NFL Labor dispute on the horizon?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/120747075426150.xml&coll=2

Sunday, April 06, 2008
Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Palm Beach, Fla.- Storm clouds hovered - literally and figuratively - over NFL league meetings here last week.

A lot of talk behind the scenes among NFL executives and owners was about whether to wage - or how to avoid - another labor dispute with the players union.

Some of the wealthiest owners have grumbled that the 2006 extension of the collective bargaining agreement has swung significantly toward the players. These are the same men who are provided the personal use of yachts for Super Bowl week when they award the big game to waterfront markets such as Florida.

The union believes the owners will exercise their option to "opt out" of the current agreement in November. That decision automatically triggers one more season of the current system in 2009. And then in 2010, the salary cap would be abolished and some rules would change - many of which would be detrimental to the players.

The end result is that there could be some kind of action to disrupt the serenity in the league - an owners lockout, a players strike or, most likely, the union decertifying and going to a legal fight.

Browns fans are no doubt thinking: "Just what we need, a work stoppage right as the team is getting good."

FULL 2 page story at link.

[Hugabear]

1. Poor greedy fucking owners - wah, wah, wah

The players are the ones who are putting their bodies (and lives) at risk every time they take the field. They all know that just one hit, one tackle, etc can leave them paralyzed for life. Many of these players may retire at a very young age, but their bodies will always bear the scars and aches.

I know that these players are compensated very well. But you also have to look at what the owners are making - they're making BILLIONS of dollars, and most of the time they even manage to get the taxpayers to foot the bill for the stadiums they play in.