10-Mar-2010 02:28am
 
RealTime Fantasy Sports
NFL future: Spotlight off the field

By BARRY WILNER - AP Football Writer
    2010-02-08 16:12

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -A memorable season capped by a super title game with a record TV audience has NFL executives and fans beaming.

The smiles might soon disappear.

Pro football is headed into the great unknown. Barring a quick - and totally unexpected - agreement with the players' union on a new contract, 2010 will have no salary cap. After that, perhaps a work stoppage, something NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith puts at ``14'' on a scale of 1 to 10.

Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't agree, believing negotiations will lead to a new deal before March 2011, when the collective bargaining agreement expires. But an accord before the New Orleans Saints - who dat? - begin defense of their Super Bowl championship in September is unlikely.

The 32 team owners clearly are prepared for a go at the first uncapped season since 1993. Enough restrictions are in place, including extending the minimum years of service for unrestricted free agency from four years to six, that baseball-like bidding wars are improbable.

With the owners claiming they are losing millions and the players arguing that teams are making money by the fistful, a common ground will be difficult to find.

``The labor agreement is a very important agreement,'' Goodell said during his annual Super Bowl week news conference. ``It's something that is important to our players. It's certainly important to our clubs, and it's important to our fans.

``We have to sit at the table and we have to get an agreement that works for everybody. And that's what people expect. They want solutions, and that's what we should deliver.''

Free agency begins March 5. The more critical date might be March 5 of next year, when, if no new deal has been struck, the most popular and prosperous sport in America could see the owners locking out the players.

That's the last thing fans want to hear after a special season featuring the Saints capping a football renaissance for their team and their city with their first Super Bowl title. The NFL's best teams, led by New Orleans, generally have become the most potent on offense: each division winner except Cincinnati regularly visited the end zone, and three of the four playoff semifinalists scored at least 416 points.

And as some stars begin to fade (LaDainian Tomlinson, Champ Bailey), others emerge (Chris Johnson, Darrelle Revis). A league driven by quarterbacks has a splendid blend of veterans in top form (four-time MVP Peyton Manning, Super Bowl most valuable player Drew Brees, even 40-year-old Brett Favre), passers only now in their primes (Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers), and youngsters with great promise (Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Chad Henne).

Even as such headliners as Kurt Warner and perhaps Favre leave the game, the colleges are providing NFL-ready performers to eventually take their place.

Not that defense has disappeared, particularly in New York with the Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Dallas. All of them made the playoffs in '09 and the Jets came within 30 minutes of the Super Bowl.

Keeping those established and rising stars healthy will be a key issue after the league, the teams and the NFLPA ramped up prevention and treatment of concussions. Even Congress has gotten involved.

``I think concussions have been a major focus in the league for several years, and we need to make sure we continue to do what we can to make the game safer,'' Goodell said. ``And that deals with how we modify the rules and take certain techniques out of the game; how we use the better equipment to make sure that our players are safer; and what we can do to make sure that our coaches and our players understand the serious nature of these injuries, and that they get medical help as soon as an injury occurs.

``And that goes for all injuries, but particularly concussion injuries. We have more work to do, but we think that we're making progress on the awareness and we're changing the culture, and that's what we really want to do. We want to make sure people understand that they are serious injuries, and make sure that we deal with them in a conservative and medical fashion.''

Labor and health issues aside, such events as the NFL combine later this month, free-agent signings, and April's draft - a three-day affair this year - will keep fans stoked for football. Already, they're trying to figure out who the Saints will host to open defense of their title in September.


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Fantasy Football Player Notes RSS FeedPLAYER NOTES

Limas SweedMar 9 03:51p

ESPN.com reports the Pittsburgh Steelers could release WR Limas Sweed after the team signed WRs Arnaz Battle and Antwaan Randle El.

Andre CarterMar 9 03:43p

Rick Maese, of The Washington Post, reports Washington Redskins DL Andre Carter could be in jeopardy of being released in the offseason. Carter is likely too small to play [ More ]

Terrell OwensMar 9 03:13p

Joe Reedy, of The Cincinnati Enquirer, reports Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco said he believes there is room for the team to sign unrestricted free-agent WRs Antonio Bryant (Buccaneers) and Terrell Owens (Bills).

Antonio BryantMar 9 03:13p

Joe Reedy, of The Cincinnati Enquirer, reports unrestricted free-agent WR Antonio Bryant (Buccaneers) is believed to be the Cincinnati Bengals' first choice in terms of free agent wide receivers.

Benny SappMar 9 03:03p

Aaron Wilson, of the National Football Post, reports the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent CB Benny Sapp (Vikings). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Derrick MasonMar 9 03:03p

Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports the Baltimore Ravens are trying to re-sign unrestricted free-agent WR Derrick Mason.

