Lockout Continues, But We Will Have Football, Just Maybe Not Some Preseason Games

I wouldn’t put much stock in those specific dates put out in the owner’s ratified proposal, which include free agency opening next Wednesday, and the teams being able to discuss contracts with players as early as Saturday. In a statement released today by Kevin Mawae:

"Player leadership is discussing the most recent written proposal with the NFL, which includes a settlement agreement, deal terms and the right process for addressing recertification. There will not be any further NFLPA statements today out of respect for the Kraft family while they mourn the loss of Myra Kraft."

So I wouldn’t expect to hear anything else today, and certainly wouldn’t expect to hear news that the NFLPA has ratified the exact same proposal as the owners did yesterday, and therefore I wouldn’t put much weight in specific dates that were floated for starting things until we have an actual agreement.

Andrew Brandt has an excellent breakdown of the various issues that have and have not been resolved. The owners negotiated a supplemental revenue sharing system that was not part of previous discussions, though it’s possible this has no impact on the player’s side–that’s where the talk you hear from the player’s side about needing to read the agreement–they want to make sure the revenue sharing between owners won’t have an adverse impact on player salary spending.

The big issue is the demand by owners that the players recertify as a union. The owners claimed the union dissolution was a sham, but it’s been clear that the owners, not the players, want a union all along because it eliminates the anti-trust issues that the league would otherwise have. Owners want it as mandatory before conclusion of the deal; players want to do it on their own terms after conclusion of the deal. Other things, such as the player conduct policy and Goodell’s control of that, could also be sticking points.

From listening to player interviews and comments, the talking point seems to be that they will take their time to look over this deal and do this on their timetable, not the owners. Here’s how I interpret that (other than it’s really hot right now, let’s not start camp this week): owners have more at stake in the loss of preseason games than players, as owners would have to start cutting checks back to season ticket holders for each home game missed. It’s a pressure point for owners not to lose any home games, and the players are trying to prevail on some of those final issues, such as perhaps altering Goodell’s power in player discipline and making James Harrison a little less grumpy.

The owners put those unresolved terms in their favor in the ratified proposal. The players are trying to get what they want on those remaining issues, and slight delay favors them. The parties are gesturing and adjusting at the line right before the snap. Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure they will get the snap off before the clock expires.

[screen cap photo via Bubba Prog]