CBA extension a good sign

The deadline for signing a new Collective Bargaining agreement was extended 1 week last night.  This is good news for fans, and not so good news for the NFL owners who have no real choice after Doty's ruling but to take it on the chin and try for the best possible spin afterwards.

The owners had TV contracts that were written in such a way as to guarantee $4BILLION in income even if there was no football next season.  Not a bad little haul to be sure.  The NFLPA sued, saying the owners weren't negotiating in good faith and had already planned on having a lockout.  Judge Doty agreed.  The owners won't get ANY of the $4billion they were planning on.

Is it any coincidence that the owners started making concessions immediately following that ruling?    I THINK NOT.  Memos came out that stated the NFL restructured tv contracts to"maximize revenue in the event of a work stoppage"  The owners have egg on their face and they know it.  They should hang their heads in shame, if not publicly flogged.

Here's what I predict will be included in the new CBA.

The owners get 1.4 billion dollars off the top of revenues.
The players get 58% of everything that's left.
18 game season starting in 2012 (with a decrease to 2 preseason jokes, errr...games)
players will need 1 less year of playing time to become eligible for benefits once an 18 game regular season commences.  This will be prorated for those already in the league.
The customary pension plan and health insurance increases that ALWAYS happen with new CBA agreements...

There's probably more to it, but this would enable both sides to claim "victory"
The owners get their 18 game season which increases revenue.  They also get to claim "we didn't give them just $1billion off the top" bla bla bla
The players get a bigger piece of the pie, increased pension and healthcare, and the can say "We didn't let them take $2 billion off the top"  They also have the enormous win from judge Doty's ruling last week.

I'll be interested to see how close my numbers are when the actual numbers come out.  I just wish they hadn't waited until the very last minute to settle this thing.

One final note.  Ralph Wilson jr was one of only TWO owners who voted against the last agreement.  Both were laughed at and scoffed at at the time, but both were absolutely correct.