You can look at the Players’ delay last night in approving the new CBA deal ratified by the Owners as a symbolic holdout in a lovers’ quarrel before the next kiss… or as a serious breach of gamesmanship that might delay the start of the 2011 NFL season.
Here’s how the aggregate “Voice of the Players”, the blog known as The Source, views the stalemate (this blog tries to give us an accurate take on the global perception of NFL players towards the Owners’ “proposal” of a new CBA agreement— audience discretion advised):
Ok, the Owners , the bullies, now have approved the new CBA… well, the main points … but will not negotiate the other points until the players re- certify and approve current CBA proposed agreement. In other words , “Take it by next week, or the deal is off”… In other words, we are pressuring you… and you need to submit. We own the teams , we are the boss, how dare you challenge us? If you agree, we will end the lockout , and players are allowed to use our facilities , this weekend…”
Huh? The way many players see it , they (the Owners) are trying to break the union… Think about it, there are a lot of young players who need the money and who are willing to accept whatever… it’s only the elder statesmen players that can withstand a hold-out or strike.. But in reality, it’s a good move by the Owners , as in “test the players , we will see how united they are”… The Owners are banking on the players to cave in and take the deal and negotiate the rest at a later time.
The Players as a group need to realize they need to approve the deal , show good faith and work on the finer details as a union… like the Owners want. But reality is, the curse of egos’ pride and lawyers’ talk comes into play, and now we have a stalemate. Both sides are hard-headed stubborn boys who both feel it’s their side that holds the league together. True,, but who really wants to see owners play football?
The players are going to hold fast , they want to see everything outlined AND AGREED UPON.. AND TO BE HONEST, I DON’T BLAME THEM.. who agrees to a deal that’s not complete, right ? It’s like buying a car with 75 % agree terms , but we will agree to the other 25 % at a later time.. huh?
Bottom line .. Because both sides have placed lawyers in the mix , expect legal wranglings and mumbo-jumbo to interfere with the proceedings, so to speak.. The players have already cried foul !! The new CBA has terms in it that the players never talked about , and the deadline to re-certify is rather quick. The players say (and in legal terms are correct) an Owner or company cant force employers to certify or re-certify as a union.. That’s illegal and uncalled for..
Now… what’s next?…They (the NFL) have already cancelled the Hall of Fame game.. and the first pre-season game is in jeopardy.. The players may want to hurt the Owners , but in the long run.. they will hurt negotiations and future monetary considerations…
What to do? Players re-certify, agree to current terms , get back into camps and let the players reps hammer out the other details…. The Owners need to calm down, swallow some humble pie and work in good faith to get all points worked out… Do I see a quick resolution.. yes and no.. but right now it’s in the players ‘court.. The Owners have already locked them out and delayed practices and such… But the players need to quickly decide what to do… The Owners are trying to get fan support and media support by stating , “we are doing our part , agreed to CBA , and opened up training camps… and football operations…” It is now incumbent upon the players showing good faith by arriving at team facilities and getting ready for football, the Owners say…. But by the looks of some of the Owners .. they don’t look very confident this deal is set.. It’s basically the Owners saying: “Take it or leave it.. You the players need us more than we need you…”
As unbelievable as it may seem to you and me as laymen fans, that “players viewpoint” segment apparently represents the majority of the players’ reactions to the CBA “proposal” ratified by the Owners last night in Atlanta.
I was unprepared for such a reaction…
Apparently De Smith had this little “optimum delay” trick in the bag all along…
Nothing wrong with due diligence… but obviously Smith had his minions well-instructed to not look too anxious to accept the first offer…
I just was hoping, like most fans, that we wouldn’t have to go though “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” to get to the beginning of live pre-season and regular season activities…
But apparently, the “hurt feelings” of De Smith and his somewhat propagandized following of players must be given more attention…
Too bad… Now the HOF game is lost…and Lehigh is seriously jeopardized…
I managed to get a call into Derrick Mason, one of the Ravens’ players reps and a respected NFL veteran, about an hour prior to the players’ conference call scheduled for 8 P.M. EST last night.
While Mason said he’s eager to return to action, he also maintained the players’ perspective that they won’t be rushed into approval.
“We’re not going to be put under the fire to try to make a decision,” Mason said. “We’re going to look at what the owners have signed off on and we’re going to take this very seriously. We’re not up against any time constraint. We’re going to take this very delicately.”
That sums up the players’ agreed-upon strategy. And obviously the players are abiding by De Smith’s direct instruction that nobody signs off on the deal until he says “Go”….
I get that it is wise to take your time when deciding upon a 10-year deal.
But you should also consider that your market which produces your revenues is craving football… and right now, your market audience is just a little concerned you (the players) are more obsessed about being upset that the Owners were the ones who signed off on the New Deal first…
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