[artmonkforhallofamein07]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Given the conditions which you so ably describe, the owners should be motivated to re-install last year's rules. Yes, this could still be considered collusion, but since the players agreed on those rules once upon a time, it is a safer stance than new, ad hoc rules.

And, if I am an owner, I see the wisdom of getting back to the bargaining table, compromising, and getting something done.

While the free-for-all which you describe does have some benefits for owners, in the bigger picture owners will lose in a free-for-all situation, and they know it.

Will they? The players are the inputs for the NFL's product. The players may lose in a situation like this as where else can they go to make this much money? The NFL is the only place a football player can make millions over a career and there is no other league in the world that can compete with NFL salaries. SO where else can a player go to be paid money to play this game. The two sides needs to just come together and get the new CBA rules in place and move on, instead of all the uncertainty that comes from the current situation.