have to spend at least 60 or 70 Million just to get to the cap minimum. I see us bringing back Rudd, Joseph and Black while extending a bunch of other deals.

[Falconcheff]

Which means the BUCS are gonna have to spend at least 60 or 70 Million just to get to the cap minimum. I see us bringing back Rudd, Joseph and Black while extending a bunch of other deals.

Yeah, you guys are in great shape to add and keep guys when the NFL forces the Glazers to spend at least 90% of cap.

[Guest jb aka johnnybuc]

Yeah, you guys are in great shape to add and keep guys when the NFL forces the Glazers to spend at least 90% of cap.

I just don't see them being a big player in the top free agent market. Other than Simeon Rice, Brad Johnson and McCardell the BUCS have never been big on spending money outside of the players they already have. Which is why I see us giving the Big Bucks to our own players that have proven themselves. Next year and the year after I can see us being a bit more active when we start getting closer to where we want to be.

[Falconcheff]

I just don't see them being a big player in the top free agent market. Other than Simeon Rice, Brad Johnson and McCardell the BUCS have never been big on spending money outside of the players they already have. Which is why I see us giving the Big Bucks to our own players that have proven themselves.

But according to NFL rules (that seem to be coming into place), you might have to spend more than your current FA's will garner. I see a CB and TE in your future...

[Guest jb aka johnnybuc]

But according to NFL rules (that seem to be coming into place), you might have to spend more than your current FA's will garner. I see a CB and TE in your future...

Not so much a TE as they're very, very high on Luke Stocker but a corner is a very good possibility but they are NOT gonna overpay for one. Like I said earlier I believe we'll start locking up current players that aren't free agents yet. I could see them giving Freeman a Huge bump not long after the start of the season or whenever they have to be at the cap minimum.