Gerry Callahan sees the NFL in Charlie Sheen's world, with the owners deserving every ounce of criticism they're getting.

We’ve been hearing it for weeks now: They’re all rich. They’re all greedy. They’re all spoiled. You can wish a pox upon all their mansions if you’d like, but you cannot say both sides are to blame. Not unless you answer me this: What did the players do to deserve any blame? How are they greedy?

And what did they do wrong? They negotiated too good a deal in 2006? Well, damn them. How dare they?

And how exactly were the players supposed to avert this showdown? The owners opted out of the CBA. The owners demanded an extra billion off the top. The owners will soon demand two more regular-season games. The owners insist they are operating under an untenable business model, but the owners refuse to show the players their books. That’s fine; that’s their right.

But how could the players — hell, how could anyone — believe the owners are hurting when a) the NFL revenue reached a record $9.3 billion last year, b) no team declared bankruptcy, c) no owner has been forced to sell because, well, he just can’t make a go of it.

[Here's] what the commissioner said in an op-ed piece three weeks ago.

"The union repeatedly said it hasn’t asked for anything more and literally wants to continue playing under the existing agreement," said Goodell. "That clearly indicates the deal has moved too far in favor of one side."

So it seems we end back in Charlie Sheen’s world, where up is down, Bree Olson is a goddess, and the proof that the NFL needs a new labor deal is that one side is not complaining.

The game is healthy. Both sides are thriving. But only one side is unhappy, and the commissioner calls that a problem.

TEAM TALK

• Gillette Stadium will host its 2011 NFL Draft Party Thursday Night April 28th.

LOCAL LINKS

• Ian Rapoport looks at just how valuable is the Patriots' 33rd overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.
• CSN posted a picture of Tom Brady sporting a tiny ponytail at a carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro early Monday morning. (Really?)
  
• Karen Guregian reveals Marcus Stroud's contract figures for 2011-2012.
• Mike Reiss looks at the D-line personnel and sees a packed house with the addition of Marcus Stroud.
• Mike Reiss reports Cal DE Cameron Jordan has been tied to the Patriots by draft analysts as a first-round possibility, but how would the Patriots rate him?
• Christopher Price wonders who the Patriots would target if the Patriots were going to go after a DB in the Draft.
• Jeff Howe revisits how the Patriots have done in the past when picking in each of the six spots that they currently have in this year's draft: 17, 28, 33, 60, 74 and 92.
• Mike Reiss analyzes a mock draft from NFLDraftScout.com, that has the Patriots selecting DE J.J. Watt (Wisconsin) at 17 and OLB Justin Houston (Georgia) at 28.
• The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce announced that Robert and Myra Kraft and the Kraft family will be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians.
• Karen Guregian reports Patriots owner Robert Kraft will come back from Israel if summoned by the NFL commissioner.
• Greg Bedard offers his insight and opinion on where things stand with the labor situation. (3.17 min. video)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) Spygate lawsuit officially dead.
• AP (ESPNBoston) Supreme Court won't hear New England Patriots-New York Jets 'spygate' suit.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Pats owner Kraft: CBA 'possible' this week.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Fins, Jets, Pats on Ochocinco's wish list.
• MJD (Yahoo! Sports) Tom Brady is now sporting a handsome little ponytail.
• Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) Pro Days usually help, rarely hurt, elite QB prospects.
• Tony Pauline (SI) Newton, Mallett headline talent list for Tuesday's Pro Day auditions.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) What to expect at the pro day workouts.
• Adam Caplan (Fox Sports) D-line value is reason to trade in Draft.
• Andrew Struckmeyer (Pro Football Weekly) Draft dose: Where OLB-DE tweeners fit best.
• Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) NFP prospect rankings updated.
• Jonathan Comey (Cold Hard Football Facts) Power Rankings: Mighty off-season edition.
• Gary Graves (USA Today) Sides mum after Monday's mediated NFL labor talks.
• Judy Battista (NY Times) Optimism, but five days and two big issues remain.
• Judy Battista (NY Times) Openness of owners on finances could be key in talks.
• AP (SI) NFL, players' union resume labor talks with 4-hour meeting in D.C.
• Paul Sullivan (NY Times) In pro athlete's finances, a defensive line pays.
• NFL.com NFL Films president Steve Sabol stable, alert after suffering seizure.
• Joe Fortenbaugh (Nat'l Football Post) The 10 best undrafted players of all time.