Alternate NFLPA draft event

[Monkeydad]

They need to leave the rookies out of this fight. This is the day they've worked their whole lives for and to take it away is just stupid and disrespectful. If they want these rookies on their side, this is not a good first impression.

The "alternate" event serves no purpose. It's still calling attention to the draft. The only thing it could do is speed up the broadcast since the Commish won't have to hug anyone.

I bet most of the players WILL attend the real draft. They should...it's their moment and they earned it.

[CRedskinsRule]

question:

If the players charge for their gala, will they show the owners their books?

[Ruhskins]

I know this may sound like a naive comment, but I feel like, why is the NFL going on about business as usual if the next season is up in the air? Personally, I feel like nothing else should be going on until they resolve whether there will be football or not next season.

[juskins]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I know this may sound like a naive comment, but I feel like, why is the NFL going on about business as usual if the next season is up in the air? Personally, I feel like nothing else should be going on until they resolve whether there will be football or not next season.

I have another naive comment to raise with my fellow posters: Has it occurred to any of you that this is one big ----ing act that the owners and union members are putting on for the fans and the media's benefit? Why do we have to make a decision about "who is right or wrong" in this dispute?

If fans did not take a side, I am willing to bet it would be resolved by next month before the draft. I refuse to play their game!

Just suppose they both wanted to get rid of the previous CBA agreement because it was getting out of control with regulations and rulings by the owner's watch dog, the commish along with the rules committees. Being indifferent in this matter has more leverage for the fans than siding with either the owners or the players.

Just maybe they will want to reinvent the game again and bring back football without the softer side of it. The game has gotten to the point where it is getting too scripted by those who don't play the game.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by juskins

I have another naive comment to raise with my fellow posters: Has it occurred to any of you that this is one big ----ing act that the owners and union members are putting on for the fans and the media's benefit? Why do we have to make a decision about "who is right or wrong" in this dispute?

If fans did not take a side, I am willing to bet it would be resolved by next month before the draft. I refuse to play their game!

Just suppose they both wanted to get rid of the previous CBA agreement because it was getting out of control with regulations and rulings by the owner's watch dog, the commish along with the rules committees. Being indifferent in this matter has more leverage for the fans than siding with either the owners or the players.

Just maybe they will want to reinvent the game again and bring back football without the softer side of it. The game has gotten to the point where it is getting too scripted by those who don't play the game.

Um....

I think I'll just answer Ruhskins comment: Ruhskins-teams need to move forward as if business as usual (to the best of their ability) to be prepared for whenever an agreement is reached. If they don't, they'll fall way behind.

[juskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Um....

I think I'll just answer Ruhskins comment: Ruhskins-teams need to move forward as if business as usual (to the best of their ability) to be prepared for whenever an agreement is reached. If they don't, they'll fall way behind.

Come April 6th, the judge will hear both sides in this matter and declare that she or he will make a ruling in X amount of days. More than likely the judge will rule with the players by ruling that the owners have not negotiated in good faith from the beginning and cannot lock the players out of their work place. A deal gets done and the players form another union, guild or whatever. Both sides celebrate!

Does that sound about right? Been there, done it.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by juskins

Come April 6th, the judge will hear both sides in this matter and declare that she or he will make a ruling in X amount of days. More than likely the judge will rule with the players by ruling that the owners have not negotiated in good faith from the beginning and cannot lock the players out of their work place. A deal gets done and the players form another union, guild or whatever. Both sides celebrate!

Does that sound about right? Been there, done it.

Wouldn't surprise me if a deal is done, and I believe there are several owners who hope the injunction is lifted. But...I don't think this is some dog and pony show right now for the media and fans' entertainment

[Paintrain]

I've got no issues with De Smith but I think this is a bad idea. I'm 100% on the players side on this saga but this this a poor attempt at grandstanding and trying to steal the spotlight from the NFL and the draft process. I'd be pissed if I was an incoming player or the parent of an incoming player and my 'ceremony' is being tainted by the dispute and me facing scorn if I attend. Bad move NFLPA.

