Redskins, Cowboys could go “nuclear” over cap mess

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by HoopheadVII

My best guess is that procedurally, the vote yesterday may have been a vote to accept the MCEC's agreement with the NFLPA.

If that's the case, not sure how it affects arbitration. The CBA has an arbitration procedure clubs can participate in, but if this vote modifies the CBA, not sure there's anything to arbitrate - the modified salary cap is the law under the CBA.

Even if the two clubs win in arbitration, they're in trouble if >24 other owners are intent on punishing them. The Commissioner can take away the #2 pick in the upcoming draft, and the Executive Committee can pretty much do whatever they want (including forcing Snyder to sell the team*) with 24 votes.


*please, please, please

What I have read is that the Skins and Cowboys arbitration was based more on the violation of procedure by the Commissioner and MCEC. The grievance as previously submitted avoided the collusion issue and focused on the violation of the process for levying sanctions/altering the salary cap set forth in the current CBA and By-Laws.

If this is true, essentially, what the NFL has done is rectify their procedural errors and left the Skins & Cowboys with only the substantive challenge that the sanction is an attempt to enforce an illegal agreement.

If for, some reason, the NFL attempts to strip the Skins of the 2nd pick, I would expect all restraints to be turned off - DS would file for a TRO preventing the NFL from taking it, possibly threaten to hold up the draft through court proceedings, etc., etc. It would get very very messy, very very fast.

I would not be surprised if this is a big game of chicken between the owners and DS & JJ - who has more to lose. It will be interesting to see if the Skins or Cowboys escalate by amending their grievance claims to include the substantive issue (they may just wait and do a separate grievance or seek legal remedy on that issue).