Jarvis GreenMar 9 03:03p

The Denver Post reports the Denver Broncos have signed unrestricted free-agent DE Jarvis Green (Patriots). Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Derek AndersonMar 9 02:53p

ClevelandBrowns.com reports the Cleveland Browns have terminated the contract of QB Derek Anderson.

James HallMar 9 02:23p

Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports the St. Louis Rams are talking with the agents for unrestricted free-agent DEs Leonard Little and James Hall in the hopes to re-signing both.

Aaron SchobelMar 9 02:13p

Mark Gaughan, of The Buffalo News, reports the Buffalo Bills are scheduled to pay DE Aaron Schobel a $2 million roster bonus at some point this week. Schobel's bonus [ More ]

Rhett BomarMar 9 01:33p

Ralph Vacchiano, of the New York Daily News, reports New York Giants QB Rhett Bomar likely will be the No. 3 quarterback next season.

Jim SorgiMar 9 01:33p

Ralph Vacchiano, of the New York Daily News, reports New York Giants QB Jim Sorgi likely will be the No. 2 quarterback next season.

Larry FooteMar 9 01:23p

Jason La Canfora, of the NFL Network, reports unrestricted free-agent LB Larry Foote (Lions) is looking for a deal that exceeds what Cleveland Browns LB Scott Fujita received, according [ More ]

Seneca WallaceMar 9 01:03p

Tony Grossi, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports Cleveland Browns QB Derek Anderson will likely be released in the next week or two, if he is not traded, after [ More ]

Brady QuinnMar 9 01:03p

Tony Grossi, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn could be released or traded after the team acquired QB Seneca Wallace in a trade with [ More ]

Nick CollinsMar 9 12:53p

Greg Bedard, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports Green Bay Packers restricted free-agent FS Nick Collins has signed his tender, according to his agent, Alan Herman. In what Herman [ More ]

Rhys LloydMar 9 12:33p

The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday, March 9, that they have signed free-agent PK Rhys Lloyd (Panthers). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Antonio BryantMar 9 11:53a

Roy Cummings, of The Tampa Tribune, reports the agent for free-agent WR Antonio Bryant (Buccaneers), Lamont Smith, said Bryant has arranged a visit with the Washington Redskins.

Shaun RogersMar 9 11:43a

Mary Kay Cabot, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports the Cleveland Browns plan to keep DL Shaun Rogers because of his tremendous ability, according to a league source, unless [ More ]

Maake KemoeatuMar 9 11:33a

Mike Triplett, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports the New Orleans Saints appear to be in the market for a run-stuffer at defensive tackle and have shown interest in [ More ]

L. TomlinsonMar 9 10:43a

Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports via Twitter that free-agent RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) is talking with the Minnesota Vikings; however, he is talking to other teams and no deal is imminent.

Chad PenningtonMar 9 10:23a

Jeff Darlington, of the Miami Herald, reports Miami Dolphins QB Chad Pennington will serve as the team's No. 3 quarterback with QB Tyler Thigpen being the backup to QB Chad Henne.

L. TomlinsonMar 9 10:23a

Judd Zulgad, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports although nothing is imminent, the Minnesota Vikings appear to have a genuine interest in free-agent RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers). He would [ More ]

Seneca WallaceMar 9 10:13a

Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports via Twitter that the Cleveland Browns gave up an undisclosed 2011 draft pick, likely a late-round pick, to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for QB Seneca Wallace.

Rhys LloydMar 8 11:43p

Judd Zulgad, of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, reports Minnesota Vikings PK Rhys Lloyd agreed to a two-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lito SheppardMar 8 11:33p

Tom Kowalski, of Mlive.com, reports the Detroit Lions will not pursue free-agent CB Lito Sheppard (Jets), according to a league source. A previous report indicated the Lions were [ More ]

Marcus MasonMar 8 10:33p

Rick Maese, of The Washington Post, reports the San Diego Chargers have signed free-agent RB Marcus Mason (Redskins). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kevin CurtisMar 8 10:23p

Sheil Kapadia, of Philly.com, reports Philadelphia Eagles WR Kevin Curtis is due $3.4 million next year with a $1 million roster bonus due June 1.

Joe ZelenkaMar 8 09:13p

The Atlanta Falcons announced they have re-signed free-agent C/LS Joe Zelenka. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Leigh BoddenMar 8 08:33p

Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports the New England Patriots have reached an agreement in principle to re-sign CB Leigh Bodden. Terms of the deal are not yet available.

Reggie BrownMar 8 08:33p

The Philadelphia Eagles have traded WR Reggie Brown to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2011 sixth-round draft choice.

Seneca WallaceMar 8 08:33p

Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports the Cleveland Browns have acquired QB/WR Seneca Wallace from the Seattle Seahawks. Terms of the deal have not yet been released.

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