Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right So How Come Both The NFL And NFLPA Come Off Looking Like The Biggest Idiots On The Face of The Planet ?

Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right So How Come Both The NFL And NFLPA Come Off Looking Like The Biggest Idiots On The Face of The Planet ?

I’m not so sure what to make of the idiocy now taking place between the NFL and NLFPA (Players’ Union) as it relates to the collective bargaining agreement . Several of the patrons of my site have long held the belief that the league and union will come to an amicable agreement that will be equitable for all of the parties concerned . Well with the expiration of the existing agreement due to expire at midnight 3rd March , I’d seriously like to know how is it that the owners , at the league’s behest cannot simply reach agreement with the NFLPA headed by its President Kevin Mawae and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith . On the opposing side of the issue we have NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , and the owners headed by some of the most powerful men within the game , Robert Kraft , Bud Adams , Jerry Jones , Woody Johnson , Steve Tisch , John K Mara , Pat Bowlen and Art Rooney II .

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Slide show for your perusal .

The Federally appointed mediator George Cohen has stated after the both parties’ most recent meeting that the two sides seem to be closer. Well if George Cohen may well have meant that the two sides were actually closer physically because of their proximity around the negotiating table because clearly their ideology is still so far apart that you could driven a tractor trailer within that parameter. The NFL is a $9,000,000,000 ($9,000,000,000) a year industry where the league and union share what we’re told is an equitable share of the revenues between the two parties. At issue is now how best to share this pie and at the same time the owners simply reining in their costs because if anything we know that there too Goodell has been less than open with regard to opening up the league’s financial accounts for public scrutiny.

Courtesy of AP & Yahoo Sports

NFL, union exit mediation after 4 hours Wednesday

By Howard Fendrich , AP Pro Football Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) —A large group of NFL owners and players’ union president Kevin Mawae participated in mediated labor talks for the first time Wednesday, attending a meeting that ended with fewer than 35 hours left until the collective bargaining agreement expires.

The ninth session at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service came on the same day that the league’s 32 team owners were gathering at a hotel about 25 miles away in Chantilly, Va. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and all 10 members of the owners’ labor committee left the mediation after about four hours of talks.

The NFL contingent got into a fleet of a half-dozen black SUVs and headed to Chantilly to begin filling in other owners on the status of the negotiations. When they arrived, none of the owners spoke to reporters before entering the meeting.

About 20 minutes after the league’s group left, the NFL Players Association’s negotiators group left on foot, walking in the direction of the union’s headquarters, a couple of blocks away. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, a member of the NFLPA executive committee, attended the mediation; like Mawae, Brees hadn’t been present at this round of negotiations, which began Feb. 18. But now all members of the union’s executive committee have been present at least once.

“We’re talking,” Mawae said when he left. “It’s better than not talking.”

The CBA runs out at midnight Eastern time as Thursday becomes Friday, and among the possibilities are that the owners lock out the players or that the union decertifies. Whatever happens this week could cause the country’s most popular sport to lose regular-season games to a work stoppage for the first time since 1987. Or, perhaps, everything could be resolved by management and labor in an industry with revenues topping $9 billion annually.

“So far, obviously, we haven’t been successful,” Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said on his way into the mediation session shortly before 10 a.m., “but we’re optimistic in due time we will.”

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The league had asked for a rollback from the players whereby they’d be willing to forgo $1,000,000,000 year ( $1 billion) for the next seven years but as we know the league also wants to instigate an 18 game regular season schedule. Something which the union at present is steadfastly against unless the league is prepared to accede to some of their conditions. The players for their part are looking to the league to raise their awareness as to players’ health and medical benefits . If anything to my mind that ought to be one of the most important issues that has to be dealt with but over the years both sides have simply ignored this even when pressed on the matter during Congressional hearings.

I don’t doubt for one minute that the league and union want to end this impasse but from the outside looking in , what we’re now seeing from the NFL and NFLPA resembles that of a group of preschoolers who’ve been scolded by their kindergarten teacher who has now told them …. to stand in the corner for a timeout ! How in God’s name can both of these parties come so far and having not yet achieved any tangible during their deliberations ? The meetings now formally overseen by George Cohen has been only the fourth such official meeting between both sides since November 2010. The league itself opted out of the existing collective bargaining agreement in early September of last year when they formally notified DeMaurice Smith and the union’s Executive Committee of their intentions. Ever since that took place it’s been a story of he said , he said as to each side’s demands and intent . Quite clearly neither side actually trusted each other from the outset otherwise it’s clear that the impasse between the two would not be so great.

And while the uncertainty still exists concerning the NFL’s impending future goes with regard to a 2011-12 season the NFL Combine came and went with brightest of collegiate talent on display for the NFL scouts , coaches and general managers there to assess their skills. Less we forget also the nation’s NFL writers were there at Lucas Oil Stadium , Indianapolis , Indiana . Players on hand were Cam Newton , Ryan Mallet , Andy Dalton and Nick Fairley to name but a few. Funny , the NFL is an all consuming being that literally exists 365 days a year , seven days a week . You simply can’t escape the game no matter what time of the year it actually is. One of the things that might not be apparent to many fans out there , should there be a labor stoppage initiated by the league , well it is in fact that many players who are now recuperating from regular season injuries won’t be availed the use of their respective team’s facilities , not while the stoppage continues unabated so it would necessitate the players seeking out advice from physicians or therapists from outside the NFL’s and their own respective team staff.

