Let There Be Labor Peace

by Rafael Vela on Mar 8, 2006 7:05 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

UPDATE II: Free agency will begin at 11:01 CST tomorrow night.

For real this time.

UPDATE: THE NFL OWNERS HAVE AGREED TO A SIX YEAR EXTENSION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BY A 30-2 VOTE, WITH BUFFALO AND CINCINNATI VOTING NO. THE SALARY CAP WILL RISE BY $10 MILLION TO $104 MILLION.

No word yet on whether the opening of free agency has been postponed. If not, the fireworks will begin in roughly three hours.

ESPNews quotes Jerry Jones, who appears to be the designated spokesman for ownership, as stating withing the last 15 minutes, "we're getting close...we're getting close. This could take another 30 minutes or so."

According to NFL labor rep Vic Cariucci, the formula being considered is "very complicated."

If an agreement among the owners can be reached, we'll have the best news of all.

The bad news, at least in the short term, is than a new CBA will surely push free agency back again -- though this would be for the final time.

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Comments

Earlier today, Jerry’s demeaner was like someone had just shot his dog. You would have thought he was being pushed right into bankruptcy.

I hope he can switch gears and sign us some players once this thing is over.

by madcowboy on Mar 8, 2006 7:33 PM CST reply actions

labor deal has been approved. thank god!

by RParr on Mar 8, 2006 7:40 PM CST reply actions

Now that its approved, can we please start FREE AGENCY? Dont make us wait 2 more weeks, ill go crazy.

by lou c on Mar 8, 2006 7:42 PM CST reply actions

more money in the cap…now everything changes..teams got more money..can you say overpriced players?

by jerryw on Mar 8, 2006 7:42 PM CST reply actions

madcowboy,

You bring to mind a line Michael Irvin spoke about Jerry after they had butted heads over a new contract in the ’05 offseason. Something to the effect of he grips his money so tight

by Rafael Vela on Mar 8, 2006 7:43 PM CST reply actions

Bravo!! Finally a sports league that gets it. Your message to us fans … is loud and clear!! Thank you!!

by Eric R on Mar 8, 2006 7:44 PM CST reply actions

dang, didn’t finish my line. Michael said Jerry held his money so tight you could see Franklin’s tongue hanging out on the bill!

by Rafael Vela on Mar 8, 2006 7:46 PM CST reply actions

nfl.com says fa starts 12:01 march 10th

by jerryw on Mar 8, 2006 7:57 PM CST reply actions

raf,

I think the FA period was preset if there was an agreement. Tommarrow night 1 minute after midnight … let the party begin!!

by Eric R on Mar 8, 2006 8:00 PM CST reply actions

How long is this new labor deal for? When do we have to go through this again?

by Bluecheese on Mar 8, 2006 8:07 PM CST reply actions

How long is this new labor deal for? When do we have to go through this again?

by Bluecheese on Mar 8, 2006 8:07 PM CST reply actions

Sorry for the two posts. Something screwy happened with my browser.

by Bluecheese on Mar 8, 2006 8:09 PM CST reply actions

6 yrs bluecheese

by jerryw on Mar 8, 2006 8:34 PM CST reply actions

espn is sayin the owners are waitng on upshaw to get to hawaii and see if they can start fa on sat.

by jerryw on Mar 8, 2006 8:48 PM CST reply actions

I have to believe with Cincy and Buff voting against that this is a better deal for the “large market” teams.

by altercall on Mar 8, 2006 9:10 PM CST reply actions

Many don’t like Jerry; I thank God for him as the owner of our team! Granted he his ego got better of him early on… But I think he has learned his lesson and will DO ANYTHING to WIN. He is totally involved with the team, and has his finger on the pulse of the team. I think we will do well this year, IMO.

by Toast on Mar 8, 2006 9:18 PM CST reply actions

Hey guys I was hearing nfl total access, and Rich told Adam about TO, and he answered well I think he might land here in Dallas… What do you guys think?

by Adrian on Mar 8, 2006 9:48 PM CST reply actions

Hey guys I was watching nfl total access, and Rich told Adam about TO, and he answered well I think he might land here in Dallas… What do you guys think?

by Adrian on Mar 8, 2006 9:48 PM CST reply actions

Hey guys I was watching nfl total access, and Rich told Adam about TO, and he answered well I think he might land here in Dallas… What do you guys think?

by Adrian on Mar 8, 2006 9:49 PM CST reply actions

Adrian. Decaf. I think if TO lands in Dallas I hope he’s with the Desparados.

by mlf on Mar 8, 2006 9:57 PM CST reply actions

is it just me…or when you guys read “DONE DEAL” on nfl.com…did you jump up and down screeming in joy?….because i did…

by IRON MAN on Mar 8, 2006 10:03 PM CST reply actions

the NFL succeeds in getting labor negeotiations off the front page adn once again avoids anything that even looks like a work stoppage. they get it, and they are all going to get rich(er).

football goes on – that is what matters!

by BuckeyeMark on Mar 8, 2006 10:05 PM CST reply actions

just by everyones posts…you can tell were all so relieved that the offseason can progress….now immagine how the owners coaches and players felt..

NOW SHOCK ME JERRY! with somthing good!

by IRON MAN on Mar 8, 2006 10:09 PM CST reply actions

I started off relieved and happy.
Then I started thinking of who we could sign tomorrow.
then I started thinking about who we might miss…
Anxiety, here we come.
I’ll bet Jerry N Bill’re having a long, hard nigt with contract arrangements!
they’ll probably call their close friends just to chat, and if they happen to be agents well… cool.

by gunnerklein on Mar 8, 2006 11:00 PM CST reply actions

I just got the error too, I did like y’all said and hit bac arrow once, then refresh. It worked!!

by gunnerklein on Mar 8, 2006 11:01 PM CST reply actions

NFL.com has a news flash at the top of the screen that says the cap will be 102 mil. Is this right?

by gunnerklein on Mar 8, 2006 11:05 PM CST reply actions

So, how much are we under the (new)cap?

by Toast on Mar 8, 2006 11:42 PM CST reply actions

Finally now we can get back to business. Is it me or was Jerry the most important guy behind the scenes? It seems like he is on every site dealing with the labor agreement.

Jerry for President in 2008…..or not. Whatever.

by JS1405 on Mar 8, 2006 11:59 PM CST reply actions

JS 1405: Note how Jerry is mentioned only at the very end of the negotiations as putting the final touches on the deal. Tells me you are right; he was the big mover behind the scenes.

One thing about JJ, he is a mean negotiator. The smile on his face after the deal was announced tells me he got pretty well what he wanted.

by Swidge on Mar 9, 2006 11:12 AM CST reply actions