Three years ago when I wrote this in depth look at where the Baltimore sports media universe was heading, Twitter was truly at the dawn of its existence. The ability of mobile devices was far more limited and far less distributed. And the access to the genie of instant information in the palms of our hands that we’ve quickly become accustomed to will never go backward into the narrow bottle of the limited access of newspapers, television and radio waves.

Today, I will examine the current state of the Baltimore sports media experience and as much as many local journalists like to give “report cards” on the Ravens every Sunday night and Monday morning, I’m sure some folks will get their feelings hurt today.

I’ll tell you what I think about our competitors and the intentions of their bosses and their corporate, money-making media machines. Honesty. Candidly. Openly. As usual…

And, we’d love to hear what you think here in our “2012 State Of Baltimore Sports Media Survey” here.

One lucky survey entrant will win a trip next weekend to Cleveland on our Miller Lite Orange Roadtrip powered by Jiffy Lube.

As I’ve said over the past month, we’re trying to make WNST.net better every minute of every day so that we can be your primary source of Baltimore sports news and information on your mobile device.

Examining the Baltimore sports media business is the most important thing I do on a daily basis and while I rarely write about this stuff, it’s been my life’s mission to improve your experience as a local sports fan.

I find it almost hilarious and/or pathetic that anyone would listen to the radio station that calls itself  “The Fan” when the entire concept was drawn up in a board room in New York and never factors the actual “fans” into the equation when they assembled their corporate radio station team.

But competition is good. It sets the bar. At WNST.net, we’ve never ducked the obvious or taken Baltimore sports fans for granted – we know you’re judging us and comparing us every day because you utilize more than one outlet for your sports media consumption on a daily basis in 2012.

But we’re always striving to the be the FIRST place you go to get Baltimore sports information on your IPhone, Droid or mobile device.

In an effort to encourage you to give your feedback on the local Baltimore sports media scene, it’s only fair that I file my own report card.

So, who are the competitors and players on the local scene and where do you turn when breaking news happens in Baltimore?

My general overview of this is candidly clear: Baltimore is a lazy market on the new media end. I know how hard we work at WNST.net and I know what our resources are. I know the strengths and weaknesses of all of our competitors in the marketplace and many of the assembled group of “journalists” in the market have either been on my team, interviewed to be on my team or have cross-pollinated in something I’ve touched because I’ve been doing Baltimore sports media longer than virtually anyone in the marketplace.

My journey began almost 29 years ago in January 1984 at age 15 when Baltimore had three newspapers, three TV stations and a handful of AM radio stations that did local sports of any kind.

In 2012, there has been a mass fracturing in the way and convenience in which we consume media so many of the entities have “loose ends” in their coverage or holes in the strategy. Some of their portals to garner attention, feedback and building a trusted community of information are very old world and “lazy” for my tastes.

And before I begin defecating on all of our competitors – and that will be prevalent below – no less than two of these fossilized radio stations have the arrogance to call themselves “the only station that matters.”

It’s hilarious. And the truth is that WNST.net is kicking all of their asses in the only place that really matters – the internet and on your mobile device via instant access.

Here’s a report card from two weeks ago via Twitter:

Some will get their feelings hurt, but if you click to Page 2 you’ll see what I think of our “competition” at WNST.net…

The post Part 3: Which Baltimore sports media entities suck? Here’s my report card… appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

Catch The Buzz has it’s very own in-house PARTY GIRL! Yup, we do! Gina Geppi joins the show every Thursday @ 11:25a, delivering her unique Bawl’mer style and Charm City insights, as she gets us ready for the weekend. We’re calling the new segment – Now That’s Buzzworthy! (until Gina comes up with a better idea and makes me change it). Gina will dish out the 411 on what’s happening around town – local music, national acts, cool clubs, dj’s, parties, fairs, festivals, sporting events, the newest places to eat, the best old stand-by’s for fun dinner plans, movies, shows, kid friendly options, family friendly events, dance clubs, late night options, adult fun and games. off the beaten path Crabtown flair, cant miss dive bars and more. If it’s fun, delicious, new or a Baltimore classic, Gina will find it and let us know when, where, why…or why not it’s the place to be.

If you want to send Gina information regarding anything BUZZWORTHY!, going on in and around Baltimore, or even ‘down the ocean HON, e-mail the show (damon@wnst.net) and we’ll forward your ideas on to her. Your BUZZWORTHY picks might make it on-air!

