Ok Steeler Nation , take a deep breath ...now exhale “WHEW” that feels much better ! After 132 days of bantering and bickering the NFL owners and players have reached an agreement and we can all breath a welcome sigh of relief.
Each side has put away their poker faces and have thrown on their happy faces as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL owners shake hands and celebrate with the players and NFLPA Executive Director Demaurice Smith.
With time running out and just one play left on the clock . They all saved the day with a Hail Mary for a touchdown! Well kinda-sorta ... We fans know all this could have and should have been over way before this and both sides really had no intentions of putting the season and all that money in jeopardy .
Both sides would like us to believe that it was done for us the fans and the good of the game. I could probably name over 9 billion other reasons for this mess.
We don't want to hear how hard both sides worked to split up 9 billion dollars of our hard earned money.
The Owners and player just need to realize , we fans don't care how or why the deal got done just that it's done . We have real things to worry about like jobs ,family, bills, health , and this horrible economy ,just to name a few.
The NFL is our great escape. The ultimate entertainment diversion. Our work or school week might have been rough. We may have had some bad news come our way. Money may be tight. What ever our problems may be, They are swept aside on Steeler Sundays.
The NFL is the greatest reality show ever produced. It has it all ...Drama , suspense, conflict and climax. A different plot with different heroes and villains in every game . It's action packed with cliffhangers galore. So many twist and turns that the ending is anything but predictable.
In the end, I guess this lock out mess adds to the drama and suspense . How will the Steelers manage to get under the new salary cap ? Will the Steelers have to cut veteran leaders to do so? Will the rookies have enough time to be contributing factors this season? Will the Steelers be able to sign their free agents such as Ike Taylor in this shortened window of free agency? Will the new practice limits handcuff the coaches and weaken the quality of league play? This and more to be answered on the next few episodes!
So get your popcorn ready! Stay tuned in and don't change that channel because the show is just about to start!!! This should be a very interesting few weeks!
Some key details of the new NFL CBA
- Terms of agreement: 10 years with no opt out.
- Players share must average 47% for 10 year terms.
- 2011 Salary Cap $120.375Million (Salary & Bonus).
- League wide commitment to cash spending of 99% of cap for 2011 & 2012.
- For the 2013-2016 seasons & again for 2017-2020 seasons clubs collectively will commit to spending 95% of cap.
- Each club will be committed to spending 89% for 2013-2016 and again for 2017-2020.
- No more 2 a day practices.
- limit of 14 full pad practices during a 17 week regular season and first 11 must occur by week 11.
- No change in 16 game schedule format till at least 2013.
- Reducing off season program by 5 weeks , reducing organized team activities from14 to10.
- Limiting on the field practice time & contact.
- Limiting full contact practices in preseason & regular season.
- Increased number of days off for players.
- NFL Draft picks all sign 4 year deals and clubs will have an option for a 5th year for 1st RD picks.
- Draft picks become restricted free agents in 3rd year and unrestricted in the 4th year.
- Undrafted free agents sign 3 year contracts.
For more in-depth details of this CBA summery you may want to follow this link Deal Summary of NFL CBA provided Peter King of Sports Illustrated
Steeler Nation I hope you enjoyed my latest post and please leave a comment letting me know your thoughts. Spread the word about this blog and you can also follow me on twitter @STEELERSNSTUFF and now on with the Show!!!
Later ,Steeler Nation . Steeler Nation 4 Life !
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