Ongoing CBA discussions

[Longtimefan]

Sally Jenkins - No matter what happens in NFL labor negotiations, the players pay the price

[CRedskinsRule]

AlbertBreer

Cohen in statement: "Some progress was made, but very strong differences remain on the all-important core issues that separate the parties. ...(Cohen cont): "... Nonetheless, I have recommended and the parties have agreed to resume the mediation process in my office ... March 1."
2 minutes ago

7 days and this is what you get

[sportscurmudgeon]

CRedskinsRule:

Do not be too dismayed by the statements of the mediator. Mediation is a process that is a complete failure until it becomes a total success. At the moment it is a complete failure - - but the two sides have not quit the process and the mediator is still willing to expend his good offices to try to bring them together. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel - - even though it may be a gorilla with a flashlight.

That means the process is still working - - even though it is a complete failure to this point.

My gut tells me that mediation at this point is not going to work and that the CBA will expire before there is a new agreement. [They may agree to an extension of the current CBA to be sure, but I really doubt there will be a new CBA by 4 March] However, this mediation process - - even if it does not create a new CBA making it a complete failure - - COULD set the stage for a future mediation that will create the new CBA sometime down the road.

Yes, I have done some mediation work in the past - - although nothing nearly as big or as public as this mediation. I think about what the mediator is going through and thank my lucky stars that he and I cannot trade places.

[MTK]

Nothing happens until the final hour is approaching. I would bet on them extending the deadline out a week or two.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Mediators do not "call fouls" or "keep score". What mediators do is to try to find common ground between the two sides and to get them to build on those things they can both agree on - - - until a full-blown CBA can happen.


..

I know, I do 2-3 mediations a month in DC (as an atty, not med). My point was, using loose language, that they need(ed) to bring a neutral party for an airrance of grievances since I assume each side thought they were talking to deaf ears. Just didnt feel like going all lawyer talk on a football message board.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

I know, I do 2-3 mediations a month in DC (as an atty, not med). My point was, using loose language, that they need(ed) to bring a neutral party for an airrance of grievances since I assume each side thought they were talking to deaf ears. Just didnt feel like going all lawyer talk on a football message board.

over the mountain:

My apologies.

Like you, I have done some mediating and took your words literally since I had no idea you had been involved in the process yourself. Bad assumption on my part. Mea culpa.

As the saying goes, when you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME.

[goes and sits in the corner...]

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

7 days and this is what you get

The optimist in me remembers that things like franchise tags arose as creative solutions to impasses in previous negotiations. Maybe the few days off will lead to other creative solutions.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Nothing happens until the final hour is approaching. I would bet on them extending the deadline out a week or two.

Pretty much this. It's a staring contest to see who blinks first.

[Defensewins]

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported tonight on NFL live that in the big Coaches and GM's meting today, they were told none of the coaching staffs or teams can do any class room work with their players until further notice. This really hurts the new coaches looking to implement a new system or playbook. No exceptions. They will be heavily fined. This is insane. There are something like 7 or 8 new head coaches or interim coaches that are now told they can not implement their new playbooks or schemes. They can not even meet with their player to talk about X's and O's.
There are also some teams like the Rams that have a new offensive coordinator and trying to install a new system and now can not.
What this tells me is the owners are set to have a work stopage. They want it and are preparing for it. It seems this closed doors meeting today where all of the coaches and GM's where in attendance, was about the possible work stoppage and to get them the ground rules.
Several of the panelists on the ESPn NFL Live show thought this was bordering on mean spirited by the owners and they are trying to stick it to the players.
The only thing the NFL will allow is rehab of injured players. That is it.
I am not sure why the owners would do this?
Maybe someone can give a good reason?
I am not sure how giving time to the weak teams with new coaches staffs to implement their new playbooks and do some class room work with the players is going to damage the labor talks for the owners? Anyone?

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported tonight on NFL live that in the big Coaches and GM's meting today, they were told none of the coaching staffs or teams can do any class room work with their players until further notice. This really hurts the new coaches looking to implement a new system or playbook. No exceptions. They will be heavily fined. This is insane. There are something like 7 or 8 new head coaches or interim coaches that are now told they can not implement their new playbooks or schemes. They can not even meet with their player to talk about X's and O's.
There are also some teams like the Rams that have a new offensive coordinator and trying to install a new system and now can not.
What this tells me is the owners are set to have a work stopage. They want it and are preparing for it. It seems this closed doors meeting today where all of the coaches and GM's where in attendance, was about the possible work stoppage and to get them the ground rules.
Several of the panelists on the ESPn NFL Live show thought this was bordering on mean spirited by the owners and they are trying to stick it to the players.
The only thing the NFL will allow is rehab of injured players. That is it.
I am not sure why the owners would do this?
Maybe someone can give a good reason?
I am not sure how giving time to the weak teams with new coaches staffs to implement their new playbooks and do some class room work with the players is going to damage the labor talks for the owners? Anyone?

With negotiations going on you don't want coaches & players meeting & potentially discussing things that might impact the negotiations for either side.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported tonight on NFL live that in the big Coaches and GM's meting today, they were told none of the coaching staffs or teams can do any class room work with their players until further notice. This really hurts the new coaches looking to implement a new system or playbook. No exceptions. They will be heavily fined. This is insane. There are something like 7 or 8 new head coaches or interim coaches that are now told they can not implement their new playbooks or schemes. They can not even meet with their player to talk about X's and O's.
There are also some teams like the Rams that have a new offensive coordinator and trying to install a new system and now can not.
What this tells me is the owners are set to have a work stopage. They want it and are preparing for it. It seems this closed doors meeting today where all of the coaches and GM's where in attendance, was about the possible work stoppage and to get them the ground rules.
Several of the panelists on the ESPn NFL Live show thought this was bordering on mean spirited by the owners and they are trying to stick it to the players.
The only thing the NFL will allow is rehab of injured players. That is it.
I am not sure why the owners would do this?
Maybe someone can give a good reason?
I am not sure how giving time to the weak teams with new coaches staffs to implement their new playbooks and do some class room work with the players is going to damage the labor talks for the owners? Anyone?

The greatest leverage that the owners have is a work stoppage where players do not get paid. The more players work, the more owners lose leverage. Therefore, mean spirited or not, the owners are motivated to cut off all forms of work including study time.

I'm not defending this practice, just sayin'.

[MTK]

At this point it's best to keep both sides as seperated as possible.

[SkinzWin]

I think at this point it's best for everyone to get their heads out their butts and make a deal so we can play some freakin' football....

[Longtimefan]

Source: 'We're Nowhere' on NFL CBA Talks -- NFL FanHouse

[SkinzWin]

Sources: NFLPA to decertify by March 3