NFL motion for appeal of stay denied

[Stumpy]

I think some of you guys would rather see NFL owners put those greedy players in their place (grumble, grumble) than to watch football.

No, some of us would just rather miss a few games this season, if it means we have true competitive football for years to come, than have the instant gratification of the courts forcing the league to bend to its will, only to fundamentally change the way the game is played.

I've said all along, that if this went to the courts, it was going to get ugly. It is starting to look like that may happen sooner rather than later. Hopefully, the players will only use these legal victories as leverage to get a favorable deal. Because, the way it looks right now, the players will be able to get rid of all the competitive balances that make this league great, should they choose to.

I know, "fear mongering" "the sky is falling" :willy_nilly:, but the abolition of the draft, revenue sharing and the salary cap are all real possibilities if this litigation is pursued to the fullest extent.

[antame]

Stumpy, love the av, but what the fug are talking about?

'fundamentally change the way the game is played?" "get rid of all the competitive balances that make this league great?" "abolition of the draft, revenue sharing and the salary cap?"

Again, what the fug are you talking about?

[mav1234]

Huh? Please explain.

And Mav, what's with the sky is falling take?

I don't think it'll happen but there is a fear by the league (real or just PR) that if the league is forced to do business, without the players as in a union a player could challenge things like salary caps, free agency tenders, even the draft in court as antitrust violations - because they actually are when the union is not a unit, or so the argument goes. The NFL would then try to argue - as it failed to do this time - that the union really still exists.

[antame]

...

[mav1234]

...

considering Jeffrey Kessler has said before he wants to get rid of the draft, I think there's some reason for the fear.

The players (some of them, and some owners too) might prefer a system more like MLB than like the NFL.

Tin foil hat time: Maybe this was all part of some owners plans...

...ok, yeah, no it wasn't.

[antame]

Mav...where to begin

Look. This thing's going to get worked out and we're probably going to have our NFL football as we've always known it, and sooner than later because the courts are ruling in a way that now, both sides are motivated to work out a deal. If you're one of the "I vote for the fans guys and just want to watch football" guys, and actually mean it, this is all good news.

On the other hand, if above all else you simply want to see NFL owners overpower NFL players as a matter of principle, you're disappointed and you're likely to become more disappointed.

[Stumpy]

Stumpy, love the av, but what the fug are talking about?

'fundamentally change the way the game is played?" "get rid of all the competitive balances that make this league great?" "abolition of the draft, revenue sharing and the salary cap?"

Again, what the fug are you talking about?

The draft, revenue sharing and salary caps are all anti-trust violations. And, like I said, if the players choose to see these lawsuits to their end, they all could be gone.

I do not want the owners to crush the players. I just want the NFL to continue as we know it. I hope that the players do not want these things, But, current and former players (and their reps) have spoke out against the draft and the cap.

Maybe these are just negotiation tactics. But, if not, we could be following a very different league in the near future.

[Jackofalltrades]

Knowing the NFLPA's true intentions would tell us a lot. Are they doing this just to continue to gain leverage and set a precedent for the future? Or are they genuinely trying to bring down the house of cards?

I hope it's the former as the later may well destroy the NFL.

[pantherfan81]

NFL teams were told last night to continue to follow the current rules and practices until told otherwise by the league office.

All of that is pending the NFL's request to the 8th Circuit for a temporary stay of Judge Nelson's injunction ending the lockout.

That's according to @gregaiello, the NFL's senior VP of public relations. So no free agency or trades of players yet.

Mark Maske

Unofficially it still sounds like only trades of picks will be allowed.

Schefter

So I guess no player trades today.