Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs ready to get back to work now that lockout over

**Tribal Warfare** · 07-26-2011, 06:26 AM

Chiefs ready to get back to work now that lockout over
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

During the darkest days of the NFL lockout, Chiefs guard Brian Waters was never sure the players and owners would agree on a new collective-bargaining agreement that would allow the 2011 season to be played.

He never really considered they might agree on a deal that makes both sides happy. Or one reached in time for the 2011 regular season to be played in its entirety.

So it was beyond the wildest dream of Waters, a member of the players’ executive committee, that players and owners reached a final agreement Monday. Thus ended the four-month-plus lockout, and in time for the Chiefs to begin training camp on schedule.

The NFL said the Chiefs would begin camp Thursday at Missouri Western in St. Joseph, or 15 days before their first preseason game Aug. 12 against Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Chiefs declined to confirm the training-camp date.

At 9 a.m. today, the Chiefs will open the doors of their Truman Sports Complex practice facility for voluntary conditioning sessions. Except for a one-day, court-ordered interruption to the lockout in April, players have been barred from team facilities since the lockout started in March.

“I would have taken this deal back in March,” Waters said from Washington, where he was part of the players’ group that approved the deal. “Definitely. At that time, there was just so much uncertainty. The meetings had become so contentious. Everybody was wondering how we would cover all the ground we needed to cover under the emotional stress we were under at the time. So we covered a lot of ground in the last two months.

“Just a couple of months ago, I was 60 or 70 percent certain we would miss training camp or some games. To be at this point and to see how fast this thing went over the past couple of months is a surprise to me.”

The 10-year contract guarantees the NFL labor peace through at least 2020.

“We’ve been able to have an agreement that I think is going to allow this sport to flourish over the next decade,” New England owner Robert Kraft said. “We’ve done that in a way that’s unique in major sports in that each team in our league, all 32, will be competitive. We’ve improved player safety. And we’ve remembered the players who have played in the past.

“I believe you’re going to see a very great NFL over the next decade.”

DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the players association, said: “We didn’t get everything either side wanted. There are a lot of things that I’m sure players wanted and owners wanted that we didn’t get. But we did arrive at a deal that we think is fair and balanced.”

The deal was crafted only through the art of compromise. It changed dramatically from the one being discussed immediately before the owners put the lockout in place.

Center Rudy Niswanger, the Chiefs’ player representative, suggested that the deal needed this length of time to get hammered out and that the long, occasionally desperate months of the lockout were not wasted.

“We hate that it took this long,” Niswanger said. “But tough things aren’t easy. The right things aren’t always easy. The wait was worth it, and I can say that with 100-percent certainty. The place we were at on March 11 as far as the offer from the owners is so far removed from where we are today. Their initial offer had a 20-percent pay cut and no sharing of future revenue growth. We would have played 18 (regular-season games). It was completely different from what we have now. So I’d definitely say the time we spent was worth it.

“There are a number of things in this deal that are not only good for the players but for football in general. There are a lot of things the players have never had but for the first time, we have. We have guaranteed (spending) team-by-team and leaguewide. We have injury guarantees the second and third year after an injury. We have fewer hits on each other in practice through fewer padded practices.”

Players will receive at least 47 percent of the NFL’s revenue over the 10 years. That’s down from the previous contract, but owners also won’t take $1 billion in revenue off the top before sharing with players.

All teams must also spend at least 99 percent of the salary cap this season and next and at least 95 percent in the final eight years. The salary cap is at $120.4 million this year.

“It gives us an opportunity to really balance the way revenue is paid out on a team-by-team basis,” Waters said. “Nobody wants to be on a team that does not pay competitive salaries. That’s important for our guys to know that every team will have to pay out money to stay competitive.

“Could it have been done faster? Yes. But ultimately, we got it done without missing any part of the season. That’s what everybody wanted, that nothing would be missed. To get a deal that both sides think is fair and to get it without missing any part of the season, that’s pretty good.”

Key points of new collective bargaining agreement
•The deal will be for 10 years and ensure labor peace at least through 2020.

•Players will receive an average of 47 percent of the revenue over the 10 years.

•All teams combined must spend at least 99 percent of the $120.4 million salary cap in 2011 and 2012 and at least 95 percent of the cap the next eight years.

•Additional funds of $900 million to $1 billion will go for retiree benefits.

•The regular season will remain at 16 games at least through 2012.

•A rookie salary pool will limit the amounts paid to draft picks in the early years of a contract. All drafted players will receive a four-year deal with a club option for a fifth season.

•Offseason conditioning programs will be reduced from nine weeks to five and offseason practices from 14 to 10. Full contact practices will be limited in the preseason and regular season.

**bevischief** · 07-26-2011, 09:41 AM

That is a few minutes that I won't get back from reading this.

Skyy God · 07-26-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

The regular season will remain at 16 games at least through 2012.

Does anyone know what this means? PK was speculating the owners could unilaterally move to an 18 game season in 2013.

