Who's Right and Who's Wrong in the CBA Drama

Will it ever end? This CBA drama has gone on long enough, its time to finally put up or shut up. Last week after the extended deadline came and went without a new agreement, the players association agreed to decertify itself. Which mean that the NFL can not legally lock them out, as they are no longer associated with them.

So whose right and whose wrong here. I share the same views that the player's association share, they just want fair compensation to play a demanding sport, is this unjust? Would you want to play in a contact sport fully knowing that each play could be your last? I know I would not want to take that chance.

Are the owners really that greedy? The NFL is the most profitable sport in North America, with lucrative televison deals and billions of dollars in revenue, are these demands from the players union really that far-fetched?

Think back to when the NHL locked out in 2004, it took the league several seasons to rebuild its reputation. Can the NFL really afford to do the same? This blogger says no. So lets get something creative and constructive going so that we can enjoy NFL football next season.

Hey Brett: Was it worth it?

It's no secret that I am not a big fan of Brett Favre. He has had a stellar career, but he is just one of those athletes that does not know when to quit.

Lets go back to 2008, Brett decides its time to hang up the cleats and has an emotional retirement ceremony with the Green Bay Packers. Everyone thinks he was sincere and was going to ride of into the sunset. August 2009 rolls around, and Brett decides he has one more year left in him. He contacts Green Bay and expresses his interest in returning. Green Bay says they have moved on and don't want him, so they negotiate a deal that send Brett to the New York Jets to fullfill his desire.

After the 2009 season, Brett decides to retire again, everyone get all emotional over his decision again. Brett decides again in August 2009 he wants to play again but not for the Jets, he wants to play for the Packers rival the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were in desperate need for a good QB, so they agree to take Favre and sign him to a 2 year deal. Favre goes on to have a great year leading the Vikings to the NFC Championship game where they would lose to eventual super bowl winners New Orleans.

After the devestating loss, Brett says he needs some time to evaluate his career and life before committing to another season. That took Brett until August 2010, he decides to try one more time and returns to the Vikings.

After stumbling out of the gates this season, Brett injures his ankle in last weeks game in Green Bay. With his 291st consecutive start streak in jeopardy, Brett decides to rehab hard and make the start in New England this week.

He makes his 292nd consecutive start, only to be hit hard and have to be carted off the field. The Vikings went on to lose for the 5th time this year, and Favre needed 8 stitches to lose a gash under his chin.

So Brett was it worth it to start this week?

NFL playing hard ball?

As everyone may or may not know, this could be the last season of NFL football we see for while. With the current collective bargining agreement set to expire after the Super Bowl, it makes me wonder why the NFL isn't actively trying to sign a new CBA with the players association?

Instead they are talking about adding 2 more games to the regular season and fining players for hits they deem as too rough. Football is a game that is intended for pain. Steelers linebacker Jerome Harris is quoted as saying "I play to hurt, not injure, but hurt"

He was fined $75,000 for his hit on Cleveland Browns receiver Joshua Cribbs, now I am not going to sit here and say that Harris needed to hit Cribbs that hard, but in the moment of the game intensity changes. I think the NFL needs to be really careful in how the approach future instances of rough play, they are talking about suspensions if they are neccessary.

Maybe the NFL needs to sit down and start working out a comprimise between both the players and owners first before talking about 2 more games and suspentions for hard hits.

NFL 2010-The Year Of Special Teams?

Every year there always seems to be one thing that defines the NFL season, last season it was the year of the running back and specifically Chris Johnson. The year before it was the year of the QB, with Drew Brees and Peyton Manning re-writing the record books. This year we are seeing something different, something new, and something exciting.

Instead of seeing one individual dominating the league with their plays, we are witnessing the year of special teams, yes that's right I said special teams, the often forgotten members of the team. These are the kickers, punters, kick and punt returners, and blockers. Now don't misunderstand me, it has been both good and bad for special teams this season.

We have seen feats of excellence with 100+ yd kickoffs returned for touchdowns, punts blocked with the games on the line, and missed field goals that my grandmother could have probably made.

There is a saying around the NFL for kickers. "Your only as good as your last kick". Anybody remember Garett Hartley of the Saints. Last season he practically won the super bowl for the Saints. This year though has been a different story for him, after missing a 29 yd chipshot field goal in week 4, he was demoted to 2 string kicker. Anybody see the debacle of a performance the Dolphins displayed last monday, to begin the 2nd half they gave up a 103 yd kickoff return for a touchdown, then had 2 punts blocked, needless to say their special teams coach was fired the next day.

I personally enjoy watching this, because it requires a whole team effort to stop special team plays, as opposed to a single player effort.

The NFL goes pink

Yes you read the title correctly. The NFL has gone pink for the entire month of october to raise awareness for breast cancer research. This is the 3rd season that the NFL has done this. The players have seemed to embrace this concept, often trying to one up each other with how they wear pink. You will see pink cleats, pink wristbands, and pink gloves worn by a wide array of players this month. The NFL then auctions off game worn equipment to raise money for various charities associated with breast cancer awareness.

The NFL also uses clever and catchy slogans to promote breast cancer awareness, and they use stories shared by several players who have been affected by this.

The NFL has also launched a website @ www.nfl.com/pink. Over there you will find info on bidding for game worn equipment to scheduling your next mammogram.