Topic: NFL: General News & Discussion

[Columbo]

Judge ends lockout; owners file appeal
Updated: April 25, 2011, 10:18 PM ET
ESPN.com news services

MINNEAPOLIS -- Seven weeks into the NFL lockout, players have an early triumph over the owners in court.  U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered an immediate end to the lockout Monday, siding with the players in their bitter fight with the owners over how to divide the $9 billion business.

The fate of the 2011 season remained in limbo: The NFL responded by filing a notice of appeal questioning whether Nelson exceeded her jurisdiction, seeking relief from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.  Hours later, the league filed a motion for an expedited stay, meaning it wants Nelson to freeze her ruling to let the appeals process play out.

What will happen in the next few days is murky, too.  Players may very well show up at team facilities on Tuesday; whether they'll be allowed access is unclear.

READ MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6424084

[Columbo]

After ruling, NFL lockout back

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The on-again, off-again NFL lockout is on again.

Hours after NFL players reported to work for the first time in nearly two months, the league announced late Friday the lockout would resume immediately, thanks to an appeals court ruling in the league's favor.

READ MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6451701

[KJP]

Geez, keep the lawyers out!

Source: NFL talks 'almost blew up' Tuesday
NFL and NFL players hope to make significant progress in next two-three days
By Adam Schefter
ESPN

At a time when many are waiting for and anticipating a deal between owners and the NFL Players Association, there was a point Tuesday when talks clearly regressed.

One person close to the talks went so far as to say, "This almost blew up yesterday."

How close it got to that point is a matter of opinion. The moment may have come shortly after lawyers from both sides were brought back into the process at an undisclosed location in the Washington, D.C., area.

As tensions rose and anger grew, two sources said NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith instructed his lawyers to "stand down."

READ MORE AT:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6663832

[ClevelandOhio]

New poll as well

[Columbo]

NFL owners approve labor deal; players have yet to vote
After a 10-year collective bargaining agreement is ratified by owners, player representatives hold a conference call but take no further action.
By Sam Farmer, L.A. Times
July 21, 2011, 9:27 p.m.

Reporting from Atlanta — In a move that led to more confusion than clarity, NFL owners voted Thursday to approve a proposed labor agreement, putting a conditional end to the four-month-old lockout.

Less than an hour later, the notion that a deal has been struck was denied by DeMaurice Smith, head of the decertified players' union.  In an email to the 32 team players representatives that preceded their two-hour conference call, he wrote: "There is no agreement between the NFL and the players at this time."

MORE: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nfl-labor-20110722,0,133125.story

Owners pressure players to deal
By John Clayton, ESPN.com
July 21, 2011

ATLANTA -- The lockout prevented HBO from having a training camp version of "Hard Knocks," so NFL owners decided Thursday to play "Hard Knocks" with the players, passing a proposed collective bargaining agreement in a 31-0-1 vote.

This was an obvious power play by owners, who want to pressure players into accepting their latest proposal and see how they respond to public pressure.  On Thursday night, the NFL Players Association executive board and 32 player reps opted not to vote on the proposal.  Players finally received a copy late Thursday of what the owners had passed, but their initial response wasn't favorable.  They think they are being played.

Said one player who was on a conference call with the NFLPA and reps: "What they said they voted on were things we didn't even agree to. Players were ticked off at owners and have just dug a deeper trench."

MORE: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6791952/nfl-owners-put-all-blitz-players

[Cygnus]

Ochocinco Tweeted: "Smart move by the owners to gain positive public perception and pressure the players into a bad deal shifting the negativity on us #kudos"

[KJP]

I agree with Skip Bayless. This is actually increasing my interest in the NFL as well as my desire to see them return. I think the free agency signing period is going to be absolutely the most crazy fun I've seen from the NFL in a long time.

[Hts121]

When the owners unanimously approved the proposal, we should have all known it was doomed.  For purely strategic reasons, you would have thought all those billionares would have had the sense to at least not give off the appearance that this was a deal they would jump on.  What the h-e-double hockey sticks do they pay their high-priced negotiators for!

[Loretto]

Assuming things wrap up here in the next couple weeks the Kluwe v Jackson tiff has made the whole lockout process worth it.

http://deadspin.com/5823788/chris-kluwe-responds-can-i-kick-it-yes-i-can

[Clevelander17]

I agree with Skip Bayless. This is actually increasing my interest in the NFL as well as my desire to see them return. I think the free agency signing period is going to be absolutely the most crazy fun I've seen from the NFL in a long time.