**RockChalk** · 07-26-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pittsie

Does anyone know what this means? PK was speculating the owners could unilaterally move to an 18 game season in 2013.

Players must approve

07-26-2011, 06:26 AM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2947187	Teicher: Chiefs ready to get back to work now that lockout over Chiefs ready to get back to work now that lockout over By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star During the darkest days of the NFL lockout, Chiefs guard Brian Waters was never sure the players and owners would agree on a new collective-bargaining agreement that would allow the 2011 season to be played. He never really considered they might agree on a deal that makes both sides happy. Or one reached in time for the 2011 regular season to be played in its entirety. So it was beyond the wildest dream of Waters, a member of the players’ executive committee, that players and owners reached a final agreement Monday. Thus ended the four-month-plus lockout, and in time for the Chiefs to begin training camp on schedule. The NFL said the Chiefs would begin camp Thursday at Missouri Western in St. Joseph, or 15 days before their first preseason game Aug. 12 against Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs declined to confirm the training-camp date. At 9 a.m. today, the Chiefs will open the doors of their Truman Sports Complex practice facility for voluntary conditioning sessions. Except for a one-day, court-ordered interruption to the lockout in April, players have been barred from team facilities since the lockout started in March. “I would have taken this deal back in March,” Waters said from Washington, where he was part of the players’ group that approved the deal. “Definitely. At that time, there was just so much uncertainty. The meetings had become so contentious. Everybody was wondering how we would cover all the ground we needed to cover under the emotional stress we were under at the time. So we covered a lot of ground in the last two months. “Just a couple of months ago, I was 60 or 70 percent certain we would miss training camp or some games. To be at this point and to see how fast this thing went over the past couple of months is a surprise to me.” The 10-year contract guarantees the NFL labor peace through at least 2020. “We’ve been able to have an agreement that I think is going to allow this sport to flourish over the next decade,” New England owner Robert Kraft said. “We’ve done that in a way that’s unique in major sports in that each team in our league, all 32, will be competitive. We’ve improved player safety. And we’ve remembered the players who have played in the past. “I believe you’re going to see a very great NFL over the next decade.” DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the players association, said: “We didn’t get everything either side wanted. There are a lot of things that I’m sure players wanted and owners wanted that we didn’t get. But we did arrive at a deal that we think is fair and balanced.” The deal was crafted only through the art of compromise. It changed dramatically from the one being discussed immediately before the owners put the lockout in place. Center Rudy Niswanger, the Chiefs’ player representative, suggested that the deal needed this length of time to get hammered out and that the long, occasionally desperate months of the lockout were not wasted. “We hate that it took this long,” Niswanger said. “But tough things aren’t easy. The right things aren’t always easy. The wait was worth it, and I can say that with 100-percent certainty. The place we were at on March 11 as far as the offer from the owners is so far removed from where we are today. Their initial offer had a 20-percent pay cut and no sharing of future revenue growth. We would have played 18 (regular-season games). It was completely different from what we have now. So I’d definitely say the time we spent was worth it. “There are a number of things in this deal that are not only good for the players but for football in general. There are a lot of things the players have never had but for the first time, we have. We have guaranteed (spending) team-by-team and leaguewide. We have injury guarantees the second and third year after an injury. We have fewer hits on each other in practice through fewer padded practices.” Players will receive at least 47 percent of the NFL’s revenue over the 10 years. That’s down from the previous contract, but owners also won’t take $1 billion in revenue off the top before sharing with players. All teams must also spend at least 99 percent of the salary cap this season and next and at least 95 percent in the final eight years. The salary cap is at $120.4 million this year. “It gives us an opportunity to really balance the way revenue is paid out on a team-by-team basis,” Waters said. “Nobody wants to be on a team that does not pay competitive salaries. That’s important for our guys to know that every team will have to pay out money to stay competitive. “Could it have been done faster? Yes. But ultimately, we got it done without missing any part of the season. That’s what everybody wanted, that nothing would be missed. To get a deal that both sides think is fair and to get it without missing any part of the season, that’s pretty good.” Key points of new collective bargaining agreement •The deal will be for 10 years and ensure labor peace at least through 2020. •Players will receive an average of 47 percent of the revenue over the 10 years. •All teams combined must spend at least 99 percent of the $120.4 million salary cap in 2011 and 2012 and at least 95 percent of the cap the next eight years. •Additional funds of $900 million to $1 billion will go for retiree benefits. •The regular season will remain at 16 games at least through 2012. •A rookie salary pool will limit the amounts paid to draft picks in the early years of a contract. All drafted players will receive a four-year deal with a club option for a fifth season. •Offseason conditioning programs will be reduced from nine weeks to five and offseason practices from 14 to 10. Full contact practices will be limited in the preseason and regular season.
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07-26-2011, 09:41 AM	#2
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $7739352 VARSITY	That is a few minutes that I won't get back from reading this.
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