Latest News Updates

Garrett: Cowboys no plans to trade CB Jenkins (The Associated Press)

IRVING, Texas (AP) Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says there are no plans to trade cornerback Mike Jenkins.

 

Indianapolis Colts Trade FB Chris Gronkowski to Denver Broncos for DB Cassius Vaughn: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The Indianapolis Colts have traded fullback Chris Gronkowski to the Denver Broncos in exchange for defensive back Cassius Vaughn. As a longtime fan of the Colts, I really like this move.

 

NFL union files suit against league over 2010 cap (The Associated Press)

The players union claimed Wednesday that the NFL imposed a secret salary cap during the uncapped 2010 season that cost the players at least $1 billion.

 

NFL players' union charges owners with collusion (AFP)

The National Football League Players Association charged the league, its clubs and team owners with collusion during the 2010 season in a complaint filed on Wednesday.

 

NFLPA files collusion claim against NFL, claiming salary cap arrangement in uncapped year (Shutdown Corner)

The question we were asking all along when it came to the "spirit of the salary cap" penalties handed down to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and New Orleans Saints was, of course, "How on earth can teams be in violation of salary cap rules when there is no salary cap in place?" Turns out, the NFL Players' Association was asking the same question, and now, they will do so in court. On Wednesday morning, the NFLPA released this statement in part: The Class Counsel under the Reggie White settlement agreement and the NFL Players Association today filed a complaint, on behalf of the NFL players, charging the NFL, its clubs and their owners of collusion during the 2010 NFL season. The complaint details a conspiracy to violate the anti-collusion and anti-circumvention provisions in the White Settlement Agreement (SSA) by "imposing a secret $123 million per-Club salary cap for that uncapped 2010 season." The written claim is filed with the United States District Court of Minnesota, which oversees the SSA and alleges that the league and owners acted illegally and "solely by self-interest, unconstrained by their clear and unambiguous SSA obligations." The claim was filed just one day after Special Master Stephen Burbank dismissed the appeal filed by the Redskins and Cowboys. Clearly, the NFLPA had this one on a tripwire. The Cowboys and Redskins were the hardest-hit by the league; the Redskins were docked $36 million in salary cap room over two seasons, and the Cowboys $10 million, for the offloading of onerous player contracts during the uncapped year of 2011. At that time, there was no official rule regarding just how much salary and other player income a team could dump during that time, but at it turned out, the NFL had verbally warned all teams that any nebulous violation of the rules that could be perceived during a capped year would be dealt with severely. Of course, the uncapped year occurred during the lockout, after the old collective bargaining agreement ran out, and the salary cap with it. Until a new agreement could be struck, the NFL could not possibly send out written instructions for teams to avoid either offsetting or "overpaying" its players without providing the NFLPA with a boilerplate collusion case.  According the NFLPA, the penalties handed down, and the language used by the league and the Management Council, is enough to warrant the complaint. "When the rules are broken in a way that hurts the game, we have an obligation to act. We cannot stand by when we now know that the owners conspired to collude," said NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. "Our union recently learned that there was a secret salary cap agreement in an uncapped year. The complaint today is our effort to fulfill our duty to every NFL player. They deserve to know, above all, the facts and the truth about this conspiracy," added NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth. ''The claims have absolutely no merit and we fully expect them to be dismissed,'' the NFL said in a statement. ''On multiple occasions, the players and their representatives specifically dismissed all claims, known or unknown, whether pending or not, regarding alleged violations of the 2006 CBA and the related settlement agreement. We continue to look forward to focusing on the future of the game rather than grievances of a prior era that have already been resolved.'' The complaint centers around one very damning quote from New York Giants owner John Mara, who also serves as the Chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee. When the penalties were fished handed down in March, Mara was asked about the reasoning. "What they did was in violation of the spirit of the salary cap," Mara said. "They attempted to take advantage of a one-year loophole … full well knowing there would be consequences."

 

Jerry Jones says Cowboys need to win now (The SportsXchange)

The Dallas Cowboys' window for contending is closing, and Jerry Jones sees it.

 

Tuesday's Sports in Brief (The Associated Press)

ATLANTA (AP) The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, a move that drew criticism from the players' union and some of the players.

 

NFL making thigh and knee pads mandatory in '13 (The Associated Press)

ATLANTA (AP) The NFL's move to make thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season already has drawn criticism from the guys who will have to wear them.

 

Report: Cowboys receiver Coale breaks his foot (The SportsXchange)

Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Danny Coale broke a bone in his foot on the first day of team activities Tuesday, NFL.com reported, based on sources.

 

NFL seeks to add excitement, maintain integrity with later trade deadline (Yahoo! Sports)

Supporters are for contenders making moves as long as it's not at the expense of struggling teams dumping their rosters.