Rock out with your Lockout

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I hate this argument. Let's really step back and look at this. Anyone can be a cop or a firefighter. Most people on this board could study/train for a year and become a cop or fireman. None of us could become world class athletes. What these players have are special skills that they hone, either for free or pay [tuition, equipment costs, etc], until the age of 20-21ish. Then they are given a very short career span to make money. Their routine work day includes far more violence and danger than the typical cop and fireman as well. I'm not saying service people don't face danger, but I'm arguing over the course of a week, a football player has a far higher risk of being seriously injured. Most of these guys get a short amount of time in the NFL, it's important they're well compensated.

THIS, THIS and THIS!! Thank you for spelling it out.. Nothing infuriates me more than the 'teachers, fire fighters and ditch diggers don't get paid this much' argument as if athletes should apologize for their salaries. Wah, wah, wah.. These guys are in the top 1% in the WORLD of those with similar skill sets. There's a reason why elite artists, actors, businessmen and athletes get paid the amount they do. I hate that argument with a passion..

Now, on the topic of this dispute, I side 100% with the players. The owners exercised the option to void the CBA, causing this scenario. With record ratings (although lower attendance figures) it would be beyond moronic for the NFLPA and owners to allow a lockout to proceed past the draft. I doubt it will go that far though because teams need a full offseason to incorporate free agency and drafting into their 2011 plans.

A couple of things/signs are working in favor of a short work stoppage:
-The amount of coaching turnover. Outside of Carolina, all of the owners who made coaching changes will be paying a portion of their fired coaches salaries. If there is a lockout in place into the season, they would be paying a former coach as well as a current coach with no revenue coming in. A few analysts indicated the coaching carousel would be a sign of the owners intent going into the offseason. High turnover would be a good indicator of a short stoppage, low turnover would mean they were locked in for the long haul.
-The large FA class. This is supposed to be the biggest and deepest FA class since free agency began since it's basically 2 years worth of players on the market. The players aren't stupid. They know that the longer the offseason lockout exists, the shorter the FA period and the shorter the dollars will be as well. In addition, the possibility exists of an extension of 2010 terms on all expiring contracts which means hundreds of unhappy players. The NFLPA wants no parts of that either so they will be motivated to make a deal.

Expect a deal around Easter, in time for abbreviated FA before the draft and much more activity afterwards.