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The NFL Lockout is Over: What it Means to this Raiders Fan

Chris Shellcroft — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:40:55 +0000

The NFL Lockout came to an end today. While I couldn’t be happier that we’re back to talking football without putting any ifs, ands or buts on it, I am disappointed in many regards.

To me, this entire process has been a reminder. We tend to forget that professional football is a business first. While we’re lamenting over how our fantasy team performed on any given Sunday there are real men with real families and very real pressures that tend to be ignored.

Playing in the NFL will never be a privilege. It is a right that is earned with tireless work and unimaginable sacrifice.

This offseason – or lack thereof – has put into perspective just how difficult it is to have a career in football. While the masses focus in on the superstars with multi-million dollar deals the realists know this lockout has cost countless jobs to those that would have been the last to make the roster. We seem to only think in terms of the upper 10%, forgetting that there are infinitely more men that come and go in the NFL than those that stick and have a career.

As happy as I am to see my Raiders play again I’m saddened by the fact that someone’s dream has been forever lost.
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Report: NFL Free Agency Could Begin Today

Chris Shellcroft — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:52:33 +0000

The end of the NFL Lockout would appear to be a formality at this point. Reports surfaced early this morning that the terms of a new CBA had been agreed upon by both sides, all that remains is a majority vote from the players.

On the heels of the aforementioned good news comes word that the free agency frenzy we’ve all been anticipating could begin as early as this afternoon.

ESPN details a timeline of events that might or might not occur in the coming days.

• Teams can sign their own free agents and begin talking with other unrestricted free agents Monday afternoon.

• Teams can begin signing unrestricted free agents Tuesday at noon ET but those contracts would not take effect until Aug. 2.

• Teams can begin talking trades Monday afternoon. Any trades would become official on Saturday, July 30.

Players Poised to Put an End to NFL Lockout

Chris Shellcroft — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:41:24 +0000

For once it would appear as if we have some actual signs of the demise of the 2011 NFL Lockout. Not another one of those premature speculations that somehow becomes a news piece. But an actual bit of news that signals an end to labor unrest in the very near future.

Last week’s landslide vote by the owners gave way to this weekend’s review by the union formerly and soon again to be known as the NFLPA. This morning an ESPN report surfaced stating that the players are poised to vote on Monday. A “major” press conference is said to be in the works for tomorrow as well.

I’ve done my best to stay away from talking too much about the lockout during this now 130 day long work stoppage. Save for the occasional rant JBB has been a laying low, ignoring the majority of the pointless reports and updates.

This is much different though. This is the moment that the business of football finally takes a backseat giving way for the actual sport…hopefully.
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