Sides Split On Rookie Wage Scale Issue ?

The parties broached the rookie pay system Thursday for the first time during these clandestine sessions, and it proved to be a difficult area to navigate. Last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, received about $50 million guaranteed in his rookie deal, and the owners have long looked to drastically mark down those type of price tags.

But the numbers aren't the only issues. Among the players' concerns are finding a way to replace the effect such contracts have on the veteran market, and also get those high picks to free agency quicker (as it stands, six-year contracts are allowable for the high first-round picks making big money).

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Will Shockey Improve The Carolina Offense?

Jeremy Shockey joining the Carolina Panthers seemed like a terrible idea at first glance. As a Carolina Panthers fan since the beginning of the franchise, I know that we have put a high premium on good character guys after learning some early lessons. Then as I looked at the career of Jeremy Shockey(notes), he seemed to kind of mirror that same pattern. He started off brash, mouthy and arrogant in the beginning of his career. As his career has progressed, he has become more of a competitor than a loudmouth. Injuries and a declining skill set will do that to a player.

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Specter / Congress Should Intervene To End NFL Lockout

Arlen Specter knows how to make news.

In an op-ed to the New York Times this weekend, the long-serving U.S. Senator urged Congressional action to solve the seemingly intractable National Football League players’ strike and owners’ lockout.
Citing the $5 billion economic impact that the 2011 season is projected to have (not including ticket sales and TV revenue), Specter argued that the antitrust exemptions granted the NFL by Congress gives the government leverage in the situation.

“With this much at stake, the country should not sit back and wait for the players and owners to reach an agreement on their own. Congress can — and should — intervene to force a resolution of the dispute.”

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Deal Or No Deal ? Resistance For Owners Mounts

An internal battle is percolating at some of the highest NFL circles in which some owners are resisting the labor deal they've been trying to negotiate with the players, according to multiple sources. A handful of NFL owners -- at least two of whom are from AFC teams -- believes the parameters of the deal being discussed don't adequately address the original issues the league wanted corrected from the 2006 collective bargaining agreement, according to sources.

It is one of the primary reasons team officials are being prepped to stay an extra night in Chicago at Tuesday's owners' meetings. It's not to potentially vote on a new collective bargaining agreement, as many suspected; it actually is to try to fend off some of the resistance that is mounting, according to sources.

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Otah's Recovery, Return a Top Need For Panthers

While first overall pick Cam Newton will be in the spotlight and attract a great deal of attention in Carolina when football does resume, the return of ORT Jeff Otah is a significant issue facing the Panthers and it could fly under the radar.

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Sides Closer Than Ever, NFL Lockout To End In Late June?

"After lengthy discussions with both sources, they both conveyed to me a great deal of hope that a deal would be done by July and possibly as early as late June," wrote Zierlein. "Why the sudden optimism? According to one of the sources, 'both sides are focusing on the percentage of total revenue coming in, would include the first $1 billion the owners are currently taking off the top, and if that deal gets done, the other issues will probably fall into place fairly quickly according to what I'm hearing."

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When The Lockout Ends, You Will Forget It Happened

''Baseball came roaring back, aided by steroids, after the 1994 strike. The NHL lost an entire season but the Stanley Cup playoffs are currently in Boston, where I now live, and the entire region has the hockey fever. That’s just how you will be for your favorite NFL team as soon as the NFL lockout ends. You can take that to the bank. After all, the owners and players will be doing just that.''

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