Bleedin Green Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6442393 NFL players can report Friday morning The NFL has told its teams and players to get back to football, at least for now. In a memo released Thursday, just hours before the draft, the NFL said players could resume voluntary workouts at team facilities, meet with coaches and go over playbooks beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Friday. It also promised to distribute detailed procedures for signing free agents or making trades and other roster moves. That memo, the league says, will spell out the timing for the start of the league year. Based on the league's statement, players will not be allowed to be traded during the first round. The NFL still hopes the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis restores the lockout. The court says players must respond to the league's request for a stay by 1 p.m. ET Friday. Then the league has until 10 a.m. ET Monday to respond to that filing. The NFL's request for a temporary stay is still pending before the court. Clerk Michael E. Gans told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that a ruling on the NFL's request for a temporary stay of the lower court's ruling could come as early as Thursday afternoon. Gans said a three-judge panel is expected to be formed Thursday afternoon and that panel will consider the evidence already filed with the appeals court -- a temporary stay request from the league and a reply letter from a lawyer representing NFL players -- and issue a ruling from the bench. "That is the next step in this process," Gans said. "They will take a look at the evidence already filed and determined if a temporary stay is granted sometime [Thursday]." If the temporary stay is granted, the lockout will be back in place. For now, there are some guidelines for NFL teams to follow. "Clubs are free to contact players immediately to advise them of the hours that the facility will be open for their use, to schedule medical and rehabilitation activity, and to arrange meetings with coaches or related activity, such as film study or classroom work," the NFL said. The memo was released even as the court fight over how to run the $9 billion business escalated, and attorneys told players that a judge's decision lifting the lockout "is in full, immediate force." Player attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and James Quinn wrote that the league year "now has to begin," that players must be allowed to lift weights at team facilities, meet with coaches "and otherwise perform their jobs." "It is our view that the NFL and the clubs will be in contempt of court if they do not comply with the order," the memo said. On Thursday morning, NFL players asked the 8th Circuit to ignore the league's request to temporarily put the lockout back in place. A letter sent to the appeals court by players' attorneys said there was no risk of harm to the league and promised a full rebuttal by midday Friday. Until then, the players asked the appeals court to keep things status quo. The NFLPA said in its memo that U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson's ruling Wednesday night, which denied the league's request to stay her decision to lift the lockout, leaves little to interpretation. "We believe the 2011 League Year now has to begin; the Clubs must open their facilities to allow players to work out, meet with coaches and otherwise perform their jobs; and the NFL and the Clubs cannot collectively continue to refuse to deal with players," Kessler and Quinn wrote. In their motion for a stay of Nelson's order filed Wednesday night with the 8th Circuit, the league said her decision "blinks reality" and is "deeply flawed." The NFL complained that the order has forced teams to "produce their collective product" and expose themselves to antitrust claims by the players -- claims that if held true can result in treble, or triple, damages. An antitrust lawsuit filed by Tom Brady, Drew Brees and other players is still pending before Nelson, but has not been heard. The NFL argued that a stay is necessary to avoid irreparable harm to league operations, even quoting an unidentified NFLPA executive: "If the lockout is lifted and a stay isn't granted, it could be utter chaos." Without a stay, the NFL said, it would be impossible to "unscramble the egg in terms of player transactions that would occur in the interim" before a ruling from the appeals court. In the 23-page motion, the league reiterated three main arguments it unsuccessfully made to Nelson: that she had no jurisdiction while a bad-faith negotiation charge against the players is pending with the National Labor Relations Board; that federal law prevents the court from overseeing cases stemming from labor disputes; and that it shouldn't be subject to antitrust claims with the collective bargaining deal barely expired. The league said Nelson "brushed aside all three legal obstacles with the simple rationale that the NFLPA's unilateral disclaimer changes everything and renders the labor laws irrelevant." The NFL, citing comments by players Mike Vrabel and Derrick Mason, argued again that the union's breakup was only temporary and tactical and not permanent. League rules have effectively been shelved since the collective bargaining agreement ended March 11 and the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 began. So there you have it... game on gentlemen, game on. Of course this isn't the last we'll be hearing on all of this, but regardless of how the hell this all turns out, NFL teams and players getting back to work is only a good thing for all of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVM Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 So there you have it... game on gentlemen, game on. Of course this isn't the last we'll be hearing on all of this, but regardless of how the hell this all turns out, NFL teams and players getting back to work is only a good thing for all of us. WOOO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Next step, NFL owners cry to their daddies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Next step, NFL owners cry to their daddies. Tom, I'm curious. In your perfect NFL world, how would this all work out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECURB Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Tom, I'm curious. In your perfect NFL world, how would this all work out? This is perfect for him... he just loves to bitch and moan while creating fake controversy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Tom, I'm curious. In your perfect NFL world, how would this all work out? Well, since you asked... I think an equitable deal would look like this: 1-The owners get their $2 billion off the top of all revenue. The rest is divided 55/45 players (currently, the players receive 53%. Owners want to drop it into the 40's). That way, the owners get their guaranteed cash increased, they get to increase their "spending money" for things like stadium building/improvement/NFLNet, and it keeps the players fully vested and compensated. The owners are being cheap dicks because their economic forecast shows that TV and licensing for them is about to explode and they don't want the plyers to reap that windfall. The way my proposal is structured, the owners get to suck on an extra BILLION to allay their angst over seeing their players make some more coin as the league becomes more profitable. 