I can't get really excited about it because, from everything I've heard, I expect that the Browns will be sitting on their hands.

[Columbo]

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???
 

NFLPA approves labor deal
Updated: July 25, 2011, 2:15 PM ET
ESPN.com news services

The NFL Players Association executive board and 32 team reps have voted unanimously to approve the terms of a deal to the end the 4½-month lockout.

The updated timeline:

• Monday: The NFL will announce that teams can go to 90-man rosters and the official free-agent list will be distributed to teams.

• Tuesday: Trading begins. Teams can reach agreements with rookies and undrafted free agents beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Teams can reach agreements with all free agents and signed players are allowed to enter team facilities.

• Wednesday: Players can begin reporting to training camps 15 days before their first preseason games. According to the proposed timeline, 10 teams would report on Wednesday, 10 more on Thursday and 10 additional teams on Friday. The New York Jets and Houston Texans would be the last two teams to report, on Sunday.

• Thursday: Teams can begin to cut players at 4 p.m. ET.

• Friday: Teams can begin filing transactions to the league office at 6 p.m. ET.

• Aug. 4: Deadline for recertification and ratification of the collective bargaining agreement by the players.

MORE: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6799301/nflpa-unanimously-approves-labor-deal

[KJP]

I can't get really excited about it because, from everything I've heard, I expect that the Browns will be sitting on their hands.

They can't sit on their hands. They must spend to reach the minimum salary, and the Browns are $33 million below the salary cap. And they can't do it by spending like crazy on their draft picks and rookies since there is a rookie pay scale now. They MUST acquire draft picks.

[8Titles]

Hottest NFL Training Camps

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/hottest-training-camps_2011-07-25

[dmoor82]

Ochocinco and Albert Hanesworth to the Patriots?I guess if any team has a shot with older or more controversial figures its the Pats!Brady to Ocho hmmmm.... sounds weird!

[Hts121]

Braylon to SanFran......  fab - u - lous

[Loretto]

This morning I saw some amusing comments regarding Smith to Edwards being a setup for the Luck sweepstakes.  Also, a lot of chatter about his weak contract (1yr $1m up to 3.5ish with escalators).

[Hts121]

I suppose this does give a whole new twist to the "suck for Luck" campaign.

[KJP]

WOW!!! The NFL will now pay ESPN $1.9 BILLION per year.....

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2011/09/08/ESPN-NFL.aspx

....so get ready for ESPN to start covering the NFL more heavily than the NFL's own network which isn't even part of basic cable.

$1.9 billion!

I. Am. In. The. Wrong. Business.

[Columbo]

WOW!!! The NFL will now pay ESPN $1.9 BILLION per year.....

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2011/09/08/ESPN-NFL.aspx

....so get ready for ESPN to start covering the NFL more heavily than the NFL's own network which isn't even part of basic cable.

$1.9 billion!

I. Am. In. The. Wrong. Business.

Stories like this remind me why I laugh every time someone says "this country is broke"!

Actually, I can see why ESPN would pony up the dough.  The NFL is the most popular sport in America.  Watching last night's opening game between the Packers and Saints just reminded me why it's so popular.

[Columbo]

Entertaining Week One in the NFL.  Here's what caught my eye: (list not meant to be comprehensive - if something else caught your eye, please share)

- Some great performances like Tom Brady throwing for 517 yds and 5 TD's in a Monday Night win (incl. 99-yd TD pass to Wes Welker). / Like the Sunday debut of Cam Newton throwing for 422 yds, 2 passing TD's and 1 rushing TD. / Like Ted Ginn Jr. returning a kickoff for a TD and a punt for a TD, within one minute in the fourth quarter, leading SF to win over SEA.

- Some poor performances like Donovan McNabb throwing for 39 yards.  Not in one quarter.  Not in one half.  But 39 yards in the entire game ... that he played in its entirety.  Needless to say, MIN lost at SD. / Add Tony Romo to this list.  He played great for three quarters in give DAL a lead over NYJ.  And then helped lose the game with a fumble and interception in the fourth quarter.

- What was the most surprising loss?  How about PIT getting pasted 35-7 at BAL?

- And how badly will the Indy Colts miss Peyton Manning?  How about 34-0 at halftime bad?