Now That’s Buzzworthy!: August 23 – August 26th

Thursday, August 23

The Point in Fells: Flying Dog Pint Night. $5 for first pint, includes the glass. $4 refills. Special runs until close. Come by for the Ravens game!

Also check out The Point’s special 6 course pre-fixe menu available all weekend long for $65 per person.

1738 Thames St, Fells Point, Maryland 21231

The Tower in Bel Air: Paint the Deck Purple party! Wear your purple gear and show your Ravens’ pride.

Friday, August 24:

Come to The Get Down for dancing with music by DJ Kid AV.

https://www.facebook.com/events/387640774635552

Ottobar: Performance and Music Video Shoot with The Perfects and The StaticFU Records presents an evening with The Perfects & The Static on August 24th, 2012 at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD.

This event is both a performance, and a music video shoot for MTV! DJ Sean Of the Dead will be spinning all night so the party is going to the AM after the bands play!

This is an all age event.FU Records presents an evening with The Perfects & The Static on August 24th, 2012 at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD.

This event is both a performance, and a music video shoot for MTV! DJ Sean Of the Dead will be spinning all night so the party is going to the AM after the bands play!

This is an all age event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/259771190803079

CANCELLED!!! Baltimore Soundstage: Bobby Keys, saxophone player for the Rolling Stones playing with Suffering Bastards. 7pm.

Saturday, August 25:

Orioles vs Blue Jays game, Mike Mussina inducted into Orioles Hall of Fame. 7pm game. Party at Pickles and Sliders before the game!

The Americana 1 year anniversary party: Starting at 10am enjoy food and drink specials all day as The Americana in Canton celebrates their first year of business.

https://www.facebook.com/events/184446788355072

8×10 Club: Analog Anthem, Ancient Americans, and Money Cannot Be Eaten performing.

Sunday, August 26:

The Pikes Diner: Laugh Your ALS Off. Comedy show and dinner with portion of the proceeds going to benefit Drew Miller. www.friendsofdrewmiller.com

Have something you think is BUZZWORTHY? Send it to us, it may be part of next week’s show! Send ideas to damon@wnst.net

The post Now That’s Buzzworthy! appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

I get a feeling that I never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling, yeah

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feling that I never, never never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling, yeah

Yes I can, doubt that I’ll leave, I’m running with this plan

Pull me , grab me, crabs in the bucket can’t have me

I’ll be the President one day, January 1st

Oh, you like that gossip

Like you the one thinkin’ what God said

Now come, oh now I gotta work with your tongue

How many Rolling Stones you want?

Yeah I got a brand new spirit, speak it and it’s done

Woke up on the side of the bed like I won

Talk like a winner, G5 dealer, US to Taiwan

I hope you say that, I wanna play back

Mama knew I was a needle in a haystack

A Bugatti boy, plus a Maybach

I gotta feeling it’s a wrap, ASAP

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling

The mountain top, walk on water

I got power, feel so royal

One second I’ma strike oil

Diamond, platinum, no more for you

That adrenaline, never giving in

Giving up’s not an option, gotta get it in

Witness I got the heart of 20 men

No fear, go to sleep in the lion’s den

That flow, that spark, that crown

You looking at the king of the jungle now

Stronger than ever can’t hold me down

A hundred miles comin’ from the pitcher’s mound

Straight game face, it’s game day

See me running through the crowd full of melee

No trick plays, I’m Bill Gates

Take a genius to understand me

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling, yeah

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling

Let’s get it, let’s get it

I know you got the good feelin’

Let’s get it, let’s get it – Gotta love the life that we livin’

Let’s get it, let’s get it – I know you got the good feelin’

Let’s get it, let’s get it – Gotta love the life that we livin’

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling, yeah

Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never never, never, never had before, no no

I get a good feeling, yeah

HERE IS THE VIDEO FOR “GOOD FEELING”…ENJOY! – http://youtu.be/3OnnDqH6Wj8

The post The Boneyard: Good Feeling appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

I knew 2011 was most likely the end run for the old show, regardless of when the final good-byes were to be spoken. Starting in late summer of 2010 I began the process of looking forward and charting a new course on a number of levels. I truly didn’t know until roughly 3.5 weeks before the final show that June 10th was to be the final wrap. But, I was prepared for anything.

I’ll admit this – not being allowed to go on air for the final show hurt me a lot. The decision was made late in the day on Thursday, June 9th, by station management. They offered no viable reason for their decision. Earlier in the day, I made my intentions for moving forward very clear, since I was under an air-tight contract through football season. Prior to making my intentions known, all I asked was to be allowed to finish what I had started and do the final show with Viv – business as usual. Basically, I asked for common decency. I was told it was not an issue, that I’d be allowed to put the show to rest the proper way. After declaring my intentions, I was told I couldn’t do the final show. Common decency? Not a chance.

