NFL Labor Talks 101, for the average sports fan...

Ok, I will admit it up front. I am NOT a normal sports fan, I mean I've already bought 2 fantasy baseball magazines and plan to get at least one more. I cried after the 1998 NFC title game. I nearly destroyed a wall after the Lakers beat the Wolves 4-2, after the Wolves blew a 2-1 series lead. I stayed up for all the Wild games during their amazing 2003 playoff run even though I am not a hockey fan. I have won (and lost) hundreds of dollars worth of bets with my high school friends and lets just say its probably a very good thing I don't live near a sports book or know any bookies. But I digress this whole NFL mess has really peaked my interests because it combines the only 2 things in life I am truly passionate about. Politics and sports, heres the sticking points that I lifted from a Yahoo! Sports article

The biggest sticking point all along has been how to divide the league’s revenues, including what cut team owners should get up front to help cover certain costs, such as stadium construction. Under the old deal, owners received about $1 billion off the top. They entered these negotiations seeking to add another $1 billion to that.

Among the other significant topics: a rookie wage scale; the owners’ push to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the preseason by two games; and benefits for retired players.

The first part is going to really piss a lot of people off, its literally millionaires (players) arguing with billionaires (owners). But here is the point, the average NFL career is about 3.5 years and while I wasn't able to find it that actually probably means that most players will make $1 million or less in a career minus benefits. Still a lot of money but also keep this in mind, unlike in baseball, basketball, and hockey (I believe) there is no such thing as a guaranteed contract in the NFL UNLESS it is specifically stipulated in the contract, and even then there are clauses that are probably options out for the teams.
The second sticking point is a rookie wage scale. This came to ahead when Sam Bradford, last years #1 pick, signed a 6-year $78 million dollar contract before ever taking even a pre-season snap. But that wasn't what raised eyebrows, what did was the $50 million guaranteed that he got before he ever even stepped on a field. In theory he could have blown out his knee in pre-season, had it be career ending and STILL GET the $50 million. Before that the most guaranteed money ever offered in a contract was Peyton Manning in 2004 at $34.4 million, still a lot, but definitely earned... this guy does a better job coveringmega rookie deals than I can. A rookie wage scale will, and needs, to happen in order to get a new CBA done.
The 16 to 18 games schedule I don't really see happening. The NFL is brutal enough as it is, 18 games (which would require a reduction of the pre-season to 2 games) plus playoffs is too much to ask of the human body, even NFL players bodies. If this is a deal-breaker with the greedy owners (listen I'm not taking a side here, I say screw both of them) there will be a deadlock and I could see there not being a 2011 NFL season.
The benefits for retired players should be a no-brainer but for some reason it's not and that really bothers me. Jesus F'in Christ, take care of the guys that built the NFL to what it was. But hey what do I know, I'm just a diehard sports fan, don't listen to me...
I am too young to remember the player strikes back in 1982 and 1987, the NFL was different back then. Baseball and Basketball took up much more of the pie back then, but things have changed. This IS a football country now, some baseball people will debate me on that but sorry, Football is #1, and its not even close. These next 24-48 hours will determine the fate of the NFL for not only the next season but the next decade or possibly even generation. Will owners work with players or will they slam the door on them until they get what they want? Only time will tell and be careful owners, there are many powerful people in this country that will not be happy with a lockout. And these are not people whose bad side you want to get on. Hire some body guards if you lockout players, it will be an investment that you will need. (Note: I am not personally threatening them, but there are people out there, much more powerful than me, that probably will)