THURSDAY 3PM IS ZERO HOUR, TROJAN SUSPENDED FOR TMZ TIRADE, CEDBEN ARRESTED....AGAIN, WIEGMANN WANTS 1 MORE SEASON & AL MICHAELS HAS A LOT TO SAY
A lot transpired on Monday, nearly all of it pointing toward a new CBA agreement near week's end. Judge Arthur Boylan returned from his vacation & went immediately into the negotiating room to resume his position as overseer of these talks. They met until after 6PM tonight & will meet again tomorrow, hopefully to iron out the remainder of the issues yet to be addressed. Here is why I'm so confident we're nearly there.
1. The deal, for a reported 10-years, will include $1 billion in payments & benefits for retired players. The split is $600 million in payments over the 10-year agreement & $400 million in health benefits. Both very positive steps.
2. All 32 players reps have been told to be in Washington D.C. on Wednesday to be fully briefed on the proposed agreement.
3. All 32 owners & general managers are to be in Atlanta Thursday for an up or down vote on the proposed agreement.
4. The players will vote on Thursday as well. If the vote is positive, we should know by 3PM, the NFLPA will be re-certified as the union designated to speak for NFL players.
5. If everything flies on both votes, NFL general managers will receive an immediate briefing as to the rule changes beginning Thursday afternoon & will continue into Friday until all points have been covered.
6. The Green Bay Packers notified their players the team facility will reopen on Friday & all players should be in attendance Saturday for a lengthy team meeting.
7. Also leaked from the talks was the free agency plan. Teams will have a 3-day window to resign their own free agents beginning at 12:01AM, Sunday, the 24th. That window will close Tuesday, the 26th, at 11:59PM. The free agency signing period will commence 24-hours later at 12:01AM, Thursday, the 28th.
No word yet on when undrafted college free agents can be signed. Tho it was supposed to be against the rules during the lockout, most teams have contacted numerous player agents. It was one of the worst-kept secrets the past two weeks. The GM's have their sights on a number of prospects & they've taken it a step further by contacting the players' reps.
There are two sticking points that remain on the agenda, the 1st being the franchise tag. The players want teams to be limited to tagging an unrestricted free agent only once. The other item the league is concerned about is known as the "California loophole." A player who played even one game within the state of California may file for workman's compensation at any time during their life. The Golden State has extremely liberal laws regarding workman's comp, another reason they're in the financial mess they're experiencing. I have no idea how that became part of the old agreement, it is truly a loophole. Ownership wants this closed by requiring all workman's comp claims to be filed in the state where the players' home games were contested. Obviously, players who were members of the Raiders, Niners or Chargers can file in California. Unless something unforeseen happens in the next 48-hours, I think we've got a deal.........finally.
USC starting tailback Marc Tyler has been suspended for at least the opener against Minnesota. Tyler let the booze do the talking when he was caught on cell phone camera by TMZ outside an L.A. club. When asked what the Trojans were up to, Tyler said "getting in Kim Kardashian." Lovely. The cameraman, asked Tyler "which pays better, playing in the NFL or playing at USC?" As I'm sure you have already surmised, Tyler's response was "make more money playing at USC." Remembering my days as a drunk 21-year old, I sincerely doubt Tyler has ever been with Kim Kardashian or has he made stacks of cash playing for the Trojans. But he said it on camera & after watching the video twice, I have to say it's a very bad representation of USC campus life. With new A.D. Pat Haden on the job, I think the monkey business will either stop or the suspensions will become more severe. He reserved the right to extend Tyler's suspension if more damning facts emerge. Since this is Tyler's 3rd minor offense(alleged groping of a female on 1 occasion & spitting a drink on another coed), Haden lowered the boom. Tyler is also suspended from all team activities, meetings, weight-training as well as practices until after the Minnesota game. I think the Trojans can beat Minnesota in their street clothes, but Utah is second on the schedule & I question whether or not Tyler can be ready to play in just one week. Tyler's father, Wendell, a former star running back at cross-town rival UCLA & later the L.A. Rams, said last night his son's punishment fit the offense. The elder Tyler & his wife apologized for their son's behavior. Isn't this sad? A young man brought up in today's technology of cell phones, social media & the like, stands on an L.A. street corner & says what he said to a complete stranger.