[mrnyc]

WOW!!! The NFL will now pay ESPN $1.9 BILLION per year.....

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2011/09/08/ESPN-NFL.aspx

....so get ready for ESPN to start covering the NFL more heavily than the NFL's own network which isn't even part of basic cable.

$1.9 billion!

I. Am. In. The. Wrong. Business.

great, we can never have enough jets and giants news on espn can we?

[KJP]

BTW, I am really enjoying the storylines in the NFL this season -- the resurgence of the Lions, Bills and Raiders; the amazing comebacks by the Lions, the disappointing season for the Eagles "dream team" and the Steelers so far, surprise victories each week, and more. I have become less of a "homer" for my Browns and am able to enjoy football in general, with or without the Browns. Of course, I learned this in the mid-90s when they went away and have never gotten emotionally involved with the replacement Browns. So there is an upside for me of having a bad team as my home team. It's let me appreciate the league more than I have in the past, and this year I'm being rewarded with many good storylines to follow.

[Loretto]

I'm feeling quite the opposite.  I'm sick of "We're going to cover all the teams at once ... your favorite teams just won the game; let us take you to the end of this other game you don't care about; upt that one is over now, onto another game you don't care about... and now to the sports desk for old dried up talking heads analysis on mostly games you don't care about."

[KJP]

Get Direct TV or the NFL package on your cable system. As for me, I've been spending most of my time on Sundays on the NFL Channel on during the the 1-4 p.m. timeframe, where they track all the games at the same time.

[tedders55]

Get Direct TV or the NFL package on your cable system. As for me, I've been spending most of my time on Sundays on the NFL Channel on during the the 1-4 p.m. timeframe, where they track all the games at the same time.

I hear the RedZone Channel is fantastic for this.  All the scoring opportunities and keeps you interested in all the games going on.  Its like the first weekend of March Maddness, except it occures for 17 weeks during the Fall/Winter

[Columbo]

ESPN: Raiders owner Al Davis dead at 82

Like him or not, the man was a true pioneer.  And arguably one of the most important figures in NFL history.  Safe to say, the NFL would not be the entertaining sports juggernaut it is today without Al Davis.

[Columbo]

The New York Jets really got "tebowed"!

[Columbo]

Chicago Bears good and bad breaks from Sunday:

GOOD BREAK: Beating the Chargers to win their sixth straight game and go 7-3.

BAD BREAK: QB Jay Cutler's right thumb.

[Columbo]

Suh gets suspended.  Houston loses QB Leinhart - after losing QB Schaub - and signs Delhomme.  Tebow triumphs - again.  The New York Jets and New York Giants both lose and come closer to playoff elimination.  The San Diego Chargers and the Philadelphia "Dream Team" Eagles both lose and confirm their playoff elimination.

[mkeller234]

Even after Delhomme's Cleveland woes, I like him and I am rooting for him.

[edale]

Suh gets suspended.  Houston loses QB Leinhart - after losing QB Schaub - and signs Delhomme.  Tebow triumphs - again.  The New York Jets and New York Giants both lose and come closer to playoff elimination.  The San Diego Chargers and the Philadelphia "Dream Team" Eagles both lose and confirm their playoff elimination.

The Jets beat the Bills

[Columbo]

The Jets beat the Bills

The Jets did win didn't they.  In the words of that great American intellectual Rick Perry - Oops!

In other NFL news - the 0-11 Colts travel to New England.  The Patriots are 20 point favorites.  Anyone want to take Indy and the points?

[KJP]

In other NFL news - the 0-11 Colts travel to New England.  The Patriots are 20 point favorites.  Anyone want to take Indy and the points?

While massive blowouts usually don't happen in the NFL as they do in college, I think this is one time I might want to  take the Patriots with the points.

[musky]

Madonna to perform at halftime of Super Bowl
NEW YORK (AP) - The Material Girl will be taking the stage on football's biggest night.
 Madonna, who has sold more than 300 million records, will perform at halftime of the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. The NFL and NBC announced Sunday during the Detroit-New Orleans game that the Grammy Award-winning singer will highlight the show at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 5.http://apnews.myway.com/article/20111205/D9RE62QO0.html

[subocincy]

After yesterday's Browns & Bengals debacles against Baltimore & Pittsburgh, we are indeed a humbled state in deep pain.  (Can you feel it?)  No postmortem needed.  (No matter what's said, it hurts...)