If you’re going to end a gig, where they still have to pay you – to NOT work – June is a really solid choice for timing purposes. I was hired as Director of Operations for the Sports Performance side of the Gordon Institute, and since June 13th I’ve devoted a lot of my time trying to build a special, one-of-a-kind sports and fitness training center for our area. The summer was about friends, traveling with U2, recharging my creative batteries, building a solid and special relationship with my gal, spending quality time with my dogs, planning the what, where, when, who and why for’s of  “Catch The Buzz” and most importantly – getting myself ready in mind, body and spirit to be a part of the football program at Towson University. I cant express in words how much of a blessing it’s been for me to coach under and learn from Rob Ambrose and his staff at Towson. Everyone attached to the program – the players, coaches, parents, alums, administrators, supporters and fans – are high quality, high caliber, can-do people. Towson University football is for real and the people dedicating their lives to make it so are special. Winning the 2011 CAA Championship and finishing ranked 7th nationally was icing on the cake. Being surrounded by men like Rob Ambrose, John Donatelli, Jared Ambrose, Reno Ferri, Mike Waddell, James Vollono, Canute Curtis, Brian Fleury, Dan O’Connell, Jon Dahlquist …on and on and on up and down the line…each and every day is as good as it gets. I’m beyond blessed to be a part of something so special – ONE TOWSON!

“Catch The Buzz” was born many years ago, in my mind. Parts of it played out over the seven year run I had with Mark Viviano. The real concept will take flight in days, weeks, months and years to come here at WNST.net. I need to thank Nestor Aparicio, Tom Kapp and all the investors attached as well as the entire staff at WNST.net for making it an easy choice to join their team. I get to do what I love, surrounded by friends and do it all right here in my home town. We never stop talking…Baltimore Sports. I’m lucky.

The tag line for “Catch The Buzz” is SPORTS TALK AND STUFF…  We’re going to have fun or die trying. I want our listeners involved as much as possible on a regular basis. Plug into what we’re doing here on WNST.net, stream the show online or listen on the radio at 1570am. Find us on Facebook (search Damon B’Dog Yaffe or Catch The Buzz) where we will have a running chat going daily while doing the show. We’ll also use Facebook to play some cool games and give away amazing prizes. Follow us on Twitter @Catch_The_Buzz and always check out our blogs and content right here on WNST.net. Call in and be a part of the show – 4104811570 – or, email us anytime – damon@wnst.net, paulm@wnst.net and greg@wnst.net.

(Meet C.T. Buzz)    (Meet B.D. Buzz) 

If you have ideas for the show, please reach out to us. Your feedback is important. I’m sure there will be many times when we’ll all agree to disagree. Opinion and passion are the the two chambers which make up the heartbeat of sports talk. Bring your “A” game and let’s keep sports talk real, alive, electric and meaningful in our little town of Baltimore.

(Cousin Nat)          (Cousin Bo)

“Catch The Buzz” is Damon Yaffe (The Bulldog), Paul Mittermeier (Mitt), Greg Marsh (GMarsh), my artistic and creative foil Tom Irwin and every single one of you out there wanting to be a part of it. WNST.net is our home. We fly the Purple and Orange flag. Over the weeks and months ahead I’ll implore you to understand the importance of having a media outlet like WNST.net on our local landscape. It’ll probably take me ten blogs to do the topic justice. I’ll make sure the truth is told.

The “Bulldog” has a new yard to roam. I’m happy. I respect what Nestor and his crew have built here at WNST.net. It takes huge cojones to open, operate and run a business like this and an intense loyalty, devotion and entrepreneurial drive to keep it going. I’m surrounded by folks who care about the art and the craft. Professionally, it’s all I need.

So much more to say. So much to be done. The O’s are in first place and a summer of baseball is ahead of us. Lacrosse is in full swing and the NCAA Tournament will be stellar this year. The NFL draft is upon us and the Ravens are “on the clock”. The O’s, crabs, beer, Spring and Summer days in Baltimore, Pimlico, trips down the ocean, Fells, Canton, Fed Hill, nights out in Towson, Belair, Perry Hall, Owings Mills, Catonsville, Annapolis, friends, concerts, The New Romance, local bands, festivals, flea markets, weeknights in the bleachers at Camden Yards with those that bleed orange…it’s time to “Catch The Buzz” on all of it.