It will still be business as usual concerning the upcoming NFL Draft in April as that event will go ahead without any hint of intervention by the league or the union for that matter. The cloud however will still loom over the event if there remains the situation whereby there isn’t competitive season to be had and at the same time 2011 rookie class of inductees into the NFL , they and their agents may well be glad that they’ll finally say that they’ve made it to the NFL but in terms of their contract negotiations that for the present is unlikely to place at all. Something I’m not so sure those young players will be at all too happy with !. They’ve busted their butts during their college season only to find out that upon entry to the NFL those riches and spoils that they hoped would be looming aren’t yet there in terms of that initial rookie contract. And at the same those endorsement deals may well be forthcoming but perhaps not with regard to the expected deluge one might have hoped for . I mean what corporate brand will want to attach their name to a rising star within the NFL when they’re not going to get that primary exposure on the field of play ?

On the face it you’d have to think that both sides are working towards a common goal but if anything what has been exhibited is that the two sides are growing further apart, rather than coming close to an amicable agreement that on the face of it would appear equitable for all the parties concerned. There appears to be a growing certainty that if there’s no agreement and a renewed option then quite possibly for only the second time since 1987 there’ll be a league induced labor stoppage within the NFL . And from an economical standpoint that could prove to be costly for the league and their biggest corporate partners the broadcast networks that provide the televised coverage during the regular and postseason within the NFL . It has been estimated that a prolonged stoppage over the course of a regular season would cost the NFL in excess of several billion dollars ….. conservatively that figure within each NFL market could be at least $ 30 million each regular season game impacting the local economyof a franchise. This is a situation that certainly just doesn’t impact the league but a great many businesses across a large demographic of businesses all-told. From the smallest of businesses to well known national brands something of which I’m not so sure that the NFL much less the fans would immediately recognize , much less identify with.

Certainly at this juncture we’re liable to hear a number of statements forthcoming from NFL commentators , the print and television media availing us with their thoughts as to where things are going as well as the hard facts based on what either side is prepared to address publicly. Thus far, there has been very little forthcoming from either Roger Goodell his union counterpart DeMaurice Smith and about the only thing we know for certain is that George Cohen still appears to be the mediator and that both sides are said to be talking. Well, at least it’s actually better than them name calling and disparaging each others’ integrity don’t you think ? Or perhaps I’m wrong in my summation ?

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

Based on what little facts as we know them to be which side if any do you believe is to blame ? And what if any are your own hopes concerning the NFL and their ongoing negotiations ? Simply chime in with a comment as to your thoughts and anything else you feel pertinent concerning the NFL at present . Thanks as always for the continued support as it’s greatly appreciated !

Picture and slide show details below.
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(1) Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams , right, arrives at a hotel in Chantilly, Va., Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The ninth session at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Washington came on the same day that the league’s 32 team owners were gathering at a hotel about 25 miles away in Chantilly, Va. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and all 10 members of the owners’ labor committee left the mediation after about four hours of talks. AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez ………

(2) Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy arrives at a hotel in Chantilly, Va., Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The ninth session at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Washington came on the same day that the league’s 32 team owners were gathering at a hotel about 25 miles away in Chantilly, Va. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and all 10 members of the owners’ labor committee left the mediation after about four hours of talks. AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez ………..

(3) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones arrives f in Chantilly, Va., Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The ninth session at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Washington came on the same day that the league’s 32 team owners were gathering at a hotel about 25 miles away in Chantilly, Va. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and all 10 members of the owners’ labor committee left the mediation after about four hours of talks. AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez ………….

(4) Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday who also sits on the NFLPA’s Executive Committee arrives for football labor negotiations with the NFL involving a federal mediator, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex Brandon …………

(5) NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith arrives for football labor negotiations with the NFL involving a federal mediator, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex Brandon ………

(6) NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell arrives for football labor negotiations with the NFL involving a federal mediator, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex Brandon ……….

(7) NFL owners Robert Kraft, New England Patriots, left, talks with Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys, as NFL Roger Goodell, second from right, and John Mara, New York Giants, arrive for football labor negotiations with the NFL involving a federal mediator in Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex Brandon …………….

(8) Idaho tight end Daniel Hardy runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011. AP Photo/Darron Cummings ……..

(9) In this March 20, 2010, photo, George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), appears in Washington. The NFL and its players’ union agreed Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, to mediation in their labor dispute, two weeks before the collective bargaining agreement expires. The FMCS, an independent U.S. government agency, will oversee negotiations in Washington beginning Friday. AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez ……

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NB : NFL News

(a) The negotiations between the league and union took place at the offices of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Services in Washington D.C, . The FMCS is a Federal Agency that is adjunct to the National Labor Relations Board .

List of NFL franchise team owners

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

NFLPA Executive Committee members

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith

FMCS ( Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service )

😛

Alan aka tophatal ………………….

http://tophatal.wordpress.com/

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Simply Red ……………………………….” Holding Back The Years “
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