TWEETS:
THE CBA CLUSTERF***:
Adrian Peterson lashes out at NFL owners | ProFootballTalk
"It’s like . . . ‘Well, show us.’ We want more information, and they want to bull****, going around, saying this and that, just open it up and give us the information we want," Peterson told Doug Farrar of Yahoo Sports on Friday. "If they have nothing to hide, just give us the information. Why not? Obviously, there’s a lot to hide — these guys are professionals, and they’re maximizing what they do. But they know that if all this information comes out, the information the players want, it’ll be right out there for everyone to see. It’s a ripoff — not just for the players, but for the people who work at the concession stands and at the stadiums."
Alternative NFLPA* event could have new teammates greet picks | ProFootballTalk
As the possibility of the NFLPA* suggesting, sort of, that incoming rookies invited to the 2011 NFL Draft choose not to attend, NFLPA* spokesman George Atallah says (as Rosenthal has pointed out) it's not a boycott.
John Mara thinks two sides are one point were close to "tentative agreement" | ProFootballTalk
"Is splitting the difference financially all for show?" Mara said. "Is walking away from the 18-game season, which a lot of owners were very much in favor of, is that all for show? Is improving their benefits all for show? There were a lot of parts of that proposal that would have provided some significant benefits — significant improvements for the players. And they chose to walk away from it. So I’m not sure what he means by that. I felt we made a very substantial offer on that last Friday. And they chose not to offer so much as a counter — they just chose to walk away and say, ‘We are going to decertify.’
NFL asks teams to log talks with agents - Scoop Du Jour - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
The NFL is so concerned about this that the site reports that it "is requiring general managers to keep a log of every conversation held with an agent."
Free agency rules will mirror last year's - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
If the 2010 format is applied, players will need at least six years service to become unrestricted free agents. - National Football League news
DeMaurice Smith to give commencement address at Maryland | ProFootballTalk
NFLPA* Executive Director DeMaurice Smith will tell graduating seniors at the University of Maryland to floss and wear sunscreen (or perhaps give slightly less cliched advice) when he delivers the school's commencement address on May 19.
Pat Bowlen says he’s just as frustrated as the fans | ProFootballTalk
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is telling fans he's just as unhappy as they are that the NFL's players and owners couldn't negotiate a deal on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
NFL Alumni continue to pressure NFLPA* | ProFootballTalk
"It’s disconcerting because, yet again NFL Alumni, although we appear to be in the discussion, we’re still treated as if we’re second-class citizens or an afterthought," Martin said. "We definitely feel there’s a moral imperative for those of us who have paid such an extraordinarily high price to help build this industry to be in the discussion."
Brees calls owners’ final offer ‘all a front’ | Saints | 2theadvocate.com — Baton Rouge, LA
"I think it was all a show, with no real intent to get a deal done, other than just to say they made a proposal — that was no different than anything else that they proposed over the last couple years, couple months, couple weeks," said Brees, a named plaintiff in the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the league.
SAINTS:
2011 mock draft 2.0 - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
24. New Orleans Saints Nate Solder | OT | Colorado Given Drew Brees'(notes) quick trigger, it does not take much to protect his blind side, as he often steps up in the pocket and gets rid of the ball before outside rushers have a chance to reach him. Nonetheless, the Saints could stand to upgrade the position manned by Jermon Bushrod(notes), whose play was spotty last season.
Saints Football Staff Heads to Baton Rouge
LSU's Patrick Peterson has a chance to become first cornerback ever taken No. 1 in NFL draft | NOLA.com
Peterson dined with Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera in Baton Rouge on Sunday night
At LSU Pro Day, it's business as usual for New Orleans Saints coaches and officials | NOLA.com
But GM Mickey Loomis wouldn't say what the team's plans are for employees
AROUND THE LEAGUE:
Michael Turner only NFC South RB in top 10 - NFC South Blog - ESPN
Finally, we’ll touch briefly on the New Orleans running backs -- Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Chris Ivory. None of them are top-10 material. There are several reasons for that. They’re used as a combination and that prevents anyone from putting up huge numbers. There also are durability issues with Thomas and Bush. I think Thomas is New Orleans’ best all-around running back, but that doesn’t put him near the top 10.
NFL’s ‘Tommy Z’ to fight again later this month - Boxing Experts Blog - Boxing Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Not all NFL players are interested in simply managing their money during the lockout, some are out to make sure they're earning while the pads are in lockup.
Buccaneers not closing door on Tiki Barber - NFC South Blog - ESPN
As long as Tiki Barber’s status remains in limbo, his name is going to keep getting tied to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s only natural.
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