BTSC Steelers Six Pack: Hope on the Horizon Edition?

by Michael Bean on Jun 14, 2011 7:22 PM EDT in BTSC Steelers Six Packs

IX - Legitimate reason to be optimistic about the lockout being lifted in the near future? That seems to be the case if you believe recent reports the last few days. God I hope so.

X - Ross Tucker of ESPN lays out his four-point plan to end the NFL Lockout.

XIII - The world's oldest Steelers fan? I'm guessing so.

XIV - Jason Gildon has decided to try his hand at coaching. The former defensive standout for the Steelers will coach the defensive line at Peters Township for the school's pilot year of football.

XL - They're a few days old, but Baron Batch shared photos from his recent trip to Hawaii, which according to the recent draft pick was his first vacation ever.

XLIII - Like giving gifts? Be like Hines Ward then and get yourself or a friend XR line of whiskey from Crown Royal. Ward gave each of the three judges in Dancing With The Stars -- Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman -- a bottle for their support throughout the competition. in case you forgot, presented the a different but equally nice Crown Royal libation to his teammates after the Steelers win in SB XLIII.

Bonus Link: If you just so happen to live in Los Angeles, you have one day left to submit your name to potentially be selected to start in the next Head & Shoulders commercial with Troy Polamalu. I should have passed this along a week ago when I first learned of it, so my bad. But who knows, maybe one of you fine-looking west coasters will catch lighting in a bottle.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

i think there is more than hope this lockout is over

i am pretty sure the lockout will end soon, they would not leak these stories only to disappoint.

they are going to make a deal no later than july 5th and possibly as soon as june 25th. we can thank the 8th circuit for setting it in motion. “neither side is going to like our decision” scared both sides silly and they finally got down to real business.

by kk99 on Jun 14, 2011 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

sure hope you are right my man

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Michael Bean on Jun 15, 2011 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

makes sense

read your fanpost. lets just hope they stay focused and not let minor details get in the way of putting this to bed for now.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Michael Bean on Jun 15, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

i read that story again you posted about the legal proceedings

and i have to assume he knows his law and is a great lawyer but his analysis of the real world is way off. i think he was confusing real world practicality with the courtroom world. he was thinking that if the players could just hold on for a few more months maybe they could do away with the salary cap and free agency rules. there is no way this could happen, it would take a minimum of 6 months and possibly as long as two years. it is totally absurd to think the players, even if there was the will, could hang on this long for a “pot of gold.” not to mention, what good is a “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow if you have no gas in your car to get there?

you see how long it has taken the courts just to decide if the lockout is legal and we still don’t have a final answer yet. brady vs. NFL won’t start until 8/29 and that was moved up from 9/12. if $ were of no concern, the NFLPA would just lose in the 8th circuit, appeal to the supreme and patiently await the 8/29 court date. but also the NFLPA doesn’t have unlimited legal funds, a long fight would BK the NFLPA too.

in the end, b/c the players wanted to try everything in their power to get the best deal available they took some calculated risks and went to court. courts have always been pretty friendly ot the NFLPA but they can only go so far, so fast. if the players were really hell bent on going all the way with Brady v. NFL then they would have to miss the entire 2011-2012 football season and probably into the next season.

brady v. NFL will be dropped and the NFLPA will soon be a union again. the 8th circuit forced both sides to rediscover religion. the whole process probably did nothing but line the pockets of the lawyers and moneylenders while annoying the fans. but i guess it has been a good topic for conversation? :)

by kk99 on Jun 15, 2011 2:36 AM EDT reply actions

So, if the lockout ends, and there is a CBA to sign... who signs it?

Once a union de-certifies, I believe there is a waiting period before they are allowed to vote for a new union, and I think that is 6 months. At least that’s how it works within the unions I am familiar with.

Anybody know?

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.
– Joseph Joubert

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jun 15, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

mike florio of pft

postulated that they players would agree to it & with the expectation that they would be recertifying as the season started.

but he did say that there will have to be some sort of agreement or trust involved because they won’t have a new deal & the union back in place by the start of the season, as you said.

by t1mmy10 on Jun 15, 2011 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks t1mmy,

I hope this doesn’t create a late in the game stumbling block, which could actually threaten football being played. The chance of any disagreement that close to the season worries me more than what’s been going on recently.

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.
– Joseph Joubert

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jun 16, 2011 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

if they can agree on a %

then the only real stumbling block left would who would have jurisdiction to decide the next dispute. the owners are adamant that it has to stay out of the courts but if the players give that up then future negotiations will be much harder for them.

they have to be close to a revenue % or have an idea what would work otherwise there would be no reason for hope. at this point i really think the thing that could derail it is the jurisdiction issue. maybe both sides can agree to a federal mediator or binding arbitration for the next dispute that goes over 90 days. something like that sounds reasonable.

by kk99 on Jun 16, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

i guess they sign as a trade union?

with the stipulation that the union will reform after so much time or maybe they can reform the union simultaneously while signing the new CBA. i am totally guessing any labor lawyers here?

by kk99 on Jun 15, 2011 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

I could be wrong as well.

I know how it works within the unions I am familair with, and it is a six month wait to re-certify. If that actually applies to the NFLPA is another story.

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.
– Joseph Joubert

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jun 15, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

i simply love his 4 point plan

only issue i take is the cash cap. they have to spread signing bonuses over the length of the contract or otherwise those things will go the way of the dinosaur.

by t1mmy10 on Jun 15, 2011 6:28 PM EDT reply actions

i agree

i think it’s the first time i have seen a solution that could actually work. i think most people agree that the NFL revenue/salary cap model is held together with band-aids. it’s easy to point out the problems but i have not really heard any good solutions until i read this. is it perfect, of course not, but no NFL model is ever going to be perfect.

by kk99 on Jun 15, 2011 8:54 PM EDT reply actions