“What Had Happened Was?!”, “Purple or Blue Monday”, “BuzzTard of the Week”, “BuzzShots”, “U Sure Can Pick ‘Em”, “Fantasy Baseball Challenge”, “Fantasy Football Challenge”, “The Hillbilly Buzz”, “Buzzer Beater”, “The Hump Day Honey”, “Last Show Thursday”, “The Sports Confessional” – all things we’ll be doing on the show…so much fun to be had with all of you. I hope you’ll tune in and join in and ENJOY!

“Catch The Buzz”, Weekdays 10-Noon on WNST1570 and WNST.net with Damon ” The Bulldog ” Yaffe, Paul Mittermeier (Mitt) and Greg Marsh (GMarsh). Sports talk & stuff…

…HERE WE GO!

The post The Boneyard: A New Place To Roam appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

Look we’re not trying to cause World War III here.

We all can easily realize there are bigger problems in the world than our absent love of baseball or Peter Angelos’ use of his money and power and ego. And we’re certainly not calling him a bad man or evil or whatever.

In fact, I’m absolutely convinced that he thinks he’s doing the right thing at every turn. I’m certain that he thinks he’s a great guy, a misunderstood man of another era, a highly intelligent, deeply charitable soul. I really, honest to God think, that he WANTS to do the right thing. And I really get the feeling that he really believes we’re all dead wrong about how we feel or just stupid.

And he’s certainly given more money to more charitable causes and foundations than most people in this city, so his intentions are not really in question.

But as a baseball owner, if he wants to go out a hero, bow out, have his moment in the sun, a chance to say (like I’ve done with several ex-girlfriends) that “it all worked out in the end” — he’ll get his chance soon enough.

But I’m really convinced that his “feel good” exit options are getting more and more limited given his approval rating as king. Get down to the Inner Harbor around 2 this afternoon and you’ll see what I mean! To see the rally, you must BE the rally!

To my logic and to my ears from every corner of the community I hear one thing en masse: SELL THE TEAM.

The only exit strategy in this campaign where our protagonist becomes a hero is to: SELL THE TEAM.

So, today, Mr. Angelos we put before you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God: The plaintiffs, BALTIMORE ORIOLES fans of all ages, races, colors and creeds — and even some from Washington, D.C. — do find the DEFENDANTS, Peter G. Angelos and his ownership group, GUILTY of bad baseball management.

Or as the now clichéd-Donald Trump would say: “Peter, you’re fired!”

Free The Birds!

If Peter Angelos decides to sell the team sometime very soon — for a King’s ransom and a tidy profit on the initial investment — he can still walk away from this thing as the world’s greatest guy, especially if he hands the baton to the Sacred Cal of Aberdeen and his Knights of Harford County.

We could hold the ceremony on Opening Day, April 3, 2007, with a key to the city, the Mayor, the Governor, maybe even every celebrity Oriole fan and some select Oriole greats like Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Earl Weaver looking on — a giant ceremonial contract/sale signing on a stage at shortstop — the same spot that they did it on Sept. 6, 1995, when the world was watching Camden Yards. There’d be orange balloons

The post Does Peter Angelos even hear cries of Baltimore Orioles fans around the world? appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

This is the part in story where it all gets kinda fuzzy, these last 13 years.

And because I absolutely promised myself that I wasn’t going to get too negative about Peter Angelos is this series — we all have our reasons for wanting to participate in The Rally on Sept. 21, but I don’t feel the need to itemize and analyze everything AGAIN, after spending year after year on the radio dissecting all the whys and wherefores — I’m going to temper the tone of this chapter a bit, but there are PLENTY of reasons for the “disconnect” between the Orioles and community.

And that’s what I believe it is, a “disconnect,” because people don’t WANT to stay away from the ballpark and they don’t WANT to stay away from the Orioles or baseball because this community LOVES baseball.

I can break the bad things into a couple of categories but I think I can sum it all up in one simple statement, with a gargantuan underlying current:

“The Ravens came to town!”

I’ll just call it “The Ravens Effect.”

I’m sure this will be a controversial blanket statement in many ways, but I believe it’s at the heart of the problems with the Orioles and their perception in this community. Basically, everything the Modells heard and took to heart in what they were hearing from this community from the minute they got here in early 1996, somehow, the Angelos group lost or misinterpreted in translation.

Or resented. Or fought. Or just plain ignored.

