It just doesn't seem right to look back at the lockout as a thing of the past just yet. It might jinx things. I can't help it. I want to put it in the past and treat it as such. There are still things to be settled. The most significant is figuring out settlements in the antitrust and TV money cases. It is my naive thinking that the antitrust case will be settled by the CBA and the reforming of the players' union. The TV money case may actually bring the players a nice little windfall. One non-litigation issue appears to have popped up. I don't see it causing any difficulties except with the coaches, who unfortunately have no say in the matter. The players apparently want less contact during camp and to "basically eliminate" two-a-days. Come on! Are you kidding me? The players complain about the league taking the contact out of the game with rule changes. This plays right in into line with that thinking. This is football.
Anyway, at the risk of jinxing things, I can't help but look back. This mess really started in 2008 when the owners opted out of the 2006 CBA. According to the participants, it truly started in February. I say that it really started in the past month. The players and owners did little before that other than point fingers. In hindsight, I wish that the players hadn't brought the antitrust suit against the league. It's slowing things now. At the time, the players needed the leverage it provided. It was also the natural progression following decertification. The league held all the cards as employers. The players needed to grab a few of them. The biggest obstacle to any progress towards labor peace was the lawyers on both sides. Those idiots were a joke. They still are. Initially, I felt that the league suits, Jeff Pash, Gregg Levy, Bob Batterman and David Boies were the biggest problem. I came to realize that Jeffrey Kessler and Jim Quinn, for the players, were as bad. Probably worse. I truly believe that Kessler and Quinn had objectives that weren't in line with those of the players. They wanted to make a statement, not solve the problem. Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith received a great deal of criticism throughout. The relationship that developed between the two during the ordeal may be the NFL's greatest reward. In the long run, perhaps greater than the agreement itself. I can easily see Goodell and Smith being in their current roles for a long time. I also see it being a far more healthy relationship than that of Paul Tagliabue and Gene Upshaw from a decade ago. Joe Carr, Bert Bell and Pete Rozelle set the bar pretty high for Goodell as commissioner. In all his decisions, even those that are not universally accepted, it is always evident that the good of the game is his objective. Sometimes he tries to come across as every one's buddy. He doesn't need to be. He does need to drop the 18 game season idea. It will make money, which is why I think that the owners are behind it, but it won't make the game better.
There were few stars in the lockout and the labor negotiations. Two were US District Judge Susan Nelson and Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan. In ruling that the lockout was illegal, Nelson opened league operations for a few days. This allowed Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder, as well as players throughout the league, enough time to grab a playbook and meet with coaches. Nelson also appointed Boylan as mediator for negotiations. Boylan may have been the catalyst in getting a deal done. Nelson and Boylan had the least personal investment yet probably did the most.
The people hurt the most, outside the fans, are easily the undrafted free agents. Even in the best of times, the odds are against them. I wish them the best.
Now, I just hope that I didn't jinx everything.
No comments:
Post a Comment