CBA talk... What happens march 6th?

the current agreement runs out march 5th.. and no one is really talking about what happens to all the Free Agents.. While a deal is very unlikely to happen before, can a team if wants to risk the parameters of a new deal, can they sign a player w/o a new CBA?.. Can a big market team like a dallas, bears giants etc if they desire, run the risks and snap up some of the choice free agents even before a new CBA or small market teams not willing to risk it? or do they have to wait? Seems according to the Charlotte papers this am, richarson( who is on the cba committee) will not be signing any F/A unless a new CBA.. but by that statement seems a loophole does exist that can do signings if so choose, though run the risk of maybe being over cap if overspent.. Anyone seen any articles addressing specifically rules that state can or cant sign a F/A?

Richardson said he would not sign any of the team's pending free agents until a new collective bargaining agreement is in place, which he predicted would not be any time soon.

"I'm not optimistic we're making a lot of progress," Richardson, co-chair of the owners' negotiating committee, said.

He made a couple of references to the team's finances. He pointed out that it would have cost the Panthers $11,441,000 - a salary pool Richardson said was the fifth-highest in the league - to buy out Fox and his assistants.
"You know, we are running a business here," he said. "And people don't like to see their ticket prices go up.


Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/01/...#ixzz1AAey9RaT

my sources say that julius peppers will come in and scare the owners into a new deal. after the owners false start 3 times.

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Originally Posted by nerrad

my sources say that julius peppers will come in and scare the owners into a new deal. after the owners false start 3 times.

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I take back most of the bad things I ever said about you. :cheers:

well as the union ha voted to decertify, guess they can do a deal if so choose, but probably be some "gentleman's agreement '
to not do it..

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First, owners could follow through on their threat to lock out players, meaning that free agency wouldn’t begin until a new agreement was negotiated. Even then, players could put a wrench in that if they were allowed to decertify the union.

Second, owners could continue to negotiate with players during the offseason, using the current rules (no salary cap and six years to unrestricted free agency) of the CBA until either a new agreement is reached or there is impasse (in which case the owners could invoke their last offer).

Third, there could be a strike.


Fourth, the sides could reach an agreement by March, which would likely mean a system similar to the previous rules (a salary cap and four years to unrestricted free agency).

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http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...eeagents111810

I like four years restricted FA and six years UFA.

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaJeff

I like four years restricted FA and six years UFA.

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well if have a rookie cap not a chance ever having 6 years to UFA jeff.

That will be the "give up" to get a rookie cap, bring F/A to 3 or most 4 years before can cash in.

And personally like that- this way players aren't screwed for so long , just because a later picked forced to not earn a lot for 5 years, where players drafted at top make undeserved millions. 3 years a good idea of a players value and draft status will not matter, a player like a briggs or the texan Rb can get the money deserve quicker, and top round busts off the books quicker and team can move on quicker, a win/win for both sides. Its Still a Zero sum game, but allows teasm to reward players FOR PERFORMACNE ON FIELD, not for draft status or rep

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

I take back most of the bad things I ever said about you. :cheers:

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about time!

Their will be a lockout, but I don't think it will last much into OTA's/Training camp. The players have to know the majority of fans are not going to side w/them, they always lose the PR war. The owners know just how much cash is at stake for pissing off the fans, so they will both have reasons to get a deal done by then.

Yes with the current economy the players lose that battle. And if the owners don't get their act in gear they will lose to fans attention spans-at least the fair weather ones.

I don't think there will be a lock out... There's way too much money to made in the NFL. I'm sure the players know that, hopefully. The same with the owners. Without the fans there wouldn't be football and I'm sure they wouldn't be too happy if they stopped buying tickets and merchandise.