Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - What Does Upshaw's Death Mean for the NFLPA and CBA Discussions

FRPLG · 08-21-2008, 04:58 PM

Well I got the distinct feeling from Upshaw that he had had enough of the "dog leash" comments and was going to really start being more hard line with negotiations and I think that is what was prompting some players to take pause. If any group of players has benefitted from Free Agency it has been football players. Sure the upper tier don't make what basketball players make or even baseball players but longevity affects market value and players in those two sports last a heck of a lot longer than football players. Plus most low tier guys in those sports make crapola compared to the biggies while football players seem to me to make a more than fair salary in relative terms.

The prudence of a carefully crafted labor peace and CBA has allowed for the rapid expansion of football in this country and letting that ground work get torn up is a foolish notion for owners and players alike. I think the smarter players realize that. Upshaw seemed bound and determined to reinvent his own image as the expense of that labor peace. The question now is whether Mawae (an Upshawite) and Vincent gets the nod. We'll see once they choose a new Director. I suppose Berthelson is in the mix too. I have no idea where he stands on anything.

In any case avoiding an uncapped year is paramount. First though the owners need to get their sh*t in order. A fair agreement of revenue sharing is needed and obstructive owners, out to make money only for themselves, need to be held down. The likes of Ralph Wilson are going to ruin this league with the whining and moaning. If teams put effort into making money half as much as the Patriots, Cowboys and Skins then EVERYONE would be making more money. Nobody who sells out their stadium on a regular basis (Bills) should be hruting so bad for money.

08-21-2008, 04:58 PM	#5
FRPLG MVP Join Date: May 2004 Age: 46 Posts: 10,164	Re: What Does Upshaw's Death Mean for the NFLPA and CBA Discussions Well I got the distinct feeling from Upshaw that he had had enough of the "dog leash" comments and was going to really start being more hard line with negotiations and I think that is what was prompting some players to take pause. If any group of players has benefitted from Free Agency it has been football players. Sure the upper tier don't make what basketball players make or even baseball players but longevity affects market value and players in those two sports last a heck of a lot longer than football players. Plus most low tier guys in those sports make crapola compared to the biggies while football players seem to me to make a more than fair salary in relative terms. The prudence of a carefully crafted labor peace and CBA has allowed for the rapid expansion of football in this country and letting that ground work get torn up is a foolish notion for owners and players alike. I think the smarter players realize that. Upshaw seemed bound and determined to reinvent his own image as the expense of that labor peace. The question now is whether Mawae (an Upshawite) and Vincent gets the nod. We'll see once they choose a new Director. I suppose Berthelson is in the mix too. I have no idea where he stands on anything. In any case avoiding an uncapped year is paramount. First though the owners need to get their sh*t in order. A fair agreement of revenue sharing is needed and obstructive owners, out to make money only for themselves, need to be held down. The likes of Ralph Wilson are going to ruin this league with the whining and moaning. If teams put effort into making money half as much as the Patriots, Cowboys and Skins then EVERYONE would be making more money. Nobody who sells out their stadium on a regular basis (Bills) should be hruting so bad for money.