[gambleingsites]

POSTED 10:06 p.m. EST, March 5, 2006

UNION IS FAILING ITS MEMBERS

We've long believed that the NFLPA is doing a less-than-ideal job (we were going to say "piss-poor," but we're trying to be nice) in representing its membership.

Tonight, we're convinced of it.

At times of great tribulation, where multiple diverse interests must be considered and a balance seems nearly impossible to reach, strong leaders don't get close to working it all out and then storm out of the room.

But NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw continues to posture and preen at a time when the two sides are as close as they might ever get to getting a deal done. Once the teams cut their players in order to get under the cap, the sense of urgency to get something done will diminish, and all of the momentum of the past few days will be lost.

And then the players who get dumped will sign crappy deals due to the restrictive rules of the last capped year, and they'll soon be craving the uncapped year in order to make their money back. And as more guys sign those crappy deals under the current rules, it'll be harder to justify extending the CBA, since more and more of the players who signed deals under the old one will be screwed.

So before anyone knows it we'll be into the uncapped year, when some teams will spend a lot more money that otherwise would be permitted.

And some teams will spend a lot less than otherwise would be required.

Our guess is that, despite the lure of a year without a cap, the total dollars spent on player salaries will be less than what they would have been if there had been an extension and a cap in 2007.

So next comes the expiration of the CBA in 2008, decertification of the union, antitrust lawsuits if the league imposes a uniform set of compensation and free agency rules, and maybe a work stoppage.

As one league source told us on Sunday night, "The union and the players have no idea what they just did to themselves. No one is going to win, but they will suffer the greatest."

It's time to wake up, players. Demand that the guys whose salaries you pay earn their money and get a deal done. The owners will always be making money, but the players have a limited window.

If the 2006 league year gets rolling without a new CBA, you're all going to be making a lot less of it over the next few years.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[Siffidiolla]

Troy should have retired and taken over.