Peter Angelos ALWAYS wanted to be the owner of the Baltimore NFL franchise — ALWAYS! He was upset when the Browns came, he “shined” Art Modell (and perhaps more importantly, Art’s wife, former Hollywood actress Pat Modell) at a function early on and, as Richard Dawson might have said: “Let’s play the feud!”

But, knowing the Modells as I do, I always thought they believed it very sad and strange, the way they were treated by the Orioles and the Angelos ownership group. But again, this ownership group has treated most everyone like manure, which is how the stadium has gotten so empty and how the community has become totally indifferent when Red Sox and Yankees fans take over the stadium as they did last week.

The Modells loved baseball, they loved community, they clearly saw themselves as the “outsiders” who just wanted peace, especially in light of the incredibly envious situation the Orioles were in. Truth be told: the Ravens were ALWAYS playing from WAAAAY behind in the beginning, in every single way imaginable — from fans to revenue to television to radio to media coverage to sponsorship money to stadium money to image to just flat-out, old-fashioned tradition.

The Ravens would never be the Colts, and the mere notion of a carpet bagging owner doing the same thing to Cleveland that was done to our community 12 years earlier was bothersome to everyone it seemed (other than me and then-governor Parris Glendening, who damn-near taunted Cleveland the day Modell showed up in the parking lot downtown). And maybe John Moag also had no conscience about it because his job wouldn’t allow it.

But that was IT.

There’s no nice way to put it: the Ravens were considered the scum of the earth by everyone

The post Chapter 15: How it all fell apart for Angelos — and it certainly didn’t have to be this way appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

Sometime later today, an announcement (should be a simultaneous Tweet by the NFL and NFLPA) announcing the end of the lockout will put into motion a chaotic series of events that be will unlike anything ever seen in league history, including the potential start of free agency Monday afternoon, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

A year ago, the NFL’s 2010 Kickoff guide that is filled with notes and quick-hit stories distributed to the media was titled “Back to Football.” The league, which doesn’t miss much in PR opportunities, should have held that slogan until this year.

It will be football in overdrive as five months of transactions will be condensed into a little over a week. The free-agent period will be dizzying, once the two sides finally figure out how the timing of when the new league year actually begins.

We’ll find out how the horse-trading on the final items shakes out (including any opt-out language, discipline procedures, new drug testing protocols, etc.). There will be a lot of “who won?” and “who lost?” from media once all of the terms are made public.

Here is the 25-page PDF summary pending agreement NFLPA reviewed with player reps Wednesday, pre-owners `final’ document (via ESPN on Friday, and forwarded to BlogAndTackle.net by Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721 on Twitter) - Obviously, some of this changed over the weekend, but good snapshot of where sides were late last week : NFLPA Summary 7-22-11

Finally, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith will stand together at a podium, and unlike last week’s NFL press conference with glum faces among owners, this one will have smiles, weary but with a sense of accomplishment.

The other people with smiles are ones you don’t see on your TV. The everyday employees of clubs and the league office that reduced salaries or gave furloughs should see their money restored now that a full season will be played. They were all unnecessarily caught in the middle of the labor war, as employees in the NBA are finding out now during their own lockout.

Yes, football is back, and there is so much to do and digest. Players, agents and GMs will never work so hard as they will once the new CBA is in force. It will be fast and furious, and those who are the most prepared and have digested the new rules will succeed, whether it is a GM will a solid battle plan, an agent who has strong working relationships with those GMs or players who find the right team to sign with thanks to their agent and a cooperative GM.

All are intertwined in this intricate dance that will look more like a quick step than a slow waltz once the doors are opened. The media can go back to covering the on-field stories, instead of being part lawyers, accountants and court reporters during this Summer of Lockout.

