Originally Posted by KnowMo2724 (Post 7128731)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...95/3/index.htm


Each season from 2003 to '06, a different back led the Broncos in rushing, and each gained at least 1,000 yards. That established the economic blueprint for managing the position: A team can succeed, sometimes even win the Super Bowl, without a great running back, provided there is ample talent at quarterback and offensive line. Hence management will economize at the position, moving out highly paid, established backs in favor of cheaper up-and-comers or journeymen.

"I am of that mind-set," says Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who came over from Bill Belichick's Patriots regime in 2009. "That special guy [Payton, Smith, Dickerson] has always been rare. Generally speaking, you need a good season out of the position. In New England, Antowain Smith was not a great back, but he had a great season [rushing for 1,157 yards in 2001, a Super Bowl--winning year]. Corey Dillon was not a great back, but he had a great season [1,635 yards in 2004, another Super Bowl year]."

It is also a guessing game. Every running back comes stamped with an unknown expiration date. "You don't know how many times they've been hit in high school, hit in college," says Pioli. "Or how well they've taken care of themselves."

Shanahan, who orchestrated the revolving door of rushers at Denver in the early 2000s, says, "There are places on the field where you need a great player. I don't think running back is one of them. I look for overachievers."

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud (Post 7130166)

That's not what I'm hearing.

Most of the players in the NFL have voted to decertify, which is what happened in 1988. Once that happens, IF the owners choose to lockout the players, each NFL player can sue the NFL and its owners for as much as they'd like. The NFL would be tied up for years in court and would lose billions and billions of dollars.

The most likely scenario is that there is no CBA, the players decertify and continue to play under the 2010 rules.

Originally Posted by Pawnmower (Post 7130493)

I hope you are right, but I do not think so. Anyone can sue anyone at any time, but that does not mean the lawsuit has merit or will be successful. The owners may be willing to have no football and some lawsuits to get their way. I hope something happens soon to change this because I fear the worst, just at a time when The Chiefs are building something too.. 8-(

Originally Posted by Pawnmower (Post 7130493)

I hope you are right, but I do not think so. Anyone can sue anyone at any time, but that does not mean the lawsuit has merit or will be successful. The owners may be willing to have no football and some lawsuits to get their way. I hope something happens soon to change this because I fear the worst, just at a time when The Chiefs are building something too.. 8-(

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724 (Post 7129670)

Uhh dude you are wrong. A player is available for RFA after three seasons seasons in the league.

Originally Posted by KCBOSS1 (Post 7130335)

If that happens, it will be devastating for football. Both sides need to see this. There is a significant percentage of fans that never returned to watch baseball after the last strike. Present company included.