2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[StereoMike]

Summary of NFL proposal to NFLPA

1. We more than split the economic difference between us, increasing our proposed cap for 2011 significantly and accepting the Union’s proposed cap number for 2014 ($161 million per club).

2. An entry level compensation system based on the Union’s “rookie cap” proposal, rather than the wage scale proposed by the clubs. Under the NFL proposal, players drafted in rounds 2-7 would be paid the same or more than they are paid today. Savings from the first round would be reallocated to veteran players and benefits.

3. A guarantee of up to $1 million of a player’s salary for the contract year after his injury – the first time that the clubs have offered a standard multi-year injury guarantee.

4. Immediate implementation of changes to promote player health and safety by:

* Reducing the off-season program by five weeks, reducing OTAs from 14 to 10, and limiting on-field practice time and contact;
* Limiting full-contact practices in the preseason and regular season; and
* Increasing number of days off for players.

5. Commit that any change to an 18-game season will be made only by agreement and that the 2011 and 2012 seasons will be played under the current 16-game format.

6. Owner funding of $82 million in 2011-12 to support additional benefits to former players, which would increase retirement benefits for more than 2000 former players by nearly 60 percent.

7. Offer current players the opportunity to remain in the player medical plan for life.

8. Third party arbitration for appeals in the drug and steroid programs.

9. Improvements in the Mackey plan, disability plan, and degree completion bonus program.

10. A per-club cash minimum spend of 90 percent of the salary cap over three seasons.

[lutefisk69]

This is far reaching. My town has a training camp in it. People are worried the usual amount of money that rolls in during training camp will not happen. A couple businesses (sports memorbilia for items to sign) get a bulk of their business during the camp.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Why is everyone freaking out? I could care less if there's a "lockout" in March. Wake me up if it's still going on late in the summer. I have a hard time believing one side or the other won't give in.

Because it could mean no free agency till after the draft which makes the drafty difficult for teams because they used to plug some spots before the draft now they cant.


edit:
ok now im reading an article that says if the court ruling next week overturns the lockout then free agancy could start friday @ midnite.

Thats the prob with this stuff....everyone you listen to has a different story.

Yesterday some were saying free agency could be months away.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

Because it could mean no free agency till after the draft which makes the drafty difficult for teams because they used to plug some spots before the draft now they cant.

All teams are in the same boat, that's just how it is going to be right now.

[fatediesel]

It's clear from the proposal Stereomike posted that the Player's Association had no intentions of making a deal and believe that they can get a better deal in court. That proposal was very fair and if the NFLPA wanted to make a deal they would have extended the deadline and filed a counter-proposal. The NFL went above and beyond in terms of lifetime health care, which is what the players claimed was most important. It's clear all the players really care about is money, even though they've been claiming they care more about safety.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

It's clear from the proposal Stereomike posted that the Player's Association had no intentions of making a deal and believe that they can get a better deal in court. That proposal was very fair and if the NFLPA wanted to make a deal they would have extended the deadline and filed a counter-proposal. The NFL went above and beyond in terms of lifetime health care, which is what the players claimed was most important. It's clear all the players really care about is money, even though they've been claiming they care more about safety.

Yep I hate Smith like Michael Lombardi said "The nfl has gotten this big and come this far without ever seeing the books... Why do they need that now?"

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

It's clear from the proposal Stereomike posted that the Player's Association had no intentions of making a deal and believe that they can get a better deal in court. That proposal was very fair and if the NFLPA wanted to make a deal they would have extended the deadline and filed a counter-proposal. The NFL went above and beyond in terms of lifetime health care, which is what the players claimed was most important. It's clear all the players really care about is money, even though they've been claiming they care more about safety.

Money>Safety. I still think an 18 game schedule is a strong possibility if enough money is thrown at the players.

[lacubs]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

No....it isnt a lockout until the nfl officially declares a lockout & they havent yet.

i was off by 7hr sorry , lockout is a lockout to me, what a big mess

[Batman1980]

The NFL players' lawsuit in a U.S. district court is seeking declaration that the NFL draft violates antitrust laws.
Von Miller is a plaintiff in the suit, and it's not crazy to think this could hurt his draft stock. The draft is just one of the many things the players' suit challenges, also including the franchise tag, the owners' forthcoming lockout, and probably restricted free agent tenders. All along, we've been under the assumption that the draft was the only thing set in stone for the 2011 offseason. Now, it's questionable whether it's going to happen.

