I'd like to point out something that has been sort of lingering in the back of my mind the past few days.
In the NFL thread, I posted an article by Florio that does a nice job of listing some of the potential outcomes as regards the lack of a CBA. Peter King of SI.com also weighed in on these matters, and Florio referenced them.
PFT-Florio- 10 things to know about the labor situation I specifically direct your attention to paragraph 4 of the 10. (I would imagine most glossed over my post and link while we make our playoff "run")
4. In a lockout, free agency would be tabled.
Sundays news that Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will become an unrestricted free agent in 2011 sparked considerable Twitter activity from fans whod like to see their favorite teams pursue Asomugha. The widespread lets go get him chatter suggested a fundamental misunderstanding regarding free agency in the event of a lockout.
If theres a lockout, free agency wont begin until a new agreement is reached between the league and the union.
In fact, theres a chance that 2011 will include no free agency at all.
Peter King of Sports Illustrated explained in his most recent MMQB that its possible a lockout lingering into the late preseason or what would otherwise be the regular season will result in a decision to freeze all potential free agents in place for one more season with their current teams, with 2011 base salaries based on their 2010 pay plus a premium. Such an approach could be necessitated by the chaos that would erupt if, for example, the players cry uncle after losing two weeks of pay and the league slapping together plans for a regular season on the fly. Opening the free-agency flood gates at that point would create chaos as 32 franchises attempt to get ready to play a real game within a week or two after a new labor deal finally is struck.
Putting on a Nostradamus hat, I think it fair to conclude that an extraordinarily strong competitive advantage would convey to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.
Why?
All those 15 guys on IR are ON OUR TEAM, in addition to the ones that replaced them, and would STAY there, at least in the scenario given by Florio and King. All the teams with a large list on IR would have "more to choose from" than those with smaller lists.
Of course, we don't want it to come to this, but at least as far as it's impact on the Pack vs. other teams...
The Bares would have virtually no one, and the Vikes wouldn't be able to unload their geezers... as a couple of examples-
...And a lot of this is coming soon...
5. The draft would proceed, but with no player trades.
The only good news in the event of a lockout that wipes out the offseason is that the draft will still happen. As Charley Casserly of CBS pointed out last month, only the draft would happen. The flurry of signings of undrafted players immediately after the draft wouldnt. Those players would remain unaffiliated until the lockout ends.
Though trades of current and future draft picks would be permitted on draft day, no players could be traded during the draft.
This will turn the offseason flow upside down. Typically, teams attempt via nearly two months of free agency to fill certain holes on the roster. Likewise, free-agency departures create other voids to fill. The draft allows teams to focus on adding players in specific areas of need. For 2011, the first crack at addressing those needs will come in late April with the draft, forcing teams to make decisions without knowing when or if theyll be able to retain their free agents, or to sign new ones.
Though most teams seem to be content to wait to attempt to sign their own free agents after the labor situation is settled, the smart move may be to make the decisions now about the free agents that a team would like to keep, and to sign them to new contracts before March 4. Any team that follows that approach, however, would likely draw dirty looks at league meetings, since new contracts surely would include signing bonuses which would make it easier for those players to hunker down once a lockout extends into the regular season.
No UDFA's immediately following the draft... What do you suppose that does to the value of draft picks? (God, I love Randy Moss, lol)