Free agent Cincinnati tailback Cedric Benson has once again run afoul of the law. He was arrested around 5:30AM Sunday morning on an Austin Texas street corner. He allegedly punched his former roommate several times, knocking out a couple of teeth. The circumstances around the beating are somewhat bizarre. The injured party claims he was on the downtown street corner when Benson approached him & began saying "they had a lot of issues to resolve." He said it was then Benson punched him in the mouth a couple of times. A 5AM meeting on an Austin Texas street corner? Yeah it sounds pretty fishy. Anyway, this is Benson's third arrest in the last 2 years. With free agency just about 10 days away, Benson's beatdown of his old roomie might have cost him a lot of money. CedBen's arrest was the third Bengal bagged by the cops this month. Good to see the Bengals are already rounding into mid-season form.
Benson's latest mugshot
Quick quiz, which NFL team leads the pack in highest season ticket renewal percentage? The Patriots? Steelers, Packers or Saints? Nope, the St. Louis Rams. Think Sam Bradford had anything to do with it? You bet he did, in a quarterback driven league, the Rams got a real keeper last year in the OU product. The Rams won more games in 2010 than in 2007 thru 2009 combined. St. Louis led the entire league with a 94% renewal rate. In this crappy economy, NFL season tickets aren't the "must have" they once were in a lot of households. Keeping the mortgage paid & food on the table has taken precedence. Yes, the Rams season ticket base is near the bottom of the league, but nevertheless, Rams fans showed their faith in the team's future by sending in a check.
If you thought Chiefs' center Casey Wiegmann, a free agent, was going to retire, think again. His agent, Joel Segal, said Monday the 15-year veteran wants to play one more season, if that season can be with Kansas City. Wiegmann, who will turn 38 on Wednesday, hasn't missed a snap since the 2001 season. Had there been no lockout, I would've said no chance. But with 2nd round draft pick Rodney Hudson missing all of the spring & summer rookie camps, mini camps & OTA's, his transition to center might be so far behind schedule the option of resigning Wiegmann might entice Scott Pioli into giving him the 1-year deal he wants. Since that's all he's asking for, I believe this would be an excellent move. I'd much rather have Wiegmann tutoring Hudson than Rudy Niswanger, who's headed out the door.
For you long time readers, you know I hold Al Michaels in the highest esteem. He is not only the the best in his business, quite possibly the best of all-time, but he's an all-around good guy. I was lucky enough to spend some long hours with Mr. Michaels when he came to Bellagio to play craps. Everybody in our pit loved him. Great sense of humor & he'd talk to us about anything whenever he was playing in our dice pit. Peter King of Sports Illustrated & NBC Sports has written his "Monday Morning Quarterback" column for years on SI.com But King takes a month off every July & he finds 4 subs to fill-in for him. Today's guest columnist was none other than Al Michaels. No offense to Peter King, he does an amazing job week after week writing this column, but Al Michaels' effort today was second to none. As I read his anecdotes, I could also almost hear Al's voice speaking his written words. His sense of humor came thru over & over. Here are a few of his stories:
"At the 1989 ABC affiliates meeting in L.A. they began with the curtain opening & there stood Hank Williams Jr. He yelled out 'are you ready for some football?' The place went absolutely wild."
"People ask me everywhere I go if 'we're going to have football' & 'who's winning this battle?' I tell them we'll definitely have football & the only winners are the lawyers, just bill those hours baby."
Michaels has grown tired of hearing how short an NFL career is.
"For an average guy in America to earn the same as an NFL player figure about 20 years for every one NFL year. If an NFL player makes it just 4 seasons, it would take the average guy 80-years to duplicate the income. Players need to remember that."
Al cautions today's young players on the pitfalls of making big money.
"Beware the entourage, beware the jewelry store, beware the Mcmansion with dubious resale value."
He spoke of one of his true loves.....dice tables.
"Once in a while you can still hit Vegas because there are few greater thrills in life than a 40-minute roll at the craps table. And make sure to take the odds."
I loved his review of traveling all over our country, very observant & also a good laugh.
"When a hotel relishes it's 'hip & trendy' reputation, find another place to stay. Almost everyone of these hotspots has a 'too cool for school' 24-year-old male model wannabe in a black t-shirt who greets you at the front desk with terminal aloofness."
Then there are the 75-year old, refurbished hotels living on long-gone reputations that have no present validity. I'll never forget Earl Weaver, then managing the Orioles, at the batting cage before the fifth game of the 1979 World Series. Earl looked like he hadn't slept in a month. When someone asked if he was alright, Earl said "Yeah, I'm just exhausted, couldn't get a wink at the hotel last night." Someone asks "Where are you guys staying?" And Weaver says "We're staying at a [bleeping] hotel that's so [bleeping] old they named William Penn AFTER the hotel." Classic.