Source - http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6500/von-miller

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Source - http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6500/von-miller

If these bum players cause us to have no draft I really hope they have some way to get even college scrubs to fill their spots, because in the end all we care about is that we get to see the uniforms, the world won't stop when Favre leaves and it sure won't stop when anyone else stops playing.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Source - http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6500/von-miller

Why would Von Miller lend his name to this suit? It would seem he'd have nothing to gain and a lot to potentially lose by doing this.

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by supersix4

If these bum players cause us to have no draft I really hope they have some way to get even college scrubs to fill their spots, because in the end all we care about is that we get to see the uniforms, the world won't stop when Favre leaves and it sure won't stop when anyone else stops playing.

I'm pretty sure if there is a lockout Favre would be one of the scabs playing. He filed his retirement papers so he technically isn't affiliated with the NFLPA if memory serves.

Which would be pretty funny.

[ChadFL]

Without the NFL is this the future of football...

[Show spoiler]

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

I'm pretty sure if there is a lockout Favre would be one of the scabs playing. He filed his retirement papers so he technically isn't affiliated with the NFLPA if memory serves.

Which would be pretty funny.

Technically doesn't the NFLPA legally no longer exist now anyway? I think it's decertified.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by SleeperAgent

I'm pretty sure if there is a lockout Favre would be one of the scabs playing. He filed his retirement papers so he technically isn't affiliated with the NFLPA if memory serves.

Which would be pretty funny.

And I'd bet they'd still have the biggest ratings, because like I said we'll watch preseason games with nobodies so why not NFL games... Just means new stars to be made.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

And I'd bet they'd still have the biggest ratings, because like I said we'll watch preseason games with nobodies so why not NFL games... Just means new stars to be made.

The last time the NFL used scab players was in 1987 for 3 games and their TV ratings were considerably higher than they thought. The NFL is an even bigger juggernaut these days so I'd bet they could put complete scrubs in Bears or Cowboys uniforms and people would still watch by the millions.

Hell, I'll bet the fantasy geeks are already scouting out UFL and Arena League players to determine who will put up the best NFL scab numbers should a strike happen.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

The last time the NFL used scab players was in 1987 for 3 games and their TV ratings were considerably higher than they thought. The NFL is an even bigger juggernaut these days so I'd bet they could put complete scrubs in Bears or Cowboys uniforms and people would still watch by the millions.

Hell, I'll bet the fantasy geeks are already scouting out UFL and Arena League players to determine who will put up the best NFL scab numbers should a strike happen.

Yep like I said the NFL won't stop because TO and Randy Moss can't catch or because Manning and Brady can't throw, they'll find new people, new stars. I'd love to see it and then the players would be begging to come back. I just hope they have some stipulation that its possible to do that.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Yep like I said the NFL won't stop because TO and Randy Moss can't catch or because Manning and Brady can't throw, they'll find new people, new stars. I'd love to see it and then the players would be begging to come back. I just hope they have some stipulation that its possible to do that.

Wouldn't the coaches actually stay the same even through a strike? I'm fairly certain the coaches stayed intact in 1987 and coached the replacement players. Not sure if the coaches technically belong to any union. I believe season ticket holders have to pay ahead of time anyhow and would be obligated into tickets regardless of whether the real players or some scabs were on the field.

[Steel Panther]

Originally Posted by supersix4

If these bum players cause us to have no draft I really hope they have some way to get even college scrubs to fill their spots, because in the end all we care about is that we get to see the uniforms, the world won't stop when Favre leaves and it sure won't stop when anyone else stops playing.

The draft happens no matter what, however, no team is allowed to sign their picks until this pissing contest is resolved.

[Steel Panther]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Wouldn't the coaches actually stay the same even through a strike? I'm fairly certain the coaches stayed intact in 1987 and coached the replacement players. Not sure if the coaches technically belong to any union. I believe season ticket holders have to pay ahead of time anyhow and would be obligated into tickets regardless of whether the real players or some scabs were on the field.

Coaches aren't part of the "players association" (NFLPA). They have their own union, officials have their own union ....