Could this be why?

[GakMan23]

Could this be why the Bears are sitting on their hands this offseason?

 

 

LEAGUE READY FOR “WAR”

Posted by Mike Florio on March 17, 2009, 10:30 a.m.

As new NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith proclaims that he’ll spend every day hoping for peace but preparing for war over the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, a league source tells us that the owners are hoping for “war” — and already are prepared for it.

 

Per the source, the owners already have been taking steps aimed at ensuring that a lockout will have minimal financial impact.

 

For starters, and as we’ve previously pointed out, most if not all contracts for assistant coaches hired in 2009 have a two-year duration only. Come 2011, the owners can proceed with a lockout.

 

Also, there’s a belief that many of the recent layoffs and other cost-cutting moves haven’t been made as a result of the bad economy, but as part of the preparations for a no-revenue work stoppage. (The reductions also help bolster the notion that the economic model under the current CBA doesn’t work.)

 

Finally, we’re told that most if not all employee contracts that extend into the 2011 season or beyond include specific language reducing compensation in the event of a work stoppage.

 

So while the union has spent the past seven months squabbling over the procedure for choosing the man who’ll potentially lead the players into battle, the owners have been sharpening the swords and hoarding cans of generic waxed beans. (If you take off the label, you can hardly tell the difference.)

 

Plenty of league insiders believe that the owners are ready to do whatever is necessary to take back the territory that the union acquired during the last round of CBA negotiations in 2006. The perception is that, with the owners obsessing over the issue of revenue sharing, the union ate the league’s lunch on all of the important issues.

 

Though different opinions exist as to where the blame for this outcome should rest (rightly or wrongly, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is bearing the brunt of it), the owners are motivated to score a major victory this time around, even if it means an extended period of no football games being played.

 

We hope it doesn’t come to that. We’re starting to wonder, however, whether it can be avoided.

[madlithuanian]

Seems quite possible!

 

Could this be why the Bears are sitting on their hands this offseason?

 

 

LEAGUE READY FOR “WAR”

Posted by Mike Florio on March 17, 2009, 10:30 a.m.

As new NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith proclaims that he’ll spend every day hoping for peace but preparing for war over the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, a league source tells us that the owners are hoping for “war” — and already are prepared for it.

 

Per the source, the owners already have been taking steps aimed at ensuring that a lockout will have minimal financial impact.

 

For starters, and as we’ve previously pointed out, most if not all contracts for assistant coaches hired in 2009 have a two-year duration only. Come 2011, the owners can proceed with a lockout.

 

Also, there’s a belief that many of the recent layoffs and other cost-cutting moves haven’t been made as a result of the bad economy, but as part of the preparations for a no-revenue work stoppage. (The reductions also help bolster the notion that the economic model under the current CBA doesn’t work.)

 

Finally, we’re told that most if not all employee contracts that extend into the 2011 season or beyond include specific language reducing compensation in the event of a work stoppage.

 

So while the union has spent the past seven months squabbling over the procedure for choosing the man who’ll potentially lead the players into battle, the owners have been sharpening the swords and hoarding cans of generic waxed beans. (If you take off the label, you can hardly tell the difference.)

 

Plenty of league insiders believe that the owners are ready to do whatever is necessary to take back the territory that the union acquired during the last round of CBA negotiations in 2006. The perception is that, with the owners obsessing over the issue of revenue sharing, the union ate the league’s lunch on all of the important issues.

 

Though different opinions exist as to where the blame for this outcome should rest (rightly or wrongly, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is bearing the brunt of it), the owners are motivated to score a major victory this time around, even if it means an extended period of no football games being played.

 

We hope it doesn’t come to that. We’re starting to wonder, however, whether it can be avoided.

[BearSox]

Even though I hope it doesn't happen, I'm glad. The players union is getting way too much power and they shouldn't be the ones making the rules. Look at what the players union in baseball, it's ridiculous how much power they have over drug testing, contracts, etc.

[bradjock]

It makes sense to me.

 

The Bears have traditionally been "team players" when it comes to doing what's best for the league.

 

Doesn't it make sense that we've avoided making any damn effort to improve this team because of money?

 

 

Could this be why the Bears are sitting on their hands this offseason?

 

 

LEAGUE READY FOR “WAR”

Posted by Mike Florio on March 17, 2009, 10:30 a.m.

As new NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith proclaims that he’ll spend every day hoping for peace but preparing for war over the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, a league source tells us that the owners are hoping for “war” — and already are prepared for it.

 

Per the source, the owners already have been taking steps aimed at ensuring that a lockout will have minimal financial impact.

 

For starters, and as we’ve previously pointed out, most if not all contracts for assistant coaches hired in 2009 have a two-year duration only. Come 2011, the owners can proceed with a lockout.

 

Also, there’s a belief that many of the recent layoffs and other cost-cutting moves haven’t been made as a result of the bad economy, but as part of the preparations for a no-revenue work stoppage. (The reductions also help bolster the notion that the economic model under the current CBA doesn’t work.)

 

Finally, we’re told that most if not all employee contracts that extend into the 2011 season or beyond include specific language reducing compensation in the event of a work stoppage.

 

So while the union has spent the past seven months squabbling over the procedure for choosing the man who’ll potentially lead the players into battle, the owners have been sharpening the swords and hoarding cans of generic waxed beans. (If you take off the label, you can hardly tell the difference.)

 

Plenty of league insiders believe that the owners are ready to do whatever is necessary to take back the territory that the union acquired during the last round of CBA negotiations in 2006. The perception is that, with the owners obsessing over the issue of revenue sharing, the union ate the league’s lunch on all of the important issues.

 

Though different opinions exist as to where the blame for this outcome should rest (rightly or wrongly, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is bearing the brunt of it), the owners are motivated to score a major victory this time around, even if it means an extended period of no football games being played.

 

We hope it doesn’t come to that. We’re starting to wonder, however, whether it can be avoided.

[lemonej]

The league cannot afford any kind of work stoppage because of some of the stadium deals that they are on the hook for including the Bears' stadium. IMO there will be some significant movement this year because of the impending uncapped year coming up.The small market teams don't want to compete with Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones for players in an uncapped year.A CBA must be in place for the following year in order to keep salaries in order.

[madlithuanian]

Good question...

 

Even if this is true that they are hunkerin' down for a lockout...it still doesn't mean you don't try to pick up players and make the team better.

 

Doesn't it make sense that we've avoided making any damn effort to improve this team because of money?