Michael Huyghue (Huffington Post) NFL labor dispute: First thing we do is get rid of all the lawyers.
I analogize the situation to an injured player who consults a surgeon for advice. Rehabilitation is always an option, but don't most surgeons, by definition, believe surgery is the best way to permanently repair damaged knees? Don't we train lawyers to use the legal system as the ultimate Trier of dispute resolution? How else could the parties have ended up anyplace else except in a courtroom?
My recommendation, therefore, being an attorney myself, is to "kill all of the lawyers". Having worked both as a general manager and as an agent in the past, my experience has been that third parties are sometimes necessary to break logjams between agents and GMs. While working for the Jacksonville Jaguars, I found myself in a dead-end situation with star quarterback Mark Brunell's agents -- Leigh Steinberg and later Frank Bauer. In both cases, I voluntarily removed myself from the negotiations and got the player to speak directly to the owner. Neither party was a professional negotiator, but each had a vested interest in the outcome.
In the few times I used this strategy, I found it was much easier to get over an impasse and ultimately reach a meeting of the minds. Perhaps that might just be what is simply needed here. Perhaps if we give both Pash and Smith a brief respite from the rancor of these negotiations (indeed, both sides have now resorted to name calling), something positive might happen. Why not let Jerry Richardson or Robert Kraft sit face-to-face with Drew Brees or Peyton Manning (after all, they lent their names to this litigation) to work out a resolution. Somehow, I think, as in the case with Brunell, we would get back to playing football in the NFL sooner, rather than later.
TEAM TALK
- The New England Patriots announced today that center Jon Morris has been selected to the Patriots Hall of Fame by a 10-person senior selection committee.
- Paul Perillo tells us which players he nominated for this year's induction to the Patriots Hall of Fame: Drew Bledsoe, Chuck Fairbanks and Russ Francis.
- Paul Perillo explains how Danny Woodhead came to be one of the candidates for the cover of EA Sports Madden '12.
- Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate which wideout they would rather see on the Patriots: Randy Moss or Chad Ochocinico.
- 2011 Patriots Hall of Fame: Jon Morris, C. (.43 second video)
- Patriots Today - Pats Hall of Fame: Who's next? (1.50 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mark Farinella writes about Jon Morris, and his career as a center with the Patriots from 1964-1974.
- Christopher Price reports Jon Morris felt overwhelmed by the call from Robert Kraft, who notified him of his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
- Mark Farinella reminds fans about Drew Bledsoe's career in New England and why why he voted for Bledsoe to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
- Mike Reiss felt honored to be part of the team's 21-member Hall of Fame Nomination Committee. His ballot was: Drew Bledsoe, Bill Parcells and Houston Antwine.
- Tom E. Curran says Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are prime candidates for the Patriots Hall of Fame.
- Christopher Price writes about being part of the Patriots Hall of Fame nomination committee and tells us his selections: Drew Bledsoe, Bill Parcells and Leon Gray.
- Mike Reiss looks ahead at some candidates who are nearing eligibility for the Patriots Hall of Fame, beginning with Troy Brown in 2012.
- Shalise Manza Young takes a quick look at where the Pats' nine draft picks are slotted.
- Mike Reiss reports the Patriots will not receive any compensatory picks this year.
- Christopher Price offers an updated list of Patriots' private workouts.
- Christopher Price reports the Patriots will have a private workout with DL Terrell McClain (USF) this week.
- Mike Reiss reports the Patriots worked out Hampton DL Kenrick Ellis Friday.
- Mike Reiss takes a closer look at draft prospect QB Ricky Stanzi (Iowa).
- Christopher Price tells us about the Patriots work with prospects DT Kenrick Ellis (Hampton), QB Ricky Stanzi (Iowa) and C Tim Barnes (Missouri).
- Mike Reiss thinks former Arizona DE Ricky Elmore could be a good fit for the Patriots in the draft.
- Mike Reiss looks at some of the recent players selected at the same places the Patriots have their draft picks: Today he looks at the 193rd pick.
- Mike Reiss highlights which recent players have been picked at the 159th draft slot, to get a feel for who the Patriots might select at that position.
- Tedy Bruschi demonstrates why versatility is key for OLBs in the 3-4 defense, and looks at a player that might fit that "tweener" role in the upcoming draft. (2.15 min. video)
- Ian Rapoport notes a few Patriots players will appear Saturday at the Vitamin Shoppe in Peabody, for a local charity.
- Ian Rapoport posts a pic from Wes Welker's charity event, Cleats and Cocktails, in Oklahoma City.
- Matt Light announces his Light Foundation will host an NFL Lock-Out Breakfast with Peter King: Inside the CBA, Free Agency, and the 2011 NFL Draft.
- Ian Rapoport reports Wes Welker is set to host his third annual youth football clinic in May.
- Ian Rapoport notes Devin McCourty will be on the cover of Eastbay Magazine.
- Mike Reiss offers some quick-hit thoughts from around the NFL and with the Patriots.
- Karen Guregian NFL Notebook: Jon Morris gets his due; Former Patriots DE Brent Williams talks about how he councils NFL players to handle their finances during the lockout and make some uncomfortable decisions; The Titans admitted they missed having Alge Crumpler last year.
- Dr Neil Minkoff explains what HGH is, what it does to the body, and why it's important to test for it.
- Jeff Howe answers his weekly Patriots mailbag.
- Ian Rapoport posts a video of Jonathan Kraft's appearance at the M.I.T. Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, where he talked about the in-game experience. (Video)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Gabbert, Newton are both top-five picks, and more NFL draft truths.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Did 'Madden 12' snub Mannings, Brady?
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Doping expert calls it "comical" for players to oppose HGH testing.
- Greg Gabriel (Nat'l Football Post) The games of draft season: It's not easy to discern between myth and reality.
- Dan Pompei (Nat'l Football Post) Sunday Blitz: Corners at the top of the draft and more.
- Brian Billick (Fox Sports) Billick on top linebacker prospects.
- Russ Lande (Sporting News) Draft day blues: RB's Lewis, Clay to be most disappointed.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballPost) Ten things to know, right now, about the labor situation.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) Semantics complicate NFL labor stalemate.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA has meeting Monday to decide draft plans.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) George Martin describes his meeting with NFLPA as "defiant, accusatory, and outright disrespectful".
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Players who make asinine statements simply 'slaves' to stupidity.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) New wave of owner letters begins.
- Brian Tucker (Pro Football Weekly) Wake me when it's over.
- Jim Corbett (USA Today) Ending the lockout: How can a deal be forged at this point?