NFL Lock Out Update

I've written post about the lock out from the perspective of sitting at the negotiating table myself.  I'm a union steward for my shop and represented the employees in contract talks with the company I work for.  Fortunately we were not in a lock out situation like the players. 

The other thing to consider is that the NFL labor situation is unique and different than the private sector.  Basically it is a group of workers negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.  In the private sector that CBA pretty much sets working conditions and pay.  Pay is the key difference between the two types of CBAs.  My CBA sets wages, a wage scale and raises.  In the professional sports world, pay is individually negotiated by agents as well as pay raises and other perks.  There are some guidelines on what can and cannot be included in an individual contract.  There is a player standard contract that meets minimum requirements and spells out certain expectations like player conduct.  Finally, the league office and the players union must also sign off on it. 

According to the latest reports, both sides have reached tentative agreements on most the major issues.  The two outstanding issues are the rookie wage scale and an issue with free agency. 

As for the rookie wage scale, some basic parameters have been set but how many rookies will it affect and the length of contracts they can sign appear to be the issues.  The owners want to include several first round picks in the draft subject to the scale.  Since there is a gentlemen's agreement on slotting rookie contracts, they only need to agree where the scale starts and how many players it covers.  After that, by the slotting system, the scale trickles down to the lower drafted players.

There is a good side bar in an ESPN.com story on the rookie wage scale.  I highly recommend reading it.  I can't do it justice trying to explain it here.

I think the rookie wage scale is workable.  I can't see how it would scuttle the rest of the agreement.  The biggest issue, the revenue split, is agreed upon.  That was the issue that potentially could have shortened or canceled the season.  With that out of the way, unless some boneheaded owners dig in, the CBA should be done soon.  Keep in mind it only takes a few owners to sink the agreement.  To ratify the deal, 24 out of 32 owners need to approve the deal.  It will take 9 owners to sink an agreement.

The Dead Days of Summer

I have nothing new to add thus no entries lately.

The Astros are atrocious.  The best I can do is start to scan the minor league system for looking for something to clasp onto in desperate hope for the future.

The Texans still concern me.  I still want to know who is going to play linebacker.  I'm not sold on Connor Barwin as a LB.  They are going into the new season with the same defensive backs.  If there is a new season.

I pretty much could careless if the NBA locks out, folds and goes away for ever.

So right now I'm keeping myself entertained with soccer.  I watched the Gold Cup, some of the women's World Cup and the Dynamo. 

At the very least I'm looking forward to college football and the Return of Case Keenum to my Houston Cougars.

No blog entry for a while because really not much to blog about.

Houston Cougars Basketball - Fall 2010/Spring 2011 Signees

Recruiting - the life blood of college sports.  Cougars head coach James Dickey continues to build his squad with nine total scholarships to give in the fall and spring signing periods.  The 2010-11 class features five freshman, two junior college transfers and one NCAA Division 1 transfer.  The Cougars have one more scholarship to give by May 18.

Fall 2010
Jonathan Simmons (Smiley H.S./Midland J.C.)
Jherrod Stiggers (Terrell H.S.)
TaShawn Thomas (Killeen H.S.)
J.J. Thompson (Irving H.S.)
Joseph Young (Yates H.S.)

Spring 2011
LaRon Barnes (Desoto H.S., Stonewall, LA)
Leon Gibson (Navaro J.C.)
J.J. Richardson (Pitt/Smiley H.S.)

This page entry is a work in progress.  I'll be adding highlights, stats, news and other news on the recruits as time permits.

Joseph Young - Guard, Freshman

Yates High School, Houston, TX

Young originally signed a national letter of intent with Providence but later asked for a release.  Providence refused the release when Young decided to transfer to Houston.  He sat out the 2010-11 season but was able to practice with the team.  He will still have four years of eligibility when he starts play in 2011-12.

Links

University of Houston Player Bio

ESPN U 100 Player - Bio

Browns Get One Over On Falcons

In the boldest move of the 2011 draft, the Atlanta Falcons traded a boat load of picks to the Cleveland Browns for WR Julio Jones.

Why do I think the overpaid?  The Falcons need more defensive help than offensive help.  To wit, last year's playoff loss to eventual champs Green Bay Packers.  The offense already features RB Michael Turner, QB Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzales.

Further proof the trade is all wrong?  SI.com's resident hack Peter King defends the pick.

