Bloody Thursday

                                     

Today may be the last day of the NFL as we know it.  Really.

Yesterday, the NFL and the NFLPA broke off talks after they reached a stalemate in discussions to extend the current collective bargaining agreement.  The agreement ends in 2007 [or after this next season ends] and the ramifications for not getting a deal done will be felt immediately.

Usually I side with owners during these labor talks.  But this time, I think I am siding with the players.  Not so much that they are getting "screwed" or anything....but the main sticking point is revenue sharing.   Or, basically, what IS revenue. 

In a post I made last month, NFL Labor Woes Not With Players......But With Other Owners, I stated about how it is the owners who are trying to rip some cash outta the cow.  Look, I understand what these guys are saying:  those owners who can make more money doing other things want to keep that money away from owners [and players] who can't.  But is that really, really, really worth screwing up the entire NFL structure that has placed it far and away higher than any other team sport??

Barring some movement today before 4pm [which doesn't seem likely right now], the NFL......read as YOUR TEAM.....may look violently different than they did just a few months ago.  Since no one knows what is out there....there are no "loopholes" to keep teams in accordance to the cap.  So teams might cut players who are still vital members of their teams....just so they can stay in line with the cap. 

I am a Washington Redskins fan....and since the Skins are way over the cap [projected]...they will be releasing players like flies.  According to ESPN, the Skins could be suiting up 20 rookies this season.  Atlanta may have to cut Warrick Dunn.  Kansas City may have to cut Will Shields.  These are just some of the rumors going on....and it could be worse when it actually happens.  You might see Domanick Davis, Daunte Culpepper, Derrek Brooks, Laverneuas Coles, Simeon Rice, Joey Harrington, Eric Moulds, John Kasay, Preist Holmes, Ty Law, LaVar Arrington, Kevin Mawae, Kerry Collins, Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk cut as well.  Also, cap numbers may get skewed when various incentives will count against the 2006 cap....whereas it wouldn't have before. 

Players would also have to wait 6 years [instead of 4] to be an unrestricted free agent.  Also, many normal benefits [like 401K] would be thrown out the window and be up to each player to get on their own.   

And then....2007.  If no deal is reached, we will enter an un-capped year.  While nice maybe for certain teams [the Redskins being one of them], it will be devestating to the NFL as a whole.  The NFL could turn into MLB where a few of the richest teams buys up all the talent while the others live off draft picks, NFL Europe players and guys trying to stay in the league.  Then, in 2008, there could be a lockout.