NFLPA tells players to save up for possible lockout
 

At the end of the day, the NFLPA will be the one to hold up a deal and it starts with Smith. Hes the wrong guy thats running the NFLPA in the first place.

By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

In a sign that the NFL players' union isn't that confident a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached before the start of next season, players are being advised to save their last three game checks from this year.

If the two sides do not reach an accord by the the current agreement's end in March, the owners will lock out the players and proceed without a 2011 season. No season would be started until a CBA was reached or the players decertified their union.


If the latter occurs, it's likely a series of federal lawsuits would be filed in an attempt to show the owners are violating labor or anti-trust laws.
The Associated Press reported that NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said the union had an "internal deadline" for agreeing to a new collective bargaining agreement.



"That deadline has now passed," he wrote. "It is important that you protect yourself and your family."


This may just be more posturing on the union's part, but the letter wasn't meant to be distributed to the media. According to The AP, copies of the letter were on a table in the New England Patriots locker room during the media availability on Saturday.


After a reporter asked players about the letter, a Patriots spokesman flipped the copies face-down.


NFL spokesman Greg Aiello called the union's deadline "disappointing and inexplicable, especially for fans."


"We hope this does not mean the union has abandoned negotiating in favor of decertifying and litigating," he said. "We are ready to meet and negotiate anytime and anywhere. But it takes sustained effort and shared commitment to reach an agreement. One side can't do it alone."

Also expect the NFL draft to suck. Fewer players with eligibility left won't declare for the draft if they don't expect to get paid next year.

I think it will be very hit or miss. You'll still likely have the top 5-10, but after that expect very little. And any draft slots that are forced via a new CBA will be contested highly by the agents in the first year.

I guess those top 5 or ten would get huge bonus money.

But when?

Are owners going to be in a hurry to sign draft picks?


I doubt it. They still won't get bonuses until the CBA is done in August or September.

Yeah...right.

Agreed, but they are otherwise going to risk themselves in college for nothing? Not likely.

But those mid-1st guys, the ones who slot out to #20 or so... if they have eligibility left, they might hold on to see how it all comes together.