And finally.
"I think, as I said to Peter about a month ago, Los Angeles will be home to two NFL franchises before the end of this decade. But ONLY if a new stadium is built. Otherwise, Los Angeles will have the same number of teams it has now, none.
The Mike Leach "Excerpt of the Day" will return tomorrow.
1. The deal, for a reported 10-years, will include $1 billion in payments & benefits for retired players. The split is $600 million in payments over the 10-year agreement & $400 million in health benefits. Both very positive steps.
2. All 32 players reps have been told to be in Washington D.C. on Wednesday to be fully briefed on the proposed agreement.
3. All 32 owners & general managers are to be in Atlanta Thursday for an up or down vote on the proposed agreement.
4. The players will vote on Thursday as well. If the vote is positive, we should know by 3PM, the NFLPA will be re-certified as the union designated to speak for NFL players.
5. If everything flies on both votes, NFL general managers will receive an immediate briefing as to the rule changes beginning Thursday afternoon & will continue into Friday until all points have been covered.
6. The Green Bay Packers notified their players the team facility will reopen on Friday & all players should be in attendance Saturday for a lengthy team meeting.
7. Also leaked from the talks was the free agency plan. Teams will have a 3-day window to resign their own free agents beginning at 12:01AM, Sunday, the 24th. That window will close Tuesday, the 26th, at 11:59PM. The free agency signing period will commence 24-hours later at 12:01AM, Thursday, the 28th.
No word yet on when undrafted college free agents can be signed. Tho it was supposed to be against the rules during the lockout, most teams have contacted numerous player agents. It was one of the worst-kept secrets the past two weeks. The GM's have their sights on a number of prospects & they've taken it a step further by contacting the players' reps.
There are two sticking points that remain on the agenda, the 1st being the franchise tag. The players want teams to be limited to tagging an unrestricted free agent only once. The other item the league is concerned about is known as the "California loophole." A player who played even one game within the state of California may file for workman's compensation at any time during their life. The Golden State has extremely liberal laws regarding workman's comp, another reason they're in the financial mess they're experiencing. I have no idea how that became part of the old agreement, it is truly a loophole. Ownership wants this closed by requiring all workman's comp claims to be filed in the state where the players' home games were contested. Obviously, players who were members of the Raiders, Niners or Chargers can file in California. Unless something unforeseen happens in the next 48-hours, I think we've got a deal.........finally.
USC starting tailback Marc Tyler has been suspended for at least the opener against Minnesota. Tyler let the booze do the talking when he was caught on cell phone camera by TMZ outside an L.A. club. When asked what the Trojans were up to, Tyler said "getting in Kim Kardashian." Lovely. The cameraman, asked Tyler "which pays better, playing in the NFL or playing at USC?" As I'm sure you have already surmised, Tyler's response was "make more money playing at USC." Remembering my days as a drunk 21-year old, I sincerely doubt Tyler has ever been with Kim Kardashian or has he made stacks of cash playing for the Trojans. But he said it on camera & after watching the video twice, I have to say it's a very bad representation of USC campus life. With new A.D. Pat Haden on the job, I think the monkey business will either stop or the suspensions will become more severe. He reserved the right to extend Tyler's suspension if more damning facts emerge. Since this is Tyler's 3rd minor offense(alleged groping of a female on 1 occasion & spitting a drink on another coed), Haden lowered the boom. Tyler is also suspended from all team activities, meetings, weight-training as well as practices until after the Minnesota game. I think the Trojans can beat Minnesota in their street clothes, but Utah is second on the schedule & I question whether or not Tyler can be ready to play in just one week. Tyler's father, Wendell, a former star running back at cross-town rival UCLA & later the L.A. Rams, said last night his son's punishment fit the offense. The elder Tyler & his wife apologized for their son's behavior. Isn't this sad? A young man brought up in today's technology of cell phones, social media & the like, stands on an L.A. street corner & says what he said to a complete stranger.
Free agent Cincinnati tailback Cedric Benson has once again run afoul of the law. He was arrested around 5:30AM Sunday morning on an Austin Texas street corner. He allegedly punched his former roommate several times, knocking out a couple of teeth. The circumstances around the beating are somewhat bizarre. The injured party claims he was on the downtown street corner when Benson approached him & began saying "they had a lot of issues to resolve." He said it was then Benson punched him in the mouth a couple of times. A 5AM meeting on an Austin Texas street corner? Yeah it sounds pretty fishy. Anyway, this is Benson's third arrest in the last 2 years. With free agency just about 10 days away, Benson's beatdown of his old roomie might have cost him a lot of money. CedBen's arrest was the third Bengal bagged by the cops this month. Good to see the Bengals are already rounding into mid-season form.
