What Is the Concensus Among Fans?

[1954papa]

How many of you feel there will be a lockout in 2011?  Does it wipe out the entire season, or is resolution likely before that happens?

[BucFan9720]

Personally.. not a chance in hell. I think there is a deal eventually. Theres too much money involved for both sides to have a lockout. I just cant see it happening.

[cheveliar]

The owners are prepared to make it happen. the war chests are full to the brim.  If the players don't make big concessions there will be no 2011 season...IMO

[JDouble]

It'll probably go down to the wire and effect preseason/free agency....but there is just too much money to be lost. There is no chance of a lock out disrupting the actual season. This ain't hockey. This is the NFL. It is way bigger than the NBA or MLB. It is Amercia's sport. They all want thier money and will eventually get it done.

[pewterpirates]

It'll probably go down to the wire and effect preseason/free agency....but there is just too much money to be lost. There is no chance of a lock out disrupting the actual season. This ain't hockey. This is the NFL. It is way bigger than the NBA or MLB. It is Amercia's sport. They all want thier money and will eventually get it done.

+1 couldn't agree more.

[Obamessiah]

The owners are prepared to make it happen. the war chests are full to the brim.  If the players don't make big concessions there will be no 2011 season...IMO

The owners have the power. And they are getting ready. They're going to break the player's union, and the rookie salary structure is going to be modified, along with other changes that will benefit the owners financially, or there will be no football. And then, most of the players will break. Either way...

The players need to get an accurate picture of the situation they are in here, and come to the table with more realistic expectations.

[foosballpele]

Honestly, this is the first I have heard of any lockout talks, but I would find it hard to believe that it would happen

[Boid Fink]

Who knows.

Certainly not even the people RESPONSIBLE for the mess know...how the hell can any of us?

[JDouble]

All those greedy people need to realize that while they sit in thier mansions with tens of millions of dollars in the bank, we the fans are what make them. Without us they aren't crap. Right now with so many struggling just to get by, it's not a great time to make the fans suffer because the NFL, owners, and players want to fight over greed.

All I can say for certain, is that if there is any stoppage at all, even for one regular season game....I will not spend one penny on NFL merchandise for the entire year of 2011. I won't watch a single game untill 2012. I might even get a website going and try to make it a national movement. We need to send a strong message to these jerks that WE the fans hold the power and we won't put up with thier bullcrap.

[BucFan9720]

The players are the ones who need to come down from their demands.. they have no leverage.

[Boid Fink]

Have you guys ever noticed that the richest people are often the cheapest people?

That is why they are rich.  

[BucFan9720]

Have you guys ever noticed that the richest people are often the cheapest people?

That is why they are rich. �

If I was a player like Ruud I would be HEATED at the union right now for not getting a new deal done and and costing me millions of dollars while rookies who havent proven a damn thing are getting bigger contracts than I will ever see.

[dbucfan]

Who knows.

Certainly not even the people RESPONSIBLE for the mess know...how the hell can any of us?

I believe the people responsible for the current situation know exactly what is happening and why.  I also believe the Ownership group is far better prepared for the conflict - and that they intend to win - regardless of the impact on the season.  The only thing the owners don't know is if the union will fold, or if the government will intervene (they shouldn't beyond the courts - but who knows).

[JM2]

I doubt this gets resolved until the 12th hour. I remember seeing an interview with Jerry Jones after the last CBA contract talks which were resolved on the last day IIRC, and he said that in business negotiations there is no point in resolving things early, it is always best to wait until the very last if you are the group with the leverage, and the owners see themselves as having the leverage.

[Uncle Stan]

Think once the union get off their ridiculous demand for the owners to open their books, things will move along.

IMO, the union has zero leverage.

Also think it will come at the last minute-sometime in March.