ghotirule Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think the owners would address this by signing
> the players to one year contracts that protect
> them from whatever unknowns they are worried
> about.
>
>
> The problem here is that the players have a right
> to collective bargaining. If there is no CBA in
> place then, there are no player rights. All
> players are free agents, even rookies. It doesn't
> matter if the NFL drafts them, no single team has
> legal leverage to exclusively sign a player. If
> we draft a player, and that player wants to play
> for the Jest, the Jest can sign him. If the Jest
> don't want to negotiate with that player because
> we drafted him, it is collusion.
>
> No teams can legally honor the draft until the CBA
> is in place, and the NFL isn't going to be put in
> a position where the union can change the draft
> after it occurs. Keeping bargaining chips off the
> table is negotiation 101, and the NFL benefits by
> not drafting until the CBA is in place.


I dont believe you are correct. If we draft a player the Jets do not have the right to sign him. How does that logic make sense. You are drafting the right to that player in the NFL? Maybe you are right that they will not sign contracts until a CBA, but the draft will go down without any issues whether they have a CBA or not, and that will not allow the rookies to have a lawsuit if they dont play. The rookies would be free to play in Canadian football.

Some Tweets for what they're worth.

SI_PeterKing RT @jpmcdonough: How is it that they can have a draft without a CBA? ...Last guarantee of '06 deal was that there would be a draft in 2011.

adbrandt NFL and NFLPA begin 5th day of mediation. Mediator defuses emotions, focuses the issues, searches for common ground. Positive steps.

I really think this doom and gloom is going to turn out to be unwarranted and there will be a deal before the season starts, with no missed games. All this talk of bankruptcy---ain't gonna happen. Has anyone (other than ghoti) even raised this as a possibility? An immensely profitable entity isn't going to be permitted to declare bankruptcy and have its debt restructured based on its desire to increase profits that are already in the billions.