Report: Goodell rips players' strategy

[Denver Native (Carol)]

From article:


Goodell also used more cryptic language when describing the players' lawyers.

"They're challenging fundamental aspects that have made the league successful and popular with the fans. They're going after the draft, as an example, pursuing the draft as illegal," he told USA Today. "They're pursuing free agency restrictions as illegal. They're pursuing aspects of the salary cap as illegal. That's what they're saying. We don't believe that. It's been negotiated. We think they've been good for the players, the clubs and most importantly, the fans.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Roger-Goodell-criticizes-NFL-players-legal-strategy-042211

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If this is the case, there must really be some half-wits on the players' side.

Eliminate the draft and FA, and watch football go the way of the Edsel . . .

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[SoCalImport]

If this is the case, there must really be some half-wits on the players' side.

Eliminate the draft and FA, and watch football go the way of the Edsel . . .

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Yeah. It's the corporate model. Try to get the biggest payday in the shortest time and let the future be damned.

[Tned]

If this is the case, there must really be some half-wits on the players' side.

Eliminate the draft and FA, and watch football go the way of the Edsel . . .

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Well, some of those half-wits have compared their multi-million dollar contracts to slavery. So, when you start with logic like that, then abolishing the draft and free agency limits makes perfect sense.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

So - eliminate the draft - guess that means that the 32 teams will be in a bidding war for the top players - OH - they want the NY Yankees and Boston Red Socks of football :rolleyes:

[Tned]

So - eliminate the draft - guess that means that the 32 teams will be in a bidding war for the top players - OH - they want the NY Yankees and Boston Red Socks of football :rolleyes:

Even Baseball and their biddings wars has a draft, but yes, what you describe is what they want, apparently. No draft, and all players, rookie and veterans are free agents if not under contract.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

Even Baseball and their biddings wars has a draft, but yes, what you describe is what they want, apparently. No draft, and all players, rookie and veterans are free agents if not under contract.

Until the other day, I had not heard anything in regards to this - how can they start throwing new demands into this now??????

[Lonestar]

Iirc the NFL got antitrust immunity from congress to be able to merge, draft "salves"'and the FA part wasnegotiated with the union a coulpe of contracts ago.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

So, they are pursuing the draft as illegal - the draft STARTED in 1936!!!!!!


Pro Football Draft History

Hall of Famer Bert Bell spearheaded the idea of a player draft in the 1930s.

The idea came to fruition with the holding of the NFL's first ever player draft in 1936.

Since that time what has happened in the draft room has set the stage for what happens on the field shaping the destiny of teams for years to come.

More than ten thousand of the best players from the college ranks have been drafted to play pro ball. Some never played a single down, others managed to have long careers, and a select few went on to greatness.

Here is an extensive look back at each and every draft over the years.

http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/index.aspx

[Agent of Orange]

I dont think they really have a problem with the draft but they want modifications to the salary structure of draft picks to be viewed as a concession and not some fait accompli that has been pre-determined by the league. In other words, theyre not just going to give stuff away.

[rcsodak]

If this is the case, there must really be some half-wits on the players' side.

Eliminate the draft and FA, and watch football go the way of the Edsel . . .

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It's true. It's the reason for the thread I started concerning the attorney DSmith has alongside him.

http://www.broncosforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=241082

[Npba900]

I dont think they really have a problem with the draft but they want modifications to the salary structure of draft picks to be viewed as a concession and not some fait accompli that has been pre-determined by the league. In other words, theyre not just going to give stuff away.

At this stage the players need to collectively bargain for long term GUARANTEED contracts! And merely start the season on time.

Of course the owners would yell Poverty immediately. However, in the most violent-career shortened professional sports in America its the right thing to do.

[gregbroncs]

At this stage the players need to collectively bargain for long term GUARANTEED contracts! And merely start the season on time.

Of course the owners would yell Poverty immediately. However, in the most violent-career shortened professional sports in America its the right thing to do.

guaranteed contract have destroyed the NBA. They will the NFL as well.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote an op-ed column in The Wall Street Journal in which he said U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson's Monday ruling to end the league-imposed lockout "may significantly alter professional football as we know it."

According to Goodell, if the players have their way, "the NFL would be forced to operate in a dramatically different way." Wrote Goodell: "To be sure, their approach would benefit some star players and their agents (and, of course, the lawyers themselves). But virtually everyone else -- including the vast majority of players as well as the fans -- would suffer.

Goodell said the players' antitrust lawsuit against the league "attacks virtually every aspect of the current system, including the draft, the salary cap and free-agency rules, which collectively have been responsible for the quality and popularity of the game for nearly two decades." He also said players would enter the league as unrestricted free agents, free to market their services to any team, instead of being selected in the draft. And teams could spent as much or as little as they want on salaries.

rest of story - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81f7cb30/article/goodell-nfl-needs-collective-bargaining-not-hurtful-lawsuits?module=HP_headlines