31-0 vote by NFL on new labor deal

pending certification by players as a union, and their approval of the deal.

so they definitely handed the players a deal and said, take it. Which is OK by me.

 

so there's that, players rejected it.

 

http://twitter.com/#!/JarrettBell/status/94201540109279233

 

DeAngelo says the owners are pulling the wool eyes over the public's eye on facebook

 

Not so fast. Players haven't even had time to look at the thing yet. Owners made a typical move to drag out the final points of the deal for days then rush their ratification to press. PR move meant to put pressure on the NFLPA.

Players are smart not to rush through a ratification vote. It'll still happen this weekend, but some time to review the proposal is needed. It is a 10 year commitment.

Still out there are the facts that the players aren't a union, and therefore can't sign anything, plus the fact that there remains pending litigation. The Brady v. case has some prickly points to it, plus the retired players now have a seat in front of the bench. Lots still to sort out.

I've heard that the players will sleep on it and vote tomorrow, which is reported will pass (simple majority needed). Team facilities open Saturday and teams can begin negotiating and signing undrafted players. They'll also be able to talk to free agents and work out hand-shake deals for the new league year to start Wednesday or Thursday.

All that is predicated on the CBA being ratified by the players, the players re-certifying the union (or at least begin the process) and the pending litigation being abandoned or killed outright.

 

well, no actual vote by players. I think people panicked a little bit, based on the owners ratifying something and then shock that players weren't on it. I don't think everyone understood just the owners signed it.

So players have until Tuesday but are busy right now getting the red ass about it. I mean, if you want to get a deal done, even if this isn't that deal, work toward certification. get this in hands. Stop making a fucking problem of it, and work.

 

Can't blame the players for wanting to look over the fine print. It's not like they're buying a Kia.

 

This stuff has all been part of the negotiations, so it's not like DeMaurice Smith had no idea it was coming. Frankly this just proves that the whole thing has been a charade and that the players have been operating like a union this whole time, they just want to string things out and cause problems to get a more favorable deal. It's like someone agreeing to a price on a house, but then demanding more when you actually come to close.

 

I can blame them for not controlling their part of the process. Freaked out before seeing the whole deal, which is now considered acceptable per espn if a minor detail or two might change. definitely couldn't keep some more reactionary players from speakng out when they certainly had no terms at all.

 

Lack of trust by both sides causes much of today's drama. The owners wanted the players to re-certify the Union before lifting the lockout, and the players thought that petty and an unnecessary delay. Especially since that would have said to all who care about such things that de-certification was little more than an empty threat.

There will be football soon.

Thank God.