The opinion of a "real" fan on the state of the impending lockout. And Jay Cutler.

http://video.adultswim.com/carl/carl...-bye-week.html

What have you heard that is so ridiculous? All the owners make money, and the NFL players are the only sportsmen in North America who don't have guaranteed contracts. They're looking not to go to an 18 game season, but that's about it from what I've heard, unless you know differently of course.

Genuinely interested why your opinion is different on this.

When you go into a negotiation, surely you go in with the aim of making a deal and both sides giving a little bit.

The NFLPA reps went in there on Weds and asked for a list like this from what I heard from some well-placed people (i.e they know the Krafts)

If inputting a Rookie Cap, they want Rookie Contracts no longer than 3 years.

Restricted Free Agency ends after 4 years.

No Franchise Tag unless compensation is less than the current 2 firsts.

Extra Bye Weeks.

If extending to 18 weeks, higher minimum wage per game for players as well as much higher insurance in case of injury.

As well as the increased money and help to retired players or those who had injuries and were forced to retire.

This along with other stuff was discussed during SB week and some were ruled for/against by the NFL.

Then Wednesday came and the NFLPA came straight back out with this list of demands saying they weren't happy with the small agreements they had made the week before.

That's why the meeting broke up on Wednesday. The NFL reps were trying to push forward and look at other sections yet the NFLPA were continuing to go back over what had already been covered and wanting to re-agree certain parts more favourably.

It's a reason why i'm more on the Owners side than the NFLPA. The NFLPA know it's their last chance to try and get a big deal for the players, yet the players want to play. They know they will be wasting a year of their careers. Something that older players like Brady and Manning cannot afford to do.

I personally blame Tagliabue, he screwed the last CBA up with the shortened timeframe. Probably the main reason he isn't in the HOF right now.

I'll see if I can find anything else out, but I know that some of the big owners in the NFL (Jones, Kraft, Irsay, Rooney) would like to meet Smith and the player Reps face to face without Lawyers to thrash it out. But Smith doesn't want it.

Interesting stuff, thanks Paul.

I would suggest it is early in negotiations and the players probably feel that they have to go in high in the hopes of getting anything in their favour. Might just be my opinion though.

As I said, normally I would be on the players side in things like this, but I think the NFLPA and Smith are taking the piss on this one.

And sadly, I think the players will not realise until Week 1 and that guaranteed cheque for the season does not arrive in the post. Closely followed by the $30k-$1.4m weekly cheque to players.

You think Julius Peppers is going to be happy sitting at home when his $900k doesn't arrive in week 1?

There will be football this year, of that I am convinced. When? Could start normal time with pre-season. Could start September. Could start November.

Until that time, I intend on enjoying the Combine and then the Draft.

From then on, who knows what's going to happen.

We can all pray for a resolution, but it looks like we'll all be taking a bigger interest in outdoor activities this summer rather than planning our Fantasy Football game.

And it looks like we'll be spending the last Sunday of October watching Sky instead of at Wembley as the International Series is the first thing that is not happening if we are locked out.

Good news at last, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to 7 days straight negotiations next week. Hopefully something will get sorted out. Everything is crossed!

I heard a bit of positivity last night as well.

I think something will get done overall before the Draft.

There's every chance that a rookie salary cap will be agreed by the Draft which will influence trades up and down.

I also think that Restricted Free Agency will stay at 4 years and the Franchise Tag will remain.

18 game season is the thing that is being worked on now.

The NFL are saying that the fans want 18 games. I don't know many who do. Look at the injuries this year. Every team got hit pretty hard on one side of the ball or the other.

Get rid of 2 pre-season games or massively reduce the costs in 2 of them. That's what the Season Ticket Holders have been complaining about. Not that they want an extra home game, but they want to pay less for pre-season.

I wouldn't go to a pre-season game if it was free. Same intensity as the Pro-Bowl for most of the match.

I saw somewhere that a poll was done and 82% of people who voted were against the season being extended to 18 games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nf...e=NFLHeadlines

Dave Duerson found dead at 50

Dave Duerson, a starting safety on the 1985 Chicago Bears team that won the Super Bowl, was found dead in his Miami home, the team said on Friday. He was 50.

The cause of death was not released.

"Our family asks that you please remember Dave as a good, kind, and caring man," Duerson's ex-wife Alicia Duerson said, according to NBCChicago. "He loved and cherished his family and friends and was extremely proud of his beloved Notre Dame and ... Chicago Bears. Please keep Dave and our family in your prayers."

The Bears selected Duerson in the third round of the 1983 draft after an All-America career at Notre Dame.

He became a full-time starter for the 1985 "Super Bowl Shuffle" team that was known for its dominating defense. That team finished the regular season 15-1 and pitched two shutouts in the playoffs before dismantling the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl.

He was selected to four Pro Bowls from 1986-89. He had seven sacks and six interceptions in 1986.

"We are stunned and saddened to hear the tragic news regarding Dave Duerson," the Bears said in a statement. "He was a great contributor to our team and the Chicago community. Today is a difficult day for all of us who loved Dave. We'll miss him. Our prayers are with his family."

Duerson left the Bears after the 1989 season and was part of the 1990 New York Giants team that also won a Super Bowl.

He played three more seasons for the Cardinals before retiring at age 33. He finished with 20 interceptions in his career.

After football, Duerson owned Brooks Sausage Company, later called Fair Oaks Farms, which supplied sausage to fast-food restaurants. He sold the business in 2002.

Duerson was born and raised in Muncie, Ind., where was a standout in football, baseball and basketball. He earned a degree in economics from Notre Dame.

Sad news. RIP :(

Exactly.

Yet most teams fans pay upwards of $150 for a ticket for it if they have a season ticket.

Very sad, great player, sounds like he had some problems...

I like this story:

Watch The Tillman Story. You owe it to yourselves as NFL fans for him as a person. Some of the details that come out are beyond shocking

Thanks for the heads up fella. Is it on ESPN or something?

I'm not sure what it was originally shown on as I just download everything I watch as they haven't fixed my cable since august here.

It is a truely shocking movie, the cover up of his death is disgusting

We're planning a 6-8 week drive around the US later in the year - no NFL means I will just go to a college game every week instead!

Well worth it. Passion, crazy fans, players doing it for the school (mostly). And some incredibly lop-sided encounters. Saturdays are great here with about 20 college games live on TV over the course of the day...

I just love that three minute or so recap of the College season to a 30 Seconds To Mars tune on ESPN being shown a few times at the moment .. worth catching as it's very good ... :p

The whole Duerson story is f up. He apparently shot himself in the chest so as to not destroy his brain so it can be analyzed


http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...hot-wound.html