NFLPA's Smith hopes for CBA deal by November

Wishful thinking or sign of progress?
NFLPA direction DeMaurice Smith hopes for CBA deal by November - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5552015)

Regardless, its the first positive statement in a long time. I don't think he would have said it if it were completely unrealistic, but I also don't see it happening.

I hope so, but I know there are still large obstacles. I liked the players on both teams all raising the "number one" hand sign after the coin toss before yesterday's Saints-Vikings game.

I'd love to see this happen - - but I have to put this in the "Wishful Thinking Bucket" for now.

Until there are substantive negotiations - - and there have not been any yet - - both sides are going to try to issue public statements that they believe will resonate with fans. Having the fans on your side in negotiations like this is a help.

Fundamentally, this is an argument between billionaire owners and millionaire players over how to divvy up something like $8.5B a year in revenue that comes out of OUR (the fans') pockets.

Owners have a seat at the table, the players have a seat at the table through their Players Association, the agents have a seat at the table because of the influence they wield over their clients. The TV networks have a de facto seat at the table because they provide the biggest chunk of the revenue everyone is fighting over so if any proposal is absolutely anathema to the networks, it will die on the vine.

Who's missing? The fans - - the ones who pay the freight. The fans get to react to crafted PR statements like the one linked here - - and to speeches given by Roger Goodell about the state of the game. The process is upside down.

If the fans were in charge here, there would be no strike/lockout and all of the other issues would be settled via mediation in about a week and a half.

Say no to a lockout!!!

People keep saying that they don't want to hear about players making millions of dollars from billionaires. However as hard line as the unions stance may be I think the real concern is getting the guys not named Tom Brady and Peyton Manning protected. Making sure that the career special team players that put their bodies on the line recieve proper health care and a little bit more money.

We forget a lot of these guys go bankrupt and it's not always the flashy guys that engage in Lamborghini living. Mark Brunell for example is now bankrupt thanks to some problems he's had with investments.

Almost 80 Percent of NFL Players Nearly Bankrupt, 60 Percent of NBA Ballers? Why? (http://www.rollingout.com/insidesports/champion-news/8597-almost-80-percent-of-nfl-players-near-bankrupt-60-percent-of-nba-ballers-why.html)

Too much money in the game now for there to be lockout and with a down economy the quickest way to turn off fans is to have work stoppage. No way in hell there's a lock out...they will compromise and a deal will be reached. Players will compromise on rookie salary structure and breach of contract and the owners will maintain giving player the bulk of revenue.

No players, no product. No product, no NFL. No NFL, no monies.

People keep saying that they don't want to hear about players making millions of dollars from billionaires. However as hard line as the unions stance may be I think the real concern is getting the guys not named Tom Brady and Peyton Manning protected. Making sure that the career special team players that put their bodies on the line recieve proper health care and a little bit more money.

We forget a lot of these guys go bankrupt and it's not always the flashy guys that engage in Lamborghini living. Mark Brunell for example is now bankrupt thanks to some problems he's had with investments.

Almost 80 Percent of NFL Players Nearly Bankrupt, 60 Percent of NBA Ballers? Why? (http://www.rollingout.com/insidesports/champion-news/8597-almost-80-percent-of-nfl-players-near-bankrupt-60-percent-of-nba-ballers-why.html)

Another point that the NFLPA is right to stress are the thousands of lower-income wage earners who will lose their jobs if there is a work stoppage. Football stadiums employ lots of people, as do all the businesses supported by games (restaurants, taxis, TV, etc.).

one of the few industries that gets it right as towards paying the workers what they earn vs raping them

This could be an interesting twist in the discussions

Source: NFLPA considering decertification vote - NFL - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/09/11/union.ap/index.html)