2-The players allow a rookie cap to come into effect (pretty much a certainty) as long as they get assurances that those monies end up in a veterans' pool. This helps both parties, as long as the owners comply. It protects owners against having their caps screwed by drafting Jamarcus Russell, and it protects veterans because you won't see fifth, sixth year vets getting thrown out on the street because a team doesn't want to pay a veteran minimum. 3-Rookie contracts should be maxed at three years for first rounders and two years for every player drafted after the first round. This is also a win/win. Outperform your contract and you get paid quicker. Underperform, and your salary gets adjusted. Veteran contract (3+ years service) maxed at 4 years. 4-A percentage of every contract has written-in guarantees for injury and performance over and above signing bonuses or other such cash guarantees which are the crux of most (all?) holdouts in the first place. No more salary dumps when it's convenient for the clubs, and a reduction in players holding out after having one good season. The owners receive a clause limiting the percentage amount of a signing/performance bonus based on total contract. No more Peyton Manning deals where he gets 10 years, $200 (artificial) million, but it really just boils down to him getting a check of $35 million with his contract annual base at a low number. Guarantee a percentage of contracts (50%?) and it cuts out alot of the BS. 5-The NFLPA and the league each donate a percentage into an NFL veteran relief fund. No more Mike Websters. The player's donation is drawn out of their paychecks, and they become fully vested after 4 years of service. The owner's cut comes out of their licensing deals. These are just five initial opportunities that I see would be equitable. The players ARE the product so it's not as though you can compare them to the ol' widget. The owners get their monies guaranteed. What the owners need to do--and should already be doing--is writing a contract among themselves so that they don't cannibalize their own league to the point where the Bills are playing in Canada and the Seahawks are running off to San Jose. That ball is already rolling, with Jerry Jones being a snake and excluding his merchandising/external revenues from league profit-sharing. He's trying to emulate the Yankees model, and it's going to eat the league from the inside out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 This is perfect for him... he just loves to bitch and moan while creating fake controversy. LOL at the sig. But, you're nuts. Doesn't mean I don't respect your point of view or your passion. But, you're nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 I like it all except the Final Four rules. That's when it makes less appealing being the only team that made it to Final Four 2 consecutive years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 the thing that sucks is the timing from the front office perspective. I think they have enough going on tonight worrying about the draft. Now the league year is here.... the owners caused it with the lockout so I am not defending them. Just hope Tanny is on the ball and the Jets come out of the gate strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason423 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 the thing that sucks is the timing from the front office perspective. I think they have enough going on tonight worrying about the draft. Now the league year is here.... the owners caused it with the lockout so I am not defending them. Just hope Tanny is on the ball and the Jets come out of the gate strong. They should have time to get ready. The league will officially send out rules tomorrow but I have to assume the Jets have been planning to go under last years rules all along. Probably bodes well for Cromartie. Headache will be Santonio Holmes who is not going to sign a RFA tender. Jets made a major mistake, IMO, not franchising him. Should have franchised him and tendered Harris. Other than players who are extra worried about their workout bonus I doubt many will report until Monday or Tuesday. They will wait until the teams send them out official workout schedules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted April 29, 2011 Author Share Posted April 29, 2011 They should have time to get ready. The league will officially send out rules tomorrow but I have to assume the Jets have been planning to go under last years rules all along. Probably bodes well for Cromartie. Headache will be Santonio Holmes who is not going to sign a RFA tender. Jets made a major mistake, IMO, not franchising him. Should have franchised him and tendered Harris. Other than players who are extra worried about their workout bonus I doubt many will report until Monday or Tuesday. They will wait until the teams send them out official workout schedules. I doubt the Jets have any issues with negotiating a new deal with Holmes, however the RFA just gives them more time to do it without having to worry about losing him to FA. Frankly, if the Jets were going to assume last years rules would be in play I'd just as soon say they should've tagged Edwards and ensure they keep all their top FAs. Either way, even if the top 4 rules are back in effect, the Jets aren't exactly going to be in bad shape, as using 2010 rules will just help them keep pretty much all of the guys they would need to replace via FA anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 All I want to know now that the lockout has been lifted when will the Flight Crew trials begin ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 All I want to know now that the lockout has been lifted when will the Flight Crew trials begin ? Already started- Max is the frontrunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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