Your NFL Strike/Lockout Update: Cartels and other things (Rich vs. Rich--Day 3,888)

Roger Goodell/File

We didn't get a chance to opine on this over the weekend, so we will today. For those unaware, several things, mostly rhetoric related happened in the legal battle nobody understands.

The highlight, without any doubt was a late night Friday, legal brief, filed by the NFLPA (not a union) with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

In that brief, they say "The NFL is a cartel that the Supreme Court has repeatedly and, just last year, unanimously held to be subject to the restraints against anti-competitive conduct contained in the Sherman Act."

We say, boy, that is a lot of "C" words in one sentence. The players are trying to make the point their careers would be irreparable harm if the lockout continues. We don't disagree with that, but we have a question: You were making an awful lot of money last season. What was the problem with that? What changed? (Ok, we know, that's 2-questions). Last years money certainly wasn't "Harming" anyone's career. Ask some of us if we'd be happy making $3.2 million a year playing football (not including licensing and endorsement money)...

The players really, really need to think about what they say at times before they say it. (See Sunday story on Ray Lewis)

The owners, for the most part have finally learned to keep their mouths shut, but they are also holding their "Spring Meetings" today in Indianapolis. Just a guess but the lockout will be a topic of discussion.

Ok. The Jolly Roger claims there needs to be a compromise agreement made. He's right. But they also need to remember that NFL Football is a partnership. A 3-way partnership. We still, aside from the owners wanting an extra $9 billion, don't totally understand why this "Lockout" is going on, but it is. And rather than go back and rehash things, we'll stay current.

Again, remember we have until June 3rd--at the minimum, before anything will happen. We think it will probably be sometime well after that before the dueling sides of greed actually agree to anything. And they will.

Unfortunately, it isn't turning off fans...at all. The New Orleans Saints reported last week that they've sold out for the season. A season not even guaranteed yet. Other teams are offering deals on season ticket packages and blind fans are just eating them up. So, we may end up refraining from talking about fan outrage, because there doesn't appear, unfortunately, to be much.

We will continue, providing periodic updates on this story when the situation warrants.

When you say Cartel, for some reason, we keep thinking of this:

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: