Your NFL Strike/Lockout Update: Jim Irsay makes sense (Rich vs. Rich--Day 5,117)

Jim Irsay

Yes, we know that Monday nights stay on the NFL Lockout/Strike or whatever you want to call it has been reported...a lot.

But we can't resist the idea of adding our 2-cents.

First, at stately Wayne Manor...or in this case the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. They made the "Temporary Stay" we reported on Monday permanent. At least until June 3rd.

And it quite honestly, is beginning to sound like the owners have found their ally. No, it doesn't mean that someone is going to win this stupid dispute, but it puts some of the onus on the players now to get things moving again.

Here's what the NFL said their ownselves yesterday: "It's not time to devote all of our energy to reaching a comprehensive agreement that will improve the game for the benefit of current and retired players, teams and most importantly, the fans (ha!). This litigation has taken the parties away from the negotiating table where these issues should be resolved (they are there today, but nothing will happen). We remain confident that the appellate court will determine that this is a labor dispute that should be governed by federal labor law. But the league and players, without further delay, should control their own destiny and decide the future of the NFL together through negotiation."


Okay, but what about today's "Court ordered" mediation in Minneapolis going on today. It's symbolic at best, nothing will happen...at all until June 3rd.

All the NFLPA (Not a Union) will say is this: "The NFL's request for a stay of the lockout that was granted today means no football. The players are in mediation and are working to try and save the 2011 season. The court will hear the full appeal on June 3rd."


Huh?

What does this all mean?

It means that what we said in Monday's story stands. The Appeals court is going to rule in the NFL's favor, and it will be a 2-1 vote. It's already been decided. Nothing will happen in this story until June 3rd. There is no reason for it to.

The players unfortunately are now backed into a bit of a corner. The question is how are they going to react. Really, we liked the comment by Colts owner Jim Irsay yesterday saying on Twitter"Jeff Saturday and I could get this ting done, on cocktail napkins, over a long lunch at Rick's Boatyard" Irsay added "It's not that hard! Everyone's so damn serious, suits, briefcases, lawyers! Let's put on jeans n golf clothes, players/owners remembering we're friends, hang a little."

More Tweets from Irsay, who was on a roll: "Every time we argue about who's fault it is and who did that and who said this...spin,spin,spin..who cares! Get something done." 


"For every week after july15 that's there's no CBA, self-imposed players/owners/fines 2 fan charities...get out of the courts!"


"Drop all lawsuits, waste of time n $, get 2 collective bargaining, have equally, self-imposed fines on players n owners going 2 fan's charities"


"The mantra is not end lockout, it's get new collect. bargain.agreement. We have no CBA at this point, an obvious fact that gets's lost n shuffle"

Up to this point, we weren't a Jim Irsay fan, but, the man makes more sense here, than anyone else in the 9,212 day labor struggle has to this point. We just hope someone listens.

Here's another reason we think we like Irsay. He's not your typical, button-down, no personality businessman: