2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[fatediesel]

Per the Wall Street Journal the NFL paid less than $10 million to settle Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid's collusion claims. Early guesses from the media pegged the settlement at anywhere from $50-$100 million.

[imsounoriginal]

Yikes.

[Moviefan1203]

Pocket change.

[El Rey]

Oh god this is comical and makes this come across as a poorly executed shakedown attempt now

Kaepernick and Reid faced a difficult challenge to meet the burden of proof for collusion as defined in the league's CBA. The statute makes clear that unemployment alone does not mean collusion occurred.

According to the CBA: "The failure by a club or clubs to negotiate, to submit offer sheets, or to sign contracts with restricted free agents or transition players, or to negotiate, make offers, or sign contracts for the playing services of such players or unrestricted free agents, shall not, by itself or in combination only with evidence about the playing skills of the player(s) not receiving any such offer or contract, satisfy the burden of proof set forth."

To prove collusion, according to the CBA, Kaepernick and Reid would have had to show that a "club, its employees or agents" had "entered into an agreement" to restrict or limit whether to offer them a contract.

If the low settlement amount is true then it sounds like their lawyers knew they had an uphill battle and the league threw them a pittance to make them go away and not drag out the process any further than it already had been. I mean if Kaep were truly principled he would've sought this thing through to the end, "win or lose", or whatever his endgame was.
This whole story has just been all kinds of dumb from the beginning. Hopefully this is finally it and we never have to hear about it again. I mean if he does want to play football he has other options, though lower paying. But it seems like he's now enjoying being an unchallenged martyr for "the cause".

[Moviefan1203]

Supposedly they had some dirty laundry from the NFL.

[Samus Aran]

Justin Houston to the Colts, 2/$24 million.

[Eye Candy]

Originally Posted by bipbop13

Can Hard Knocks do cut-ins for updates on the Robert (I did not f@#k that hooker) Kraft trial, tarring & feathering???

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is spurning a plea deal and fighting the release of surveillance video after being charged with soliciting prostitution at a Florida massage parlor. CNN's Brian Todd reports.



There should be an NFL Criminal HOF. With videos and other News reports.

[bipbop13]

Originally Posted by Eye Candy

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is spurning a plea deal and fighting the release of surveillance video after being charged with soliciting prostitution at a Florida massage parlor. CNN's Brian Todd reports.



There should be an NFL Criminal HOF. With videos and other News reports.

Yeah, wonder why he's trying to suppress the tape if he's claiming innocence?

[rickah88]

Vinny Curry coming back to Philly!

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by bipbop13

Yeah, wonder why he's trying to suppress the tape if he's claiming innocence?

To be fair, it's not much of a plea deal. Yeah the charges get dropped, but he'd have to admit he did it anyway (along with community service and something else IIRC).

Best thing would be to just move on from it as quickly as possible, even if it means taking the deal. But the NFL is all optics and I think Kraft is worried about any irreparable harm to his reputation and that of the Patriots, so he'll drag this out. I'm not sure what Goodell can do to punish an owner, but I'm sure he'll try lol

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

To be fair, it's not much of a plea deal. Yeah the charges get dropped, but he'd have to admit he did it anyway (along with community service and something else IIRC).

Best thing would be to just move on from it as quickly as possible, even if it means taking the deal. But the NFL is all optics and I think Kraft is worried about any irreparable harm to his reputation and that of the Patriots, so he'll drag this out. I'm not sure what Goodell can do to punish an owner, but I'm sure he'll try lol

I wouldn’t be shocked if that video gets leaked out if he doesn’t play ball.

[dcowboy7]

NYG will draft drew lock.
Is that crazy ??

[Batman1980]

It is when they could've had Sam Darnold.

[imsounoriginal]

I think NYG trading for Rosen is more likely.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I wouldn’t be shocked if that video gets leaked out if he doesn’t play ball.

Does anyone really want to see that video? I'll just take their word that he's guilty.

[Waboman]

Roger Goodell considering ending DirecTV's Sunday Ticket, wants streaming service version

https://sports.yahoo.com/roger-goode...031454324.html

[dcowboy7]

I dont think he wants to end it just wants other options available as well.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

I dont think he wants to end it just wants other options available as well.

Would save me some money if he did end the ticket with Directv. I’ve been a subscriber for almost 30 years. But I agree, he’s just looking to sell the product in other areas. So Directv might not be as exclusive going forward.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Would save me some money if he did end the ticket with Directv. I’ve been a subscriber for almost 30 years. But I agree, he’s just looking to sell the product in other areas. So Directv might not be as exclusive going forward.

Lot more money to be made if not tied down to DirecTV.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Lot more money to be made if not tied down to DirecTV.

Pretty sure I acknowledged that.