After over 100 days of a labor lockout, the NFL and its players have agreed to a new 12 year collective bargaining agreement. Overcoming the difficult issue of how to split up over 9 billion dollars in revenue (estimated to at least double in the next half decade), this is a monumental decision for the most popular sports league in the United States. The deal, including the widely reported rookie wage scale, expanded training camp rosters, and clause to add 2 games to the schedule starting in 2014 if the revenue surpasses 14 billion dollars, was agreed upon Wednesday morning in an undisclosed location right outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Executive Director of the Players, DeMaurice Smith, and former center and current NFLPA President Kevin Mawae held a joint news conference with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to announce the agreement.
Opting not to disclose the entire agreement, Smith outlined the favorable clauses given to the players. Smith celebrated not only receiving 48% of the revenue share, but also getting the opportunity to see the midnight showing of Transformers before signing the final papers. According to the AP, Goodell was also seen at the theater leading some to speculate the imminent signing of the deal. Other player's clauses included a new 14 day vacation list, allowed tweeting during games, no pads during weekly practices, and full access to stadium vendors after each game. Said one unnamed AFC North Lineman, "We get paid AND get free food? Are you kidding me?"
Dallas Cowboys' Owner Jerry Jones called the deal "groundbreaking," comparing it favorably to the new Cowboys Stadium constructed two years ago: "This deal is like the paper version of my stadium; lavish, unnecessary, and filled with a lot of things that have nothing to do with football." Perhaps a bit more owner friendly than most anticipated, clauses have been added to help ensure owners of franchises more flexibility in the upcoming seasons. One such rule, tabbed the "JJ Rule" named after the aforementioned Jones, requires all NFL teams to interview at least one billionaire coaching candidate, aimed towards combating the highly successful, but extremely unionized "Rooney Rule" that makes each NFL team interview one minority candidate. Said Jones, "Did you see how long that took for us to deal with millionaires? We need to hire more billionaires. This is a business [...] we don't have time to kick it with a bunch of low upper class former athletes who only care about winning."
Sources say that the deal came together at about 8:40 A.M. when former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer made a spearheading proposal. According to NFC South General Manager, Dilfer proposed to get rid of kickers, saying the cut down salary will "increase total revenue opportunities" and allow for a more "exciting and athletic game." Upon proposal of this deal, the General Manager claimed that the entire room starting yelling and celebrating, realizing the move was the final piece needed to come to an agreement. This is good news for Ndamukong Suh, Chad Ochocinco, and Wes Welker, three position players who attempted field goals or extra point attempts in the last two years. Jay Feely, the most vocal of NFL kickers called the move "souring," adding that "we [kickers] fooled them [fans] for all these years into thinking that we were real athletes, it is just a shame that this ride is over." When asked what he will do now that he has no other opportunity for a football career, Feely said that he has received a contract offer to join the Professional Bowlers Association.
After months of tumultuous off the field incidents, this is welcome news for the NFL and its players. Now athletes like Ochocinco, Tom Zibikowski, and Marcedes Lewis will have to give up their summer soccer or fighting careers to focus on acclimating back to the game. The big question on the mind of fans, however, is the readiness of many of the players. According to New York Giants Offensive Lineman Shawn Andrews' official Twitter page, he will be one of the many players having issues getting used to the rigors of the game: "I have tried EVERY Flavor of Pringles & None Of Em Quench My Appetite for That Crunch Like A Dorito.. Doritos Are A Drug."
Enduring a difficult few months, Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he is relieved to have all this behind him: "I haven't slept in two days, but it was worth it. All I could think of was the fans. We need to get this done for the fans. But I definitely needed to make sure we did everything possible to acquire as much currency as possible. Listen, fining James Harrison every game can only get us so much cash, we needed this deal." When asked about the relationship between Owners and players, Goodell remained cautiously optimistic: "It's nothing a few Buds and a performance bonus can't fix."
The NFL will officially release the CBA next week, but will proceed with the free agency period immediately. This is bad news for the Carolina Panthers who had hoped to remain invisible for another year. Per Carolina Panthers' President Danny Morrison, "I'd pay more money to see Disney on Ice than our sodden franchise." No Carolina Panthers fans could be found for comment.
UPDATE 9:30 A.M.
In a stunning addition to the new CBA, the NFL has announced that the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings will be relocated to Tiajuana to form the new Los Angeles Division of Mexico. Reports from Los Angeles Chairman of Commerce Joseph Czyzyk say that the deal was made after the city lost its funding for the new projected stadium. "The NFL needs to be in this great city, and we couldn't let a stupid stadium stand in our way." But why the move to Tiajuana? Czyzyk calls it a "win-win" for the American people. "Listen, I know Los Angeles is a spanish name, but c'mon, there are way too many Mexicans living here and taking all of our jobs. We trick them into working for these new teams, get cheap labor to build the stadiums and then never let them back in." When asked about the players on these franchises, Czyzyk claimed that they will have a great life in Mexico playing against themselves: "It's a dream scenario, getting paid to stare at San Diego." Fans of these franchises could also not be reached.
UPDATE: 10:17 A.M.
The NHL has announced a lockout for the 2011-12 after seeing the successful model of the NFL.
After months of tumultuous off the field incidents, this is welcome news for the NFL and its players. Now athletes like Ochocinco, Tom Zibikowski, and Marcedes Lewis will have to give up their summer soccer or fighting careers to focus on acclimating back to the game. The big question on the mind of fans, however, is the readiness of many of the players. According to New York Giants Offensive Lineman Shawn Andrews' official Twitter page, he will be one of the many players having issues getting used to the rigors of the game: "I have tried EVERY Flavor of Pringles & None Of Em Quench My Appetite for That Crunch Like A Dorito.. Doritos Are A Drug."
Enduring a difficult few months, Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he is relieved to have all this behind him: "I haven't slept in two days, but it was worth it. All I could think of was the fans. We need to get this done for the fans. But I definitely needed to make sure we did everything possible to acquire as much currency as possible. Listen, fining James Harrison every game can only get us so much cash, we needed this deal." When asked about the relationship between Owners and players, Goodell remained cautiously optimistic: "It's nothing a few Buds and a performance bonus can't fix."
The NFL will officially release the CBA next week, but will proceed with the free agency period immediately. This is bad news for the Carolina Panthers who had hoped to remain invisible for another year. Per Carolina Panthers' President Danny Morrison, "I'd pay more money to see Disney on Ice than our sodden franchise." No Carolina Panthers fans could be found for comment.
UPDATE 9:30 A.M.
In a stunning addition to the new CBA, the NFL has announced that the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings will be relocated to Tiajuana to form the new Los Angeles Division of Mexico. Reports from Los Angeles Chairman of Commerce Joseph Czyzyk say that the deal was made after the city lost its funding for the new projected stadium. "The NFL needs to be in this great city, and we couldn't let a stupid stadium stand in our way." But why the move to Tiajuana? Czyzyk calls it a "win-win" for the American people. "Listen, I know Los Angeles is a spanish name, but c'mon, there are way too many Mexicans living here and taking all of our jobs. We trick them into working for these new teams, get cheap labor to build the stadiums and then never let them back in." When asked about the players on these franchises, Czyzyk claimed that they will have a great life in Mexico playing against themselves: "It's a dream scenario, getting paid to stare at San Diego." Fans of these franchises could also not be reached.
UPDATE: 10:17 A.M.
The NHL has announced a lockout for the 2011-12 after seeing the successful model of the NFL.
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