NFL Lockout: Circling the Runway Through the Weekend

Attention passengers of Flight 123 headed for the 2011 NFL Season, the tower has informed us that our runway is not yet available, so we’ve been asked to circle the runway until we get the all clear.  Please take your seats, we might be circling for a little while.

It seems like the NFL players are intent on making a goal line stand to put the brakes on the owners’ timeline for opening the doors and getting the 2011 league year underway.  Word from the trade group formerly known as the NFLPA is that while leadership will meet throughout the weekend to review the proposed CBA that the owners approved on Thursday but no vote is expected until Monday.  Here is an excerpt from a letter sent to the players, obtained by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

"“Guys, to keep you abreast of the latest developments, we are reviewing the latest proposal for a settlement. Because of the passing of Myra Kraft in Boston, the NFLPA will not be making any public statements in honor of the Kraft family. Our recommendation is for everyone to stay put and keep doing what you are doing where you are doing it. We will meet again on Monday to discuss our options and the direction we want to go.”"

As for our Beloved Bears, the players will have to put their trust in player rep Robbie Gould.  He will be representing their interests whenever the NFLPA gets together to ratify the new CBA.  Make no mistake about it, it’s going to happen within the next week.  It’s just that the players will re-certify and vote on their terms, not those dictated by NFL owners.  Players and fans alike will be headed to Bourbonnais for training camp in no time.

While the players dot the i’s and cross the t’s, GM’s and money men spent time in the classroom, learning the new rules of the road:

"GMs and salary cap managers held a four-hour meeting Friday to re-learn the salary cap and changes coming for the upcoming season, but the timetable for using that knowledge is unknown, sources told Clayton."

My advice to Jerry Angelo, Tim Ruskell, Cliff Stein and the rest of the Bears front office staff this weekend – GET YOUR SLEEP.  This is going to be the last weekend off that they’ll have for several weeks and possibly months.  The Free Agent frenzy is about to begin once this crazy NFL Lockout flight lands.