No Lockout For NFL?

A couple months back all reports indicated that it was almost guaranteed there would be some kind of lockout for the 2011 NFL season. The tune seems to have changed a bit...

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Tuesday it's a realistic goal to reach a new CBA before the end of the season. At the conclusion of the league's fall meetings, Kraft said "we're moving ahead. I'd like to see this get done before the season ends." Asked if that was a realistic objective, he added "to me it is."

"It's taken a lot of time and energy to build the league into what it is and we want to keep it going," Indianapolis Colts owner Jimmy Irsay said Tuesday. "I don't think it's doomsday, and we're taking it a day at a time. Everybody is engaged, and from my perspective the key thing is to find a solution. That's where both sides are."

ESPN is making a big deal of this, but I haven't read anything concrete on what areas they are getting closer on. Obviously players would want more of a guaranteed contract (especially for veterans), and there needs to be some kind of cap for what players can get coming out of the draft, because right now it's not always a good thing to have the #1 pick in the Draft.

I really do believe there will be some kind of holdout, but hopefully ESPN/Kraft/Irsay are correct that they are getting somewhat closer, or at the very least talking.

Belichick Talks Moss

A lot has been made this offseason about Randy Moss' comments that this will be the last year with the Patriots. Well today was the first day that Belichick spoke about those comments...

"Well, conversations between myself and the players I'll keep between myself and the players," Belichick said. "I think we all know that this is a performance business; I think every one of us is (aware) of that. I think we all kind of feel like we're year to year. You're judged by your performance every year; that's not a big secret."

Typical Belichick there isn't much here, but I do believe he is being 100% honest. Every year could be your last in the NFL. Moss isn't getting any younger, and yet I don't see him taking a paycut to stay, thus he is will likely be gone. Belichick knows it, Moss knows it, and if you are any fan at all you should know it.

The only one that I think had a problem with Moss comments was Kraft. Only because Moss said the Patriots don't pay their players, and he has made well over $20 million since joining New England. Even that doesn't matter, because just like Moss said he is gone after this year. He still has to play hard, because he is going to want one more payday, so I'm not worried in the least.

Patriots Close To Deal With Wilfork

A very ugly situation may not be so ugly after all. Today Kraft came out and said that the Patriots and Vince Wilfork, who is currently franchised, are close to a long term deal, and they hope to finish it up soon. There is no word from Wilfork, but this is the most positive news we have heard in a long time. Wilfork might be the best player on the Patriots' defense, and it is hard to find a guy who can dominate the middle of that line like Wilfork does.

Kraft also talked about Randy Moss' comments. If you can remember Moss came out and said the Patriots don't pay top dollar, and that this would most likely be his last year in New England. Here is Kraft's response...

“I think (his comments) were taken out of context,” Kraft said. “Do you know what he made over the last two years with us? He made over $20 million the last two years. We don’t pay for quality? I think you can see that (we do).”

Both have points. On the one hand Moss needs to shut up, because he has been paid every well here, but on the other hand the Patriots have a track record of not going out and signing the top free agents. Not that is a bad thing, because with the salary cap you can't be a good/deep team and recklessly spend (ask Washington).

Anyways, I will be very happy if this Wilfork contract can be settled, and they can start focusing on next season. As for Moss, he doesn't have a lot of options. He has to go out and 100% this year if he wants to make any money next offseason, and to be honest I am fine with this being his last year in New England.

Vick Not Coming To Patriots

There have been rumors that Vick was close to signing with an NFL team. Then there were reports saying that Vick was seen at Logan Airport, and with Belichick's comments some people started to believe that Vick was coming here, but today...

"New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in an Sirius NFL Radio interview that his team does not need quarterback Michael Vick because they already have the best quarterback in Tom Brady. Furthermore, the impending signing of Cleo Lemon, as reported by ESPN.com's John Clayton, appears to eliminate any possibility that Vick would be an option for the Patriots (ESPN)."

Good, because this made no sense to me. The Patriots should be making a deep playoff run this year. Why go out and put a guy on the team that you don't need, and would be a huge distraction? It doesn't make sense. It would be like adding Pac Man....No thanks. Plus I just don't see Kraft wanting to deal with the backlash that will come with signing a guy this Vick...

Michael Jackson Saved The Patriots

Interesting article written on Boston.com about how Michael Jackson indirectly saved the Patriots....

". . . Two years later he snagged the second piece of the puzzle--thanks to singer Michael Jackson. In 1988 Kraft and a partner put up $25 million to buy the Foxboro stadium from the Sullivan family, besting a $16 million offer from Kiam. (Kraft would buy out his 50-50 partner for a small premium five years later.) Charles Sullivan had used the stadium as collateral to fund the Jackson brothers' Victory Tour back in 1984. Over-leveraged, Sullivan went bankrupt and was forced to sell the arena."

Kind of amazing how things worked out. If you want to read the rest of that article (CLICK HERE).

Anyways it is an interesting and it is scary to think sometimes that New England almost didn't have a team anymore....


On that note the first Jackson is dead joke...

Due to the fact that Michael Jackson is 90 percent plastic they are going to melt his body down and make him into legos so that children can play with him now…