And get sued for Collusion and lose millions. Why NOT bargain it in. I don't argue that they made their own beds, but at this point, the Union has enough power, they have to negotiate it out.

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Expert on nothing, opinionated on everything...

yeah, it is collusion if they all huddle up and say they are going to start paying X amount to rookies and that is it. All it would take is for the owners to sit back and wait to see what that #1 guy received, and then, rather than offering more money for their lower picks, offer contracts that are in accordance. Yeah, the players union might sue, but if common sense was used, they would be able to prove nothing.

I think 32 owners could get this done though without "collusion" ever being proven. But, they would never manage to all take a stand on this.

My whole point here is that as much as you folks are happy to see this, I think you are overlooking the big picture. The players are going to get something just as valuable, if not more valuable, in return. I fully expect this to be guaranteed contracts for the players.

No more of these big nice looking contracts for free agent veterans that we all know they will never see the end of, because now, they will be seeing the end of them. So look forward to seeing your 53 man roster including worn down players that have become worthless to your team, and look forward to seeing your teams burned by free agents that get that big contract and suddenly lose that motivation that got them that contract.

Oh, and that revenue split that is bringing an end to the current CBA because the owners don't want to pay the current percentage (even though they are all getting filthy rich off of their percentage), expect the players to get an even larger portion of that as well.

Something else you have to realize - Many veterans have been questioned about these rookie salaries over the past few years, and for the most part, they support these guys getting as much as they can get. So if Goodell thinks he is going to get support from the veteran players, he is mistaken.

This is simply a motive to put less money into contracts via rookie salaries, in an effort to keep the owners from having to pay a bigger percentage, or even continuing to pay the current percentage that they think is too much.

This could turn into a very ugly situation. Personally, I am not looking forward to a September without Football.

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One more thing, this comment being made by Goodell during the Symposium was nothing more than an effort to gain fan support toward the owners.

They need two caps. They can have one cap on what they spend on rookies, and one cap on what they spend on everyone else.

MOJO, just how much do you hate Goodell

Have you purchased the domain dame for showgoodellthedoor.com?

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No, I am sorry, all it takes is to prove the league and ownership were in agreement on a stance and collusion will be won. It isn't a maybe here Mojo, it is a will be. Look at what happened in baseball, and collusion was not the case.



Won't happen. Vets will agree to it, because the salary will go to them, not the rookies. In fact all it would take is a set % of income having to go to salary to insure this. Without having to have guaranteed contracts. That is part of negotiation.


Okay, another rediculous statement. They got too greedy now, and it cost them a great agreement. They will lose blood testing and rookie salaries...watch and see. Owners have the power here, not the union on this. Fan base will want to keep salary cap, and have drug testing thanks to all the other issues going. May end up stoppage for a while, but ownership will win

According to what I have seen, this is due to the fact that they know this won't change right now. So you get it up front. But alot of vets, and retired players are now agreeing that this high rookie salary is rediculous.

Limit the risk, not the cost

lol, just consider me one of the few that hasn't crowned him as the greatest thing since sliced bread all because he flexed his muscle on a couple players.

Owners and players union were already enough at odds. Goodell never should have popped off like this.

And Phicinfan, where are you hearing the vets speaking out against the rookies? Same source that is giving you the inside Ryan info?

As for the retired players, I think the current leader of the NFLPA has already made it clear he could care less what the retired players think.

First of all, the Salary Cap is why the NFL is the best league in North America. I think in another 10 years, the NHL will follow suit. MLB is going to get worse when you have teams like Red Sox and Yankees keep spending the way they do.

Guys...I don't think its a sense of collusion if you put a cap on rookie salaries. It is if the owners all agree on the side to limit salaries. So make it legitimate and make it part of the CBA. Cap on rookie salaries, but make it reasonable. Rookies should not make $50M for their first 5 years for not even stepping on the field. That's why you have all these stars getting released or holding out because they actual do deserve more. Maybe with a smaller contract like 2-3 years so they can re-negotiate after they prove themselves. These kids coming in will have the incentive to 'prove' they deserve it like the veterans and pro-bowlers do.

