September 22, 2009

S.F. 49ers allege Jet's tampering in Michael Crabtee negotiations:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/09/21/tampering
.ap/index.html


Union Readies For Possible Lockout

From Pro Football Weekly
as posted by Mike Florio on September 21, 2009 2:18 PM ET

The NFL Players Association has increased its dues as part of the plan to develop a pool of cash that would be used to keep the rank-and-file from caving like a bad souffle, if/when the owners impose a lockout.

Indeed, the Q&A memo from the union (a copy of which we've obtained) admits that the goal of the "Dues Lockout Fund" is to help the players maintain firm resolve.

"It will protect the player from being financially compelled to agree to NFL demands to decrease overall player salaries in a new CBA," the memo states regarding the fund.

Under the plan, dues will increase from $10,000 to $15,000 per player in 2009, and the dues will remain at that level through 2011.

Also, players will be required to assign their group licensing royalty payments from Players, Inc., the union's marketing arm, to the NFLPA as part of their dues obligations.  The memo estimates that the payments will be $10,000 per year.

But each player will be entitled only to receive in the event of a lockout the amount of the money that he has contributed -- i.e., the dues payments plus the withheld royalty amounts.  So, basically, the union is waiving dues payments for the next two years, and forcing players to save $15,000 each year, plus the amount of their group licensing royalty payments.

The union also is "directing" players to save 25 percent of their annual salaries for each of the next two years as further protection against a lockout.  Guys like Vikings receiver Sidney Rice, however, realize that brand-new Maseratis are far more likely to impress the ladies than an involuntary nest egg.



Judge Redfield T. Baum orders hearing in Coyotes sale: