[JoeRedskin]

Playing Devil's Advocate, the best argument I can make for the NFL at this point is this - The contract dumping had one and only one goal in mind - to circumvent a reinstated cap. If no cap were reinstated, the move would have no effect whatsoever b/c the monies would have already been paid out and the effect was purely a bookkeepping measure that mattered only in the determination of a team's cap expense. Thus, the move was aimed at gaining a competitive advantage if a cap was reinstated. Had no cap been reinstated, no penalty would have been forthcoming. B/c a cap was reinstated, and b/c the moves were intended to have an effect on the reinstated cap, it was appropriate to levy the penalties now as opposed to the time the actions were taken.

I still don't think that flies for all the reasons stated previously. Particularly for the reasons set out in FRPLG ealier posts about the intended effects of an uncapped year. Essentially, even if what you say is true NFL- so what? Wasn't that a negotiated risk you chose to accept when you terminated the 2006 CBA (i.e. that some owners might take actions that would have effects well beyond the initial uncapped year)? In effect, the Skins & Cowboys bet that the cap would be reinstated and performed the contract dumping during a period when they were legally allowed to do so. As I said - so what?

As the media has noted, the whole thing stinks to high heaven. DS & JJ may not be angels, but, right now, Mara is sounding like a poor little rich boy who didn't get his way.