RIP NFL

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: RIP NFL

NFL brings out the big guns for Litigeddon

Posted by Mike Florio on March 12, 2011




With the labor fight shifting from a conference room to a courtroom, the NFL has lined up a couple of big names to help win the case.

The league has announced that David Boies (pictured) and Paul Clement will join Gregg Levy in the handling of the antitrust litigation filed by Tom Brady and other players on Friday.

Boies, one of the best-known lawyers in the country, has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, including the Bush v. Gore litigation that determined the 43rd President of the United States. More recently, Boies secured a $1.3 billion copyright infringement verdict for Oracle. Boies currently presents plaintiffs who are attacking California’s ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional.

Clement was the 43rd Solicitor General of the U.S., serving from June 2005 through June 2008.

Levy, a finalist for the job of Commissioner in 2006, is a partner at Covington & Burling, the firm that produced former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

The players are represented by locally in Minnesota by the firms of Berens & Miller and Briggs & Morgan. Also on the pleadings are James W. Quinn and Bruce S. Meyer of Weil, Gosthal & Manges of New York, and Jeffrey Kessler and two other attorneys from Dewey & LeBouef. Kessle has served the NFLPA for years and enjoys a high profile, especially in sports litigation. The fact that the NFL generally dislikes him means that he’s doing something right.

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/12/nfl-brings-out-the-big-guns-for-litigeddon/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... itigeddon/[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: RIP NFL

I'm really surprised to see Von Miller's name on that list. With the draft a month-and-a-half away, you'd think he'd be doing whatever possible he could NOT to tick off his potential employers. He's been considered to be a top 5 talent in this draft, but I wonder if his draft status takes a hit because of this (owners may fear drafting a guy who is already facing off against them in court). Quite a risk by the young man, I think.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: RIP NFL

Mike Brown: “All the union cared about was the money”

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 12, 2011, 5:47 PM EST


Five years ago, Bengals owner Mike Brown was one of only two owners that didn’t approve the collective bargaining agreement. It wasn’t long before a majority of his colleagues agreed with his take.

Following Friday’s decertification and subsequent lockout, Brown spoke with Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer about what comes next. Brown promised that no one in the organization will be fired or be forced to take a furlough.

“We have an obligation to our people and ask them not to carry an unfair burden,” Brown said.

Brown believes the union wanted to go to court rather than collectively bargain. And he doesn’t think the rookie wage scale or 18-game season ultimately prevented an agreement.

“It came down to the obvious point that all the union cared about was the money and these other things certainly didn’t matter enough,” Brown said. “It’s a tremendous situation that they have and it has become burdensome for the teams. Yes, we’re asking for some relief going forward. I don’t think that was unreasonable.”

On one hand, Brown is right: “The money” is essentially the one big issue no matter what anyone says. Solve that and the rest will fall in line.

On the other hand, Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports was on to something when he wrote about the emotion on the players side. Mistrust and anger from players may have played a bigger role on Friday than Brown understands.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have played that big a role, but this wasn’t just “business” to players. They feel like they are getting pushed around and wanted to fight back.

Brown’s words won’t help matters, but we’ll leave things on a note that’s worth keeping in mind for frustrated fans.

“I’ve been through ups and downs in labor negotiations in the NFL and there is one thing similar in all of them,” Brown said. “They do come to an end and you get back together and you go out and play football. This one will be no different.”

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/12/mike-brown-all-the-union-cared-about-was-the-money/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... the-money/[/url]

[Crash]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

[Steelgal]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

That's what I thought too..... The guy that won't sell naming rights to his stadium like all but 30 of the other NFL teams have, I believe. He's gotta be the cheapest owner out there...

[Blockhead]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

That's what I thought too..... The guy that won't sell naming rights to his stadium like all but 30 of the other NFL teams have, I believe. He's gotta be the cheapest owner out there...

Why should he be forced to sell naming rights? I think it's pretty admirable to keep the name of his father on the stadium versus just making money.

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

[Steelgal]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

That's what I thought too..... The guy that won't sell naming rights to his stadium like all but 30 of the other NFL teams have, I believe. He's gotta be the cheapest owner out there...

Why should he be forced to sell naming rights? I think it's pretty admirable to keep the name of his father on the stadium versus just making money.

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

Then maybe he should find other ways to help make money instead of taking it from the owners who actually know what they're doing and are profitable.....

[Blockhead]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

That's what I thought too..... The guy that won't sell naming rights to his stadium like all but 30 of the other NFL teams have, I believe. He's gotta be the cheapest owner out there...

Why should he be forced to sell naming rights? I think it's pretty admirable to keep the name of his father on the stadium versus just making money.

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

Then maybe he should find other ways to help make money instead of taking it from the owners who actually know what they're doing and are profitable.....

That's his right to run his business as he sees fit. That's the right you get as owner.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

yeah, I found that rather ironic also...with Mike Brown it's always about the money.

[Steelgal]

Re: RIP NFL

That takes balls the size of boulders coming from Mike Brown of all people.

That's what I thought too..... The guy that won't sell naming rights to his stadium like all but 30 of the other NFL teams have, I believe. He's gotta be the cheapest owner out there...

Why should he be forced to sell naming rights? I think it's pretty admirable to keep the name of his father on the stadium versus just making money.

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

Then maybe he should find other ways to help make money instead of taking it from the owners who actually know what they're doing and are profitable.....

That's his right to run his business as he sees fit. That's the right you get as owner.

And it's my right to criticize him for how I think he's one of the worst owners in the league and the fact that HE of all owners is calling the players out for money is beyond absurd.

[Crash]

Re: RIP NFL

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

What has Brown done to earn his team except be Paul Brown's son?

[papillon]

Re: RIP NFL

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

What has Brown done to earn his team except be Paul Brown's son?

Same thing Dan Rooney and now Art Rooney II have done. the Rooneys have just been more successful.

Pappy

[Blockhead]

Re: RIP NFL

The greedy players would just want their piece of it anyway and they have done NOTHING to earn it.

What has Brown done to earn his team except be Paul Brown's son?

Same thing you have self admittedly done to earn your monthly checks, nothing. Despite, in your own words, "being able to work if you wanted."

At least we know where our tax dollars go.

Just think how much more money the country would have if we didn't pay needless and baseless disability claims.

[Crash]

Re: RIP NFL

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....same old song 43. Same tired song.

You boy, are a psycho. I feel for those around you.

[Blockhead]

Re: RIP NFL

Same tired song.

You boy, are a psycho. I feel for those around you.

Just repeating your own words.

How does that make me a psycho?