Benson's latest mugshot
Quick quiz, which NFL team leads the pack in highest season ticket renewal percentage? The Patriots? Steelers, Packers or Saints? Nope, the St. Louis Rams. Think Sam Bradford had anything to do with it? You bet he did, in a quarterback driven league, the Rams got a real keeper last year in the OU product. The Rams won more games in 2010 than in 2007 thru 2009 combined. St. Louis led the entire league with a 94% renewal rate. In this crappy economy, NFL season tickets aren't the "must have" they once were in a lot of households. Keeping the mortgage paid & food on the table has taken precedence. Yes, the Rams season ticket base is near the bottom of the league, but nevertheless, Rams fans showed their faith in the team's future by sending in a check.
If you thought Chiefs' center Casey Wiegmann, a free agent, was going to retire, think again. His agent, Joel Segal, said Monday the 15-year veteran wants to play one more season, if that season can be with Kansas City. Wiegmann, who will turn 38 on Wednesday, hasn't missed a snap since the 2001 season. Had there been no lockout, I would've said no chance. But with 2nd round draft pick Rodney Hudson missing all of the spring & summer rookie camps, mini camps & OTA's, his transition to center might be so far behind schedule the option of resigning Wiegmann might entice Scott Pioli into giving him the 1-year deal he wants. Since that's all he's asking for, I believe this would be an excellent move. I'd much rather have Wiegmann tutoring Hudson than Rudy Niswanger, who's headed out the door.
For you long time readers, you know I hold Al Michaels in the highest esteem. He is not only the the best in his business, quite possibly the best of all-time, but he's an all-around good guy. I was lucky enough to spend some long hours with Mr. Michaels when he came to Bellagio to play craps. Everybody in our pit loved him. Great sense of humor & he'd talk to us about anything whenever he was playing in our dice pit. Peter King of Sports Illustrated & NBC Sports has written his "Monday Morning Quarterback" column for years on SI.com But King takes a month off every July & he finds 4 subs to fill-in for him. Today's guest columnist was none other than Al Michaels. No offense to Peter King, he does an amazing job week after week writing this column, but Al Michaels' effort today was second to none. As I read his anecdotes, I could also almost hear Al's voice speaking his written words. His sense of humor came thru over & over. Here are a few of his stories:
"At the 1989 ABC affiliates meeting in L.A. they began with the curtain opening & there stood Hank Williams Jr. He yelled out 'are you ready for some football?' The place went absolutely wild."
"People ask me everywhere I go if 'we're going to have football' & 'who's winning this battle?' I tell them we'll definitely have football & the only winners are the lawyers, just bill those hours baby."
Michaels has grown tired of hearing how short an NFL career is.
"For an average guy in America to earn the same as an NFL player figure about 20 years for every one NFL year. If an NFL player makes it just 4 seasons, it would take the average guy 80-years to duplicate the income. Players need to remember that."
Al cautions today's young players on the pitfalls of making big money.
"Beware the entourage, beware the jewelry store, beware the Mcmansion with dubious resale value."
He spoke of one of his true loves.....dice tables.
"Once in a while you can still hit Vegas because there are few greater thrills in life than a 40-minute roll at the craps table. And make sure to take the odds."
I loved his review of traveling all over our country, very observant & also a good laugh.
"When a hotel relishes it's 'hip & trendy' reputation, find another place to stay. Almost everyone of these hotspots has a 'too cool for school' 24-year-old male model wannabe in a black t-shirt who greets you at the front desk with terminal aloofness."
Then there are the 75-year old, refurbished hotels living on long-gone reputations that have no present validity. I'll never forget Earl Weaver, then managing the Orioles, at the batting cage before the fifth game of the 1979 World Series. Earl looked like he hadn't slept in a month. When someone asked if he was alright, Earl said "Yeah, I'm just exhausted, couldn't get a wink at the hotel last night." Someone asks "Where are you guys staying?" And Weaver says "We're staying at a [bleeping] hotel that's so [bleeping] old they named William Penn AFTER the hotel." Classic.
And finally.
"I think, as I said to Peter about a month ago, Los Angeles will be home to two NFL franchises before the end of this decade. But ONLY if a new stadium is built. Otherwise, Los Angeles will have the same number of teams it has now, none.
The Mike Leach "Excerpt of the Day" will return tomorrow.
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