NFL owners opt out of labor agreement
NFL owners voted unanimously Tuesday to end their labor agreement with the players’ union in 2011. The league and union, however, insisted the next three seasons won’t be interrupted by a contract dispute and both sides are working toward a new deal.
“We have guaranteed three more years of NFL football,” commissioner Roger Goodell said after the owners used the opt-out clause built into the agreement signed more than two years ago. “We are not in dire straits. We’ve never said that. But the agreement isn’t working, and we’re looking to get a more fair and equitable deal.”
The decision by the owners was anticipated, although not this early. The 2006 agreement allowed either side to negate the contract by Nov. 8.
“I don’t think it was a shock to anyone,” said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association.
The agreement signed two years ago was to last until 2013 with the option to terminate in 2011, which is what the owners did. League officials and owners, including several who helped push through the last deal, have been saying for almost a year that while the previous contract may have been too beneficial to the owners, the current one had swung too far toward the players.
The owners noted that they are paying $4.5 billion to players this year, just less than 60 percent of their total revenues as specified in the 2006 agreement.
The owners also want a change in the system to distribute the money more to veterans than to unproven rookies.
Falcons sign Ryan
Matt Ryan signed a $72 million, six-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, ending concerns that prolonged negotiations could threaten his chance to become the starting quarterback as a rookie.
Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick in last month’s draft out of Boston College, is guaranteed $34.75 million.
Miscellany
Indianapolis was awarded the 2012 Super Bowl, the fourth time a cold-weather city will host the NFL’s championship game. … The Dallas Cowboys signed running back Marion Barber and cornerback Terence Newman to long-term extensions. Newman’s deal is a six-year extension worth more than $50 million. Barber received a $45 million, seven-year contract. … New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant has been indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a February altercation at a nightclub in Blakely, Ga. … St. Louis Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom says he has been approached by “several people” about selling the team and there is “every intention” of keeping the NFL team in St. Louis. … The Rams announced that they’ve chosen Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon for training camp this season.