Unless the Falcons win the Super Bowl in the next three years this trade can wreck the franchise for a few years.  A team can't give up that many draft picks and not feel the pinch down the road.  If they do win a title, the all is vindicated.

That's my opening salvo on the draft. 

Houston Cougars - 2012 Recruit Terrence Taylor

Terrence Taylor of Diboll High School
RB - Junior
Class of 2012
Verbally committed to Houston

Career Stats

	Rushing				Receiving
Year	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	No	Yds	Avg	TD
2010 (Jr.)	170	1,224	7.2	22	4	162	40.5	2
2009 (So.)	232	1,276	5.5	14	8	93	11.6	0
2008 (Fr.)	29	279	9.6	3	-	-	-	-

Highlights from Hudl.com: Terrence Taylor Highlights

More Highlights:


Diboll High School vs. Athens High School Terrence Taylor Highlights

Houston Cougars - Spring Football Edition

2010 - A Lost Year

The Houston Cougars return to the practice field after a disappointing 2010 season that saw BCS dreams shattered along with Heisman trophy candidate Case Keenum's season against UCLA Bruins. The play ended the season and seemingly the collegiate career of Keenum. Keenum's back up Cotton Turner also sustained a season ending injury in the same game and Terrance Broadway was thrust into his first action.

Broadway started the first post Keenum game against Tulane and struggled but the Cougars prevailed. Broadway would never start again and only see mop up duty thereafter. Fellow true freshman David Piland started the remainder of the season. Broadway transferred at season's end.

The Coogs never really got back on track and failed to qualify for a bowl game.

2011 - A Do Over?

Keenum declared during the season that he would apply for a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility. The NCAA rarely grants medical redshirts. In order to gain one, a player must prove that a second season was lost due to injury. An initial reshirt year for any reason counts against a player's five years to use four years of eligibility. Keenum sat out his freshman year and Kevin Kolb was the starter.

The Cougars were able to prove that Keenum sustained an injury his freshman year. The NCAA took that injury and the current one as evidence that entitled Keenum to one more year.

The Cougars followed up Keenum's good news with 2011 recruiting class that looked to fill holes on defense and build depth on the offensive line. On defense the Coogs signed 12 players including six from the JUCO ranks. Coach Kevin Sumlin also added bulk up front on defense and offense. For the complete list of players and bios, they are listed at the official Houston Cougars athletic website 2011 Recruiting Class.

Today was the first day of spring practice. So in honor of the day, I present the first link dump of Houston Cougar football.

Houston Cougar Spring Football Official Website

2011 UH Cougars Spring Roster

2011 UH Cougars Spring Depth Chart
Players on team but not listed on two deep due to injury:QB Case Keenum, LB John McIntyre, DB Zach McMillian, DL Zeke Riser, DB Nick Saenz and DL Radermon Scypion

Day #1 Photos

Day #1 Notes from UHCougars.com

From the Houston Chronicle:
Five Things to Watch

New UH beat writer Sam Kahn's Blog
Spring Football Set To Begin for Cougars

NFL and Players In Mediation

Previously I gave my perspective on the bargaining process. To reiterate, deal making usually happens in the last days of negotiations and sometimes take a few days past the deadline by extending the existing CBA for 24-48 hours. That usually happens when sides are very close to a deal and just have a few things to iron out.

Entering mediation for the final two weeks of the current deal looks like a positive step. It signals that both sides are serious about working a deal out. Things didn't look so good when two days were scheduled and the second day was canceled.

George Cohen is tasked with bringing the two sided to an agreement. Cohen isn't unfamiliar with sports CBA negotiations. He handled the MLS and MLS players union and they ultimately got a deal done.

Of course, the NFL is a much bigger fish. Billions of dollars are at stake and neither side wants to give in.

Cohen's job will be to make recommendations and try and find a middle ground.

Psychologically it helps the sided more agreeable to new ideas. If it comes from an outside neutral party then the two sides can view that the other side didn't make the proposal. Maybe both parties will be more at ease accepting ideas from a third party versus one side basically making demands and the other side rejecting it.

An article on George Cohen linked by Stephanie Stradley.

I haven't read the blog yet but John McClain states the positives of mediation in his blog.

They met two days already but are under a gag order so news is coming out of the conferences. The talks are planned for two weeks. Each day they negotiate the odds get better a deal will get done. If talks are called off then a work stoppage is extremely likely.

All us fans can do is hope for the best and prepare for a draft watching party.