Here is how the national media sees the weekend’s developments & when/how the NFL will resume business:
With end of NFL lockout at hand, it’s time to focus on football again (Don Banks, SI.com; 7/24/11)
Making sense of the new CBA and how it will affect the game (Peter King, SI.com; 7/25/11)
Path to NFL normalcy begins with players’ board approving deal (Michael McCann; SI.com; 7/24/11)
NFL unlocked? Inside election day (Andrew Brandt, NationalFootballPost.com; 7/25/11)
Report: Team facilities to open as early as Tuesday (Brad Biggs, NationalFootballPost.com; 7/25/11)
Yes! Knucklehead season almost over (Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com; 7/25/11)
Sources: Deal to end lockout reached (Adam Schefter, ESPN.com; 7/25/11)
2011 free agency: It’s going to be wild (John Clayton, ESPN.com; 7/25/11)
But what about after the NFLPA vote? (AJ Perez, FOXSports.com; 7/25/11)
Lockout Judgements: Winners, losers, turning points (Clark Judge, CBSSports.com; 7/25/11)
Players, owners finally get done what politicians cannot (Mike Freeman, CBSSports.com; 7/25/11)
Advantage: Players (Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com; 7/25/11)
Latest timeline confirms that free agency could start Tuesday (Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com; 7/25/11)
NFL players, you are now free to move about the league (Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times; 7/25/11)
DeMaurice Smith proves more than capable standing up to owners (David Steele, SportingNews.com; 7/25/11)
Agreement in place: Players will vote once document is done (Albert Breer, NFL.com; 7/25/11)
Teams, agents have major concerns for once doors open (Steve Wyche, NFL.com; 7/25/11)

For up-to-date Tweets on the NFL and the Ravens, please follow me on Twitter (@BlogAndTackle). For more national NFL stories, please visit my personal site at BlogAndTackle.net.

The post Blog & Tackle: Back to football, finally appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

As we found out not more than 15 minutes after the NFL’s press conference at the Atlanta Gateway Marriott announcing their vote and going over the particulars of the league’s proposal, the howls of protest via social media by players and leaking of two NFLPA emails from Smith and NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen seemed to suggest that the players were blindsided by the owners.

It should have been clear (but wasn’t at the time) that the men lined up behind Goodell during the press conference — NFL Executive VP of Labor/League Counsel Jeff Pash, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, New York Giants owner John Mara, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II and Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt — never once smiled, even wearily, as the months of negotiations were at an end.

They knew what we were finding out. The road to ratification is filled with bumps that could still derail the process. It’s easy (in some respects) to get 32 people to agree to a proposal (the supplemental revenue sharing deal brokered during the day between the owners was a bigger story that got lost in the later events). It’s harder to get 1,900 people to share one vision, especially when there are competing personal interests inside the group.

No one likes being backed into a corner, and players who are hyper-competitive by nature, couldn’t contain their reactions on social media, giving fans and media a real-time look into how negotiations are dissected by those directly affected by the proposed terms.

Both sides get a timeout for part of the day on Friday as the NFL owners and key staff travel to New England for the funeral service for Myra Kraft, the wife of Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, this morning. News will be scarce for a bit out of respect, but the cycle should pick back up this afternoon.

Today could bring closure with a players’ vote and negotiations on the final sticking points, or we could have more confusion as players force Smith to take a step back and re-form consensus before approving the deal offered by the owners. No one really knows how this will fall out today (although ESPN is reporting Friday that the players will likely not today, according to Chris Mortenson).

The players released a statement Friday from NFLPA President Kevin Mawae:

Player leadership is discussing the most recent written proposal with the NFL, which includes a settlement agreement, deal terms and the right process for addressing recertification. There will not be any further NFLPA statements today out of respect for the Kraft family while they mourn the loss of Myra Kraft.

Key issues are an early opt-out from the agreement (NFL says it is a full 10-year deal with no opt-outs; NFLPA reportedly wants an opt-out clause with a penalty after seven years) and the recertification of the NFLPA as an union (various points of contention).

What we do know is that the owners have put the resumption of football (as well as the public perception of that) back in the players’ lap. The expectation left hanging in the air last night that there was a deal between the sides, even as the NFL was careful to say that it still took ratification from the NFLPA Executive Board.

The hot potato has been passed to Smith and the players, and we’ll find out soon if either side drops it.

Here is clarity and perspective on what Thursday meant and what the next few days might bring:
Labor agreement remains in limbo (Peter King, SI.com; 7/22/11)
After tumultuous Thursday, labor talks headed for wild weekend (Don Banks, SI.com; 7/22/11)
Owners pressure players to deal (John Clayton, ESPN.com; 7/21/11)
We have a (proposed) deal (Andrew Brandt, NationalFootballPost.com; 7/21/11)
Players scoff at trumpeting of labor ‘agreement’ (Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports; 7/21/11)
NFL owners try to pull a fast one on players (Bryan Burwell, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; 7/22/11)
NFL owners vote for tentative labor deal (Judy Battista, New York Times; 7/21/11)
NFL players mull owners’ proposed CBA (AJ Perez, FOXSports.com; 7/22/11)
Welcome to the dog days of dizzying NFL drama (Lisa Olson; AOL/Sporting News; 7/22/11)
Players don’t vote on CBA, rip ‘gamesmanship’ of owners (