Irish Jet Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Upshaw says union expects 'greedy' owners to opt out of labor deal Mortensen On NFL Labor Agreement Gene Upshaw called NFL owners, who are ready to opt out of the current labor deal, "greedy." "In their mind, a loss means they didn't make as much [money] as they thought they were going to make," said Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association, during a panel discussion at the Sports Lawyers Association annual conference on Saturday. The NFL owners and players reached the agreement in 2006, but both sides have the option of reopening it by Nov. 8. Upshaw said the owners could notify the players they are reopening the deal on Tuesday in Atlanta, a move that could result in a 2011 work stoppage. "The owners have made it very clear that they intend to opt out of this agreement early," Upshaw said. "Our players are prepared for that." Upshaw said the NFL owners have brought in negotiators used by the NHL before their lockout. "The way that they are going all about this points directly to a lockout," Upshaw said. Upshaw said the players will not reduce their 60 percent share of the league's revenue pie. He also said if the owners reopen the current agreement, it would result in the elimination of the league salary cap starting with the 2010 season. He warned if the cap is eliminated, the players will not agree to reinstitute it. "I've made it clear to the owners that we're not accepting a deal that pays us less than we're already making," Upshaw said, pointing to growing annual revenue that tops $7 billion. Dennis Curran, senior vice president and general counsel for the NFL's bargaining arm, expressed confidence a new agreement could be reached if the contract was reopened, but acknowledged the owners have issues with the current deal. "It's too early to say," Curran said of whether the owners will opt out of the current deal. "I wouldn't want to predict what's going to happen, except I will say ... that a lot of our clubs are unhappy with the mechanics of the deal since 2006." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3401268 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 i love the NFL beacuse the players can be cut any time if they **** up unlike baseball's guaranteed contracts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 I think we've got some time to see what happens before we get all worried. I mean, after all, it is the spring of 2008. Lets give this two years before we start to worry. I mean, hell, we could also start worrying about a potential Lockout in 2058. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
war ensemble Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 we could also start worrying about a potential Lockout in 2058. ****, you heard the rumors about that too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 this is going to be a very interesting CBA discussion. This may possibly change the league we know now. This could lead to the end of small market teams. This isnt all about the players and their money, its about the owners and not wanting to have everyone be equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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