Look at it like this. When you start a job, let's say at a retail store. You get the starting rate. You have an annual evaluation, if you do well, you get a raise. Simple as that. You have never heard of a new floor sales staff at a Wal-Mart get to start at $20/hr when there are people there making $10/hr for the past five years. This kid may not even know what a light bulb is, why is he getting $20/hr already. I can explain to a customer the difference between incandecent and flourescent, can he? LOL

Just put a cap on rookies and we'll be fine. I hate seeing people who have been with a team for 10 years an dropped because they need to pay a rookie $10M a season. Even worse, I hate to see a face of a club let go for someone who only last two seasons.

The NFL was the top sports league in America before the salary cap came into play.

As for just putting a cap on rookies, it won't happen. the players union isn't going to let it happen. They will get something in return.

And given that goodell handled this as professional as he did (sarcasm), I am sure the players union is already in the bunker planning on getting as much as they can from the owners once the labor talks start. There was absolutely no reason for Goodell to announce this in the fashion he did.

Trying to cap contracts for rookies entering a league where the average career length is about 5 years is just asking for huge resistance.

League announces hard core stance on off-field behavior.
League announces CBA may need to be re-CBA'd.
League announces Rookies get too much.
League doesn't need to announce the writing is on the wall.

League changes the NFL draft schedule, effectively making it the least talked about draft in years....

All it takes is one work stoppage to effectively ruin years of progress that was made by previous commissioners. Ask the other pro leagues what happens when you shut down (the fans go elsewhere)

I think that is the writing. However, I believe the Commish is acting on behalf of a majority of the owners.
They'd write his last check on the wall if he were acting on his own. jmo

I think he is doing a bang up job...

I am so happy they have taken a no tolerance stance on off-field crap. Tagliabue did a great job growing the game and making it more popular, but nothing for discipline. Had Goodell been around for discipline, Irvin would have never been a hall of famer or been part of those 3 Superbowls. Nevermind, the Cowboys may not have won them.

What in the world is wrong with snorting coke off a couple of hookers asses?
There should be a HOF for that!

They have? Seems more like selective punishment to me.

I want to touch on this rookie cap thought one more time, as I fee so much is being overlooked here. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see NFL salaries come down across the board, but only if it meant that the common man could afford those cool things like season tickets without having to go without things like food and electricity in the home. I mean, hell, we are now funding new stadiums with $25k seat licenses on top of the cost of a season ticket. That is ridiculous.

However, before everyone gets all happy about the idea of a rookie cap, you need to truly understand the real picture, or at least try to see it from my point of view for a minute.

Roger Goodell has the fans on his side here because he is talking the angle of paying the veterans what they deserve. However, where is this money going to come from? Goodell and the owners are not trying to take the money from the rookies so it is available to pay veterans, they are simply trying to pay less money period to the players by lowering the percentage of revenue, and effectively lowering the cap ( or preventing it from climbing any further).

Bottom line, this is being done to put more money into the pockets of the already overly rich owners.

From a thread started back in February
In May, the owners voted to opt out of the current agreement.

Capping the rookies is just step one toward these owners lining their pockets with more money. Getting a bigger share of the revenue to stay with them is another step.

Now, think about what was quoted above. Do you still really think that the owners reasoning for wanting to cap rookies is so they can pay veterans more money?

And given that the owners only agreed to this previous CBA to avoid a strike, do you actually think the owners and this commish can accomplish capping rookie salaries, force a blood test for HGH, and get a higher percentage of the revenue?

Gene Upshaw stood his ground last time. Now you want to add in the pressure to help the older retired players? There is no way Upshaw caves on any of this. If anything, he is going to demand a higher percentage of revenue.

Look at the whole picture, not just the words that Roger Goodell is spouting off to gain favor among the fans.

That is all I will say on the subject..... At least for tonight

ESPN Radio as well as other talk sport radio during interviews. Why is it when you can't argue a point, you immediately run to a source question?

Do you take everything so seriously?

There is no not serious in FF!

Seriously though, just listening to ESPN radio on the way home, Feely the K and an NFL rep in the union is now on record for saying 95% of the vet players are for this.