Redskins, Cowboys could go “nuclear” over cap mess

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by HoopheadVII

I haven't read the complaint - didn't think it would be public.

Also FWIW, there was a CBA present in 2010, just not a salary cap. The 2006 CBA provided for an "Uncapped Year", and laid out the specifics of exactly what that meant, and what could and couldn't be done with contracts in an Uncapped Year.

As for other comments, I'm not really trying to make an argument here. I'm a Skins fan trying to understand what's going on who decided to read the relevant documents and provide some analysis as to what's going on and what's likely to happen. As best I can, I try to say "I guess" and "probably" when I'm guessing.

As for how the CBA applies to this situation, as far as I can tell:

• It's designed to govern the relationships between employees (players) and employers (Clubs)
• It doesn't say anything about how the Leagues can discipline the clubs or govern the relationship between the League and Clubs
• The parties to the CBA are the NFLPA and NFLMC, and the agreement can be modified by written agreement of the parties
• The NFLPA and NFLMC have apparently agreed to a modification of the CBA to lower the Salary Cap for the Skins
• The Skins don't like what the NFLMC has done on their behalf
• 29 owners voted to accept the changes made by the NFLMC on behalf of all the Clubs

As far as I can tell, the arbitrator is only involved because the punishment involved the salary cap, but the CBA arbitrator doesn't really have power to rule on how the NFL punishes its member Clubs.

The only hope is for the arbitrator to say, "I know you tried to modify the CBA, but that modification is inconsistent with the rest of the document and the modification makes the CBA no longer make sense, so either lose the modification or rewrite the whole CBA.

What he said. Well done.

Just like to add, it was the Redskins and Cowboys that chose this as the forum in which to dispute the matter. I believe in a court of general jurisdiction the Skins had a much better argument. Why they chose to begin here where, arguably, they're stuck with their weakest arguments is beyond me.