NFL Owners Think Solution Is Good, Trade Association Disagrees...

((HT: No Bias No Bull Sports))

New Dawg was there for the duration along with Gil Tyree for OSG

So, here's where we are...

The owners got together in one of the many airport hotels in Atlanta and discussed their future. They thought they came up with a great CBA for themselves...

NFL owners voted 31-0 with the Oakland Raiders abstaining from the ratification in favor of a tentative 10-year agreement to end the four-month-old lockout pending player approval.

The vote was here are the greatest hits...

An agreement that covers the 2011 through 2020 seasons, including the 2021 draft.

Reducing the offseason program by five weeks and reducing OTA's from 14 to 10. Full-contact practices in the preseason and regular season and increasing number of days off for players. During two-a-days, contact itself will be limited.

A rookie wage scale gets four-year contracts for all drafted players (option for five years on first-rounders) and three-year contracts for undrafted free agents.

Unrestricted free agency for players after four seasons with RFA status for players with three seasons.

Close to a billion dollars wil go to a "Legacy Fund," which will be devoted to increasing pensions for pre-1993 retirees.

Salary cap plus benefits of $142.4 million per club in 2011 and at least that amount in 2012 and 2013.

Teams have to spend in the neighborhood of 90-percent of the cap or 99-percent of league operating revenues...

Here's Jim Irsay again talking everything from the Krafts to the, ahem, settlement...


But that's where the fun started shortly after 7PM eastern time. The player's trade association said they weren't consulted on some aspects of the new CBA- and they weren't pleased...

The NFL is saying the PA has to recertify by mid-week... general counsel Richard Berthelsen said in an e-mail...

"In addition to depriving the players of the time needed to consider forming a union and making needed changes to the old agreement, this proposed procedure would in my view also violate federal labor laws..."

FOSG Mark Berman caught up with Houston Texans co-player rep Eric Winston
((HT: MyFoxHouston))

NFL Owners Ratify New CBA: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

But Chiefs boss Clark Hunt is happy it's done- even if it's really not...

DEVELOPING: Rich Vs. Rich, Stardate 9731.6- The End Is Near...

((HT: NobiasnobullSports))

Our intrepid reporter, New Dawg, is down at the airport hotel not sponsoring our coverage in Atlanta...

Here's the latest nuggets he's uncovered as we inch closer to the end of approaching Armageddon...

First, CNBC's Darren Rovell...


And Indy Colts owner Jim Irsay- who Newby was walking with...


And The Per-fessor...


Atlanta Falcons color guy and former NFL'er Dave Archer...


And former head coach and now front officer Mike Holmgren of your Cleveland Browns


Is it just the HQ, or when the interviews leave the air conditioning, does New Dawg's lenses get all fogged up...???

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:

Irsay Knows Sweetheart Deals When He Signs Them

((HT: Indy Star/Robert Annis))

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay ((pictured, thanks Sam Riche/IndyStar is refusing calls to renegotiate his team's stadium lease with the city, firing back at critics who suggest the Colts should foot more of the bill for Lucas Oil Stadium.

In comments during Saturday's NFL draft and in a call to The Indianapolis Star on Sunday, Irsay took a firm stand against calls for the Colts organization to kick in as much as $5 million extra for operating costs to help bail out the city's ailing Capital Improvement Board. The city and the Colts spent more than four years working out lease terms for the $720 million stadium.

"I'm not going to renegotiate. That's the bottom line," Irsay said. "All we did was negotiate in good faith. We've done everything we can to have a great organization. We've lived up to our part. We've exceeded our part."

Last week, Gov. Mitch Daniels joined other government leaders calling on the Colts and Pacers to "search their consciences" and kick in additional money to help the CIB, which operates Lucas Oil Stadium, Conseco Fieldhouse and the Indiana Convention Center. The CIB has projected its 2010 deficit at $47 million.

Irsay criticized Daniels -- a good friend, he pointed out -- for insisting that gambling companies abide by terms of an agreement signed before the economic downturn.

"He said, 'A deal's a deal,' " Irsay said. "But when the shoe's on the other foot, it's a different story."
Spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said the governor had no comment on Irsay's statement.

Irsay said the CIB's problems aren't unexpected.

"That's like me drafting all these players this week and later saying, 'I didn't know I was going to have to sign them, too,' " Irsay said.

State lawmakers are considering legislation that gives the City-County Council the authority to raise local auto rental, ticket, innkeepers and alcohol taxes to plug the CIB's deficit. Last week, City-County Council leaders from both parties said there were not enough votes to pass the package of tax increases if it makes it to the council. Also, the legislature ends its session Wednesday, so time is limited.

Here's some of Irsay's comments from the discussion in black...
Irsay also hates the idea of a ticket tax hike and fired back in a letter released to the public. The Colts claim they never "asked" for a new stadium.
Kevin Rader from WTHR-TV13 is at the Indiana Statehouse...