Post by TheShadow on May 17, 2008 8:32:41 GMT -5
www.contracostatimes.com
Decision could mean no salary cap for 2010 campaign
STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
NFL owners could opt out of their agreement with the players union next week, leaving open the possibility of a 2010 season without a salary cap.
The labor agreement is on the agenda for the league meetings in Atlanta on Tuesday.
"If they don't do it next week then it will be soon after that," Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said Friday. "They want to opt out and we don't."
That contract was due to expire at the end of the 2013 season. If the owners nullify it, a move that has seemed inevitable for a while, it would end after the 2011 season with 2010 being uncapped.
The end of the agreement does not necessarily mean that there will be a work stoppage, although Upshaw has predicted that the owners could lock out the players in 2011. But the early opt out also could lead to earlier talks on a new deal.
And despite predictions that owners with more cash would corner the market on star players in an uncapped year, there are safeguards against that, notably a provision in the contract, first signed in 1993, that extends the period needed from free agency from four years to six if that happens.
Patriots: New England coach Bill Belichick lashed out at the team's former video assistant, saying in a televised interview that Matt Walsh was a low-level staffer who was fired for "poor job performance"
"There's not a lot of credibility," Belichick said in an interview broadcast on "CBS Evening News."
Belichick acknowledged that he violated NFL rules prohibiting filming opponents signals but insisted there was no intent to hide what he was doing.
"I made a mistake," he said in the interview. "I was wrong. I was wrong."
Belichick denied telling Walsh to hide what he was doing.
"You look at the tape. You see him filming the game," the coach told CBS. "You tell me how discrete it is."
Raiders: Former Oakland defensive line coach Earl Leggett died Thursday at the age of 75. No cause of death was reported.
He worked for the Raiders from 1979-88 and 1991-92. He is credited by many with developing defensive lineman Howie Long into a Pro Football Hall of Fame player.
"He was a trusted, valued contributor to the greatness of the Raiders, having served on two Super Bowl Championship teams," the Raiders said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Bobbie, his children and family."
Leggett, a resident of Mississippi, played 12 years in the NFL after being a first round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1957 out of Louisiana State. He was a member of the Bears' 1963 World Championship team.
Colts: Peyton Manning is withholding judgment on teammate Marvin Harrison and the star receiver's legal issues.
Harrison has been interviewed by police about a shooting near his North Philadelphia car wash last month but hasn't been arrested or charged.
"I didn't have a whole lot of reaction to it because I hadn't talked to anybody personally about it," Manning said. "I've been around long enough that until I hear from somebody that really knows what's going on, I don't give it a lot of merit."
Manning is more concerned about Harrison's bad knees, which caused his top receiver to miss most of last season. Harrison eventually had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in January and has been rehabilitating an inflamed capsule in his left knee.
Manning believes the 35-year-old wideout will recover and return to being dominant.
"I don't think there's any question he can still do it," Manning said.
Colts coach Tony Dungy was told Thursday night that Harrison's recovery is on schedule.
Titans: Left tackle Michael Roos signed a new six-year, $43 million deal with Tennessee.
Decision could mean no salary cap for 2010 campaign
STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
NFL owners could opt out of their agreement with the players union next week, leaving open the possibility of a 2010 season without a salary cap.
The labor agreement is on the agenda for the league meetings in Atlanta on Tuesday.
"If they don't do it next week then it will be soon after that," Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, said Friday. "They want to opt out and we don't."
That contract was due to expire at the end of the 2013 season. If the owners nullify it, a move that has seemed inevitable for a while, it would end after the 2011 season with 2010 being uncapped.
The end of the agreement does not necessarily mean that there will be a work stoppage, although Upshaw has predicted that the owners could lock out the players in 2011. But the early opt out also could lead to earlier talks on a new deal.
And despite predictions that owners with more cash would corner the market on star players in an uncapped year, there are safeguards against that, notably a provision in the contract, first signed in 1993, that extends the period needed from free agency from four years to six if that happens.
Patriots: New England coach Bill Belichick lashed out at the team's former video assistant, saying in a televised interview that Matt Walsh was a low-level staffer who was fired for "poor job performance"
"There's not a lot of credibility," Belichick said in an interview broadcast on "CBS Evening News."
Belichick acknowledged that he violated NFL rules prohibiting filming opponents signals but insisted there was no intent to hide what he was doing.
"I made a mistake," he said in the interview. "I was wrong. I was wrong."
Belichick denied telling Walsh to hide what he was doing.
"You look at the tape. You see him filming the game," the coach told CBS. "You tell me how discrete it is."
Raiders: Former Oakland defensive line coach Earl Leggett died Thursday at the age of 75. No cause of death was reported.
He worked for the Raiders from 1979-88 and 1991-92. He is credited by many with developing defensive lineman Howie Long into a Pro Football Hall of Fame player.
"He was a trusted, valued contributor to the greatness of the Raiders, having served on two Super Bowl Championship teams," the Raiders said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Bobbie, his children and family."
Leggett, a resident of Mississippi, played 12 years in the NFL after being a first round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1957 out of Louisiana State. He was a member of the Bears' 1963 World Championship team.
Colts: Peyton Manning is withholding judgment on teammate Marvin Harrison and the star receiver's legal issues.
Harrison has been interviewed by police about a shooting near his North Philadelphia car wash last month but hasn't been arrested or charged.
"I didn't have a whole lot of reaction to it because I hadn't talked to anybody personally about it," Manning said. "I've been around long enough that until I hear from somebody that really knows what's going on, I don't give it a lot of merit."
Manning is more concerned about Harrison's bad knees, which caused his top receiver to miss most of last season. Harrison eventually had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in January and has been rehabilitating an inflamed capsule in his left knee.
Manning believes the 35-year-old wideout will recover and return to being dominant.
"I don't think there's any question he can still do it," Manning said.
Colts coach Tony Dungy was told Thursday night that Harrison's recovery is on schedule.
Titans: Left tackle Michael Roos signed a new six-year, $43 million deal with Tennessee.