NFL negotiator full of hot air

Friday, February 04 2011

NFL chief negotiator Jeff Pash told members of the media in Dallas today that a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement can get done before March 4. This article was written by Bill Lankhof and appeared in The Toronto Sun.

He just didn’t say which year.

OK, maybe that’s being caustic and unfair. But, hands up everyone who’s tired of all the blather and baloney from both sides of this pie-throwing contest. Hmmm! That many, eh.

“The time has come for both parties to make a shared commitment to devote all their energy to accomplishing a successful negotiation by the beginning of March,” Pash said. “We need intensive, serious, ongoing negotiations that are characterized by a commitment to reach an agreement. If we can do that we will honour the commitment our fans have made, we will spare ourselves and our players extraordinary losses and we will have a game and an economic structure that we can all look back on some years from now and say: ‘We did a pretty good job, we got it right and it’s better for everyone.’”

Nice words. Conciliatory.

And then he went on to demand that the owners still want a salary cap, that they want an 18 game schedule and that the current deal is one-sided in favour of the players, And, oh yeah, they haven’t even come close to an accord among the owners themselves for carving up currently unshared revenues. Until that happens any player compensation model based on total football revenue seems impossible.

But Pash is likely feeling he’s on a roll. The players’ association has had a rough week. A day after a ruling that allows the NFL to retain about $4 billion US in network TV money in the event of a lockout, and arbitrator denied a union grievance that would have prevented the league from cutting off the players’ health insurance benefits upon implementation of a lockout.

Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the NFLPA executive committee, recently said that ongoing coverage for his family will cost roughly $3,000 per month.

Saturday, after failing to even talk for months, the two sides will meet in Dallas. Pash said: “We need to get busy.”

Right. Like that’s going to happen. Just wake me up when (yawn) it’s over.

The writer stuff

In November, a writer named Dave McKenna wrote an article for the Washington City Paper headlined, “The Cranky Redskins Fan’s Guide to Dan Snyder: From A to Z (for Zorn), an encyclopedia of the owner’s many failings.”

The Washington Post reports that Snyder is now threatening legal action against the City Paper and is seeking McKenna’s dismissal.

Jumpin’ Jehosaphat. Who knew this was an option. If this worked, considering Toronto’s woeful sports teams, there wouldn’t be a sports writer left in town.

The newspaper responded by calling McKenna a “stellar reporter.” Two other things need to happen now: A) The publisher should send Snyder a thank-you note for all the wonderful publicity. B) Snyder needs to get a life. Oh, and a team.

Hug and make up

Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger have stopped playing family feud.

The former Steelers quarterback and FOX announcer spent Tuesday mending hurt feelings with Roethlisberger.

Bradshaw was one of Roethlisberger’s sharpest critics after he was involved in sexual assault allegations that resulted in a four-game suspension.

Roethlisberger was so upset with Bradshaw’s criticism that he refused to shake his hand at Steelers training camp. Tuesday the two got together and Bradshaw now believes Roethlisberger has truly changed.

The two Steelers’ Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks ended their conversation with a hug.

“I encouraged him that yesterday is yesterday and that I have his back and I support him 100 percent,” Bradshaw told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “But if he screws up again . . . I’ll do it again.”

McNabb's future uncertain

The Washington Redskins have put their money — $78 million of it — in Donovan McNabb for the next five years.

But not, evidently, their trust.

A month after the 2010 season ended McNabb has yet to hear from the Redskins. No chats with the coach. Nothing about next year’s plans. Players. Nothing about playbooks. What he does hear is lot of speculation that he will be traded. Even released.

“As of right now, I’m definitely a Washington Redskin,” McNabb told the Washington Post. “I signed a contract ... and I think the way of approaching it myself is to make sure that this off-season I focus on being a better quarterback and being ready for the 2011 season.”

He declined to speculate on whether he’d prefer to join another club, such as the Vikings or Seattle, especially after being benched this season by coach Mike Shanahan.

“I haven’t talked to (the Redskins),” McNabb said. “On business aspects, that’s when Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen and Fletcher Smith — my agent — get a chance to sit down and talk

“At this particular time, I think ... what’s less said is better.”

Which may be kind of like saying “Trade Me” without actually saying it.

Hero to zero

Mitch Mustain has gone from hero to handcuffs.

Mustain was rated ahead of Tim Tebow and behind only Matthew Stafford among prep quarterbacks in 2006. But he has gone from America’s No. 2 high school quarterback recruit to just another guy with a rap sheet.

The 22-year-old was arrested Tuesday night for the alleged sale of prescription drugs in San Fernando (Cal.) Valley.

In a five-year career he bounced from Arkansas to USC and wound up starting just one game as a senior when USC starter Matt Barkley got hurt.

Combined at the two schools he had a 54.7 completion rate on 221 pass attempts and never was invited to a post-season all-star game. He is not participating in the NFL Combine later this month.

Sometimes dreams don’t so much die, as never happen in the first place.