POST NEGOTIATIONS STATEMENT ENCOURAGING & CHIEFS SEND MORE HELP TO JOPLIN
After today's labor talks, held outside of Boston, player's rep DeMaurice Smith & NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stood side-by-side at the podium to answer a few questions. They were actually rather positive, which I take as a good sign. Smith said "I think we're both optimistic when we have the right people in the room. We know we're talking about the right issues & that we're working hard to get it done." Right people in the room? No extra lawyers were inside again today, that must be what Smith was talking about huh? Players Dominique Foxworth, Tony Richardson & Jeff Saturday were joined by owners John Mara, Jerry Richardson, Clark Hunt & Robert Kraft. CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman reported he had spoken to 5 NFL players, all on different levels of the pay scale. He said all five told him everything that has been negotiated so far will fly with at least 75% of the players, enough to pass it. I really think we're getting close to an agreement.
Another item being discussed right now besides the rookie wage scale is the length of this deal. How long will this CBA guarantee labor harmony? I think a minimum 6-years but I've heard ownership is shooting for 8-10. I doubt they'll get the players to agree to a deal that long. Too many intangibles down the road. The big one is a team or teams in L.A. which could increase the league's revenues significantly & the players might want a redo. Anything 6-years or longer will aid the league when it enters into negotiations for a new TV deal. Knowing there won't be any type of interruption helps everyone's confidence moving ahead.
I told you we're probably looking at a 6-8 day delay in free agency signings after the CBA is signed. Because of the this delay, plus no undrafted free agents have been signed, I think it's realistic to expect training camp rosters to be expanded. Usually the undrafted players have already been seen by the coaching staffs during a rookie mini camp & a complete roster mini camp. They haven't even been signed yet, so look for the league to expand training camp rosters by at least 10, maybe 15 players. Normally a training camp roster is 80, but I think we'll see at least 90 players going to camp this summer.
Baltimore Ravens all-pro safety Ed Reed said yesterday he isn't ready to play yet. He missed 10 games the past two seasons & underwent hip surgery. Reed said he wasn't close to being 100% but hoped to be ready by opening day. Just like when the Steelers are missing Troy Polamalu, the Ravens aren't the same defense without Reed. The 7-time Pro Bowl selection has 54 career interceptions, he's one of the all-time best NFL centerfielders, Baltimore needs him to stay healthy & return to that all-pro form.
The last one out of Arrowhead on Wednesday morning turned out the lights because essentially everyone boarded buses for Joplin. Eight players, eight coaches, front office personnel, groundskeepers, just about everybody in the building, 136 in all, made the trip. Upon arrival, they went right to work cleaning up debris in a residential neighborhood. General Manager Scott Pioli was there to help as was quarterback Matt Cassel. Pioli had to get an O.K. from the league for players & management to travel & work together. The Chiefs' 1st & 2nd round draft picks, Jon Baldwin & Rodney Hudson were part of the cleanup crew. This was the second time a Chiefs' contingent helped in Joplin. Pioli made it clear the Chiefs would keep coming back to help the tornado-ravaged city, "we'll be back, we stand with this community & we'll continue to help in every way we can." With over 14-square miles of destruction, it will take months to comb thru the wreckage searching for personal belongings & then remove the debris so the rebuilding process can begin. "It really looks like a nuclear bomb went off here, it's just unbelievable" said linebacker Andy Studebaker. Owner Clark Hunt was in the Boston-area immersed in the labor negotiations & head coach Todd Haley was vacationing with his family.
Another item being discussed right now besides the rookie wage scale is the length of this deal. How long will this CBA guarantee labor harmony? I think a minimum 6-years but I've heard ownership is shooting for 8-10. I doubt they'll get the players to agree to a deal that long. Too many intangibles down the road. The big one is a team or teams in L.A. which could increase the league's revenues significantly & the players might want a redo. Anything 6-years or longer will aid the league when it enters into negotiations for a new TV deal. Knowing there won't be any type of interruption helps everyone's confidence moving ahead.
I told you we're probably looking at a 6-8 day delay in free agency signings after the CBA is signed. Because of the this delay, plus no undrafted free agents have been signed, I think it's realistic to expect training camp rosters to be expanded. Usually the undrafted players have already been seen by the coaching staffs during a rookie mini camp & a complete roster mini camp. They haven't even been signed yet, so look for the league to expand training camp rosters by at least 10, maybe 15 players. Normally a training camp roster is 80, but I think we'll see at least 90 players going to camp this summer.
Baltimore Ravens all-pro safety Ed Reed said yesterday he isn't ready to play yet. He missed 10 games the past two seasons & underwent hip surgery. Reed said he wasn't close to being 100% but hoped to be ready by opening day. Just like when the Steelers are missing Troy Polamalu, the Ravens aren't the same defense without Reed. The 7-time Pro Bowl selection has 54 career interceptions, he's one of the all-time best NFL centerfielders, Baltimore needs him to stay healthy & return to that all-pro form.
The last one out of Arrowhead on Wednesday morning turned out the lights because essentially everyone boarded buses for Joplin. Eight players, eight coaches, front office personnel, groundskeepers, just about everybody in the building, 136 in all, made the trip. Upon arrival, they went right to work cleaning up debris in a residential neighborhood. General Manager Scott Pioli was there to help as was quarterback Matt Cassel. Pioli had to get an O.K. from the league for players & management to travel & work together. The Chiefs' 1st & 2nd round draft picks, Jon Baldwin & Rodney Hudson were part of the cleanup crew. This was the second time a Chiefs' contingent helped in Joplin. Pioli made it clear the Chiefs would keep coming back to help the tornado-ravaged city, "we'll be back, we stand with this community & we'll continue to help in every way we can." With over 14-square miles of destruction, it will take months to comb thru the wreckage searching for personal belongings & then remove the debris so the rebuilding process can begin. "It really looks like a nuclear bomb went off here, it's just unbelievable" said linebacker Andy Studebaker. Owner Clark Hunt was in the Boston-area immersed in the labor negotiations & head coach Todd Haley was vacationing with his family.
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