The End of the Lockout - Episode IV: A New Hope?

by Hans Petersen on Jun 25, 2011 11:00 AM CDT

OK, everyone. I've been trying to maintain cautious optimism as a self-preserving defense mechanism, but in the face of the apparent recent developments in the secret and confidential and alleged ongoing labor negotiations between the players and the owners, it seems there are rumors that we might, just might, be headed for a deal soon. (A Cherry Coke Zero prize goes to anyone who correctly identifies the number of hedging/waffling words in that sentence. And a Sierra Mist for anyone getting close to the pop-culture references in the picture caption.)

Dare we hope? Dare we begin to think we will have a full 2011 football season?

Let's examine this a bit more via the wonder that is the CSC archives...after the jump.

For me, it all started a couple of weeks ago, on June 10, when I came across this little nugget from the Eagle-Tribune, which I emailed out to my family with the subject line: "Dare we hope?"

Just after sending it over my morning granola/yogurt/sliced fruit bowl and CSC perusal, I noticed that GRiZZ posted a fanshot about it at about the same time, which was soon followed by some pushback. That same day, Satch brought us a link to a Florio blurb with a Scott Fujita quote on the progress being made.

I recall a few days of back-and-forth "this means something" and "this means nothing" speculative reports on secret meetings and whatnot, and then Big Boss Dave posted this story regarding joint statements on player-owner meetings (which prompted me to drop some sweet marijuana puns - tee hee).

Amidst this flurry of activity, GRiZZ even decides it's time for a "lockout-ending pool" fanshot. (By the way, is anyone charting the results of this?)

Then, as it seemed to be true that things were looking good for a deal to be on the horizon, we got a bit of rain on our parade on June 17th, as Satch linked us to a report of some owners not being in such a deal-making mood. GAAAAA!!! The humanity!!!

The most recent fanshots (here and here) on the progress of the whole deal relate to the owners' meeting in Chicago earlier this week, and came from our intrepid embedded agents Satch and Jon Banks. Here is Dave's latest story on aspects of the framework of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

With all this heating up, more and more NFL media bobbleheads are talking and acting like we are going to have a deal completed soon, with a full 2011 football season to be played.

My question to you, my enlightened readers, is this: Are you buying it?

Vote in the poll and comment below to let us know what you think of the state of the NFL Labor Situation at this moment.

Poll

Do you believe the current hype that a deal will be done to give us football in 2011?

Absolutely - take it to the bank.

94 votes

Maybe, but I'm not getting my hopes up just yet.

76 votes

Not a chance.

4 votes

Only if the players and owners can somehow come together over some tasty burgers.

18 votes

192 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I'm giving it 2 weeks...

By July 9 i think we will have an end to the lockout

"I'm in the Courtroom screaming Who Dat on the double, serving gumbo with a shovel, dog i'm on another level" -Jay Electonica

by triplea20x on Jun 25, 2011 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

That would be a great birthday present for me.

"It's better to burn out than fade away."

by SaintsFan-KS on Jun 25, 2011 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Could you be a little more specific, like . . . . give us a time! LOL

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

I Want To Die In My Sleep Like My Grandpa – Not Screaming and Yelling Like His Passengers.

by Just 'Nother Day on Jun 25, 2011 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Are you going to throw me a party?

What’s the time difference? I think I’ve told you that I was born in Okinawa. I spent the first 3 months (I think) of my life there. I don’t seem to remember much about it. :)

"It's better to burn out than fade away."

by SaintsFan-KS on Jun 25, 2011 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

We are 14 hours ahead of New Orleans.

Right now it’s 10:36 AM on Sunday.
In New Orleans it’s 8:36 PM on Saturday.

Tracy Porter intercepted the ball 14 hours before y’all saw it! LOL!

I assume you were born in the Camp Kue/Kuwae/Lester (it’s changed names a few times) Hospital. It’s scheduled to be torn down in about a year. My son was born there also.

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

I Want To Die In My Sleep Like My Grandpa – Not Screaming and Yelling Like His Passengers.

by Just 'Nother Day on Jun 25, 2011 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Heeeeeey, wait a minute!

What’s your mom’s name? :-)

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

I Want To Die In My Sleep Like My Grandpa – Not Screaming and Yelling Like His Passengers.

by Just 'Nother Day on Jun 25, 2011 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Man i hope so...

Every morning I wake up and I hope when I turn to sportscenter, they say the lockout is over. It sucks.

Who Dat?!!!

by saints whoaday on Jun 25, 2011 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

I feel…famous!

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 25, 2011 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

(I obviously have had no glimpse at fame in my entire life)

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 25, 2011 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

FAME!!!

you’re gonna live forever
you’re gonna learn how to fly…HIGH!

Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!

by Hans Petersen on Jun 25, 2011 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope so. Just bought airfare for my bachelor party the weekend the bears come to town.

Can’t wait!!

by saints fan in cowboyland! on Jun 25, 2011 12:41 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

here's where I am with it

Just yesterday I put in for getting a vacation day on the day after we’re supposed to play the Packers on opening Thursday.

Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!

by Hans Petersen on Jun 25, 2011 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions

The way they’re talking more now seems that this lockout will end in a short while. I think it will. The owners want football too just as we do. And they also want all of their millions by playing a 16 game schedule.

by tommy v on Jun 25, 2011 12:50 PM CDT reply actions

I think the owners and players are finally figuring out the truth.

They need football. Players obviously want to play and make their money but the owners have been the ones with reservations imo. I think they finally figured out that football generates too much money for them to miss a season and that if they miss a season then fans will be turned off by the game that they love. Some of those fans would never return and some would never spend another penny on the NFL. There’s too much at stake to miss even a single game for both sides.

Let's have a 2011 season. Get a deal done

by skinnykinney on Jun 25, 2011 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

(A Cherry Coke Zero prize goes to anyone who correctly identifies the number of hedging/waffling words in that sentence.

I counted 16:

OK, everyone. I’ve been trying to maintain cautious optimism as a self-preserving defense mechanism, but in the face of the apparent recent developments in the secret and confidential and alleged ongoing labor negotiations between the players and the owners, it seems there are rumors that we might,just might, be headed for a deal soon.