[Dirtbag59]

Anyone else getting tired of DeMaurice Smith? Personally I knew we were in trouble when he called Collective Bargaining a "war." Seriously he compared negotiating billions of dollars to getting shot at. Now we have this sham of a draft event were the great DeMaurice Smith, the true players advocate, will doll out the hugs in a worn down hotel ball room.

The players clearly hired the wrong guy. Gene Upshaw got the players 60% without shouting and screaming at least in public. Smith on the other hand thinks he can bully 32 guys that can't seem to agree on anything.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

Anyone else getting tired of DeMaurice Smith? Personally I knew we were in trouble when he called Collective Bargaining a "war." Seriously he compared negotiating billions of dollars to getting shot at. Now we have this sham of a draft event were the great DeMaurice Smith, the true players advocate, will doll out the hugs in a worn down hotel ball room.

The players clearly hired the wrong guy. Gene Upshaw got the players 60% without shouting and screaming at least in public. Smith on the other hand thinks he can bully 32 guys that can't seem to agree on anything.

Well he's not the first person to make a "war" analogy in sports

And did we forget Upshaw led the players to a strike in 1987; that he decertified the union, that he filed (on behalf of the players) multiple lawsuits

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well he's not the first person to make a "war" analogy in sports

And did we forget Upshaw led the players to a strike in 1987; that he decertified the union, that he filed (on behalf of the players) multiple lawsuits

He's not the first person I've gone after for making the war analogy. Heck it's practically a canned speech for me in real life.

And you're absolutely right. Upshaw was certainly a key figure in the 1987 players strike. However Upshaw had to work under a different set of circumstances. In 1987 there was no salary cap (read *no salary floor*), no free agency, no $9 billion industry. Also at the time the NFL was neck and neck with the NBA and MLB. Now both leagues are barely in the NFL's rear view mirror.

I think the thing that irks me the most among other things is that the owners came to the table with a reasonable offer and rather then putting together a counter offer they simply said "see you in court."

[hooskins]

I am not tired of him. Gene Upshaw had a personal relationship with the Commish, so that helps reach agreements.

I understand being overly combative is detrimental, however if high profile rookies do not go to the draft(stay at home or go to the NFLPA draft) it sends a message on a national level. If a player is smart, he realizes the long-term impacts of the current labor disputes rather than being self-absorbed in one moment.

[hooskins]

A lot of the players love him, I don't think it is clear cut he is the wrong guy. I think your opinion about the situation is allowing you to portray him negatively.

[Paintrain]

Not really getting all the De Smith hate.. Sure he's misguided on this but didn't the owners pick this fight by opting out of the CBA? Should he just be a good little boy and do what the owners say?

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Not really getting all the De Smith hate.. Sure he's misguided on this but didn't the owners pick this fight by opting out of the CBA? Should he just be a good little boy and do what the owners say?

Initially yes, the owners were being ridiculous and Smith had the world behind him. Since then the NFL has come to the table with a fair offer, and Smith and Co. rejected it. This offer was at the very least a fair starting point and rather then come back with a slightly modified counter offer Smith decides to drag this out and take it to court. Now, as the head of a union, that technically doesn't exist, he's telling players to boycott the draft and attend a sham draft party.

I don't know if it's Smith who made the final decision to reject the NFL's offer but whoever did make that call is taking an unnecessary risk with the 2011 season and beyond. For me the draft boycott is simply the straw that broke the camels back.

"The union left a very good deal on the table," the NFL said in a statement. "It included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; ensure no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

"The union was offered financial disclosure of audited league and club profitability information that is not even shared with the NFL clubs.

"The expanded health and safety rules would include a reduction in offseason programs of five weeks (from 14 to nine) and of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) from 14 to 10; significant reductions in the amount of contact in practices; and other changes."

New York Giants owner John Mara, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones joined NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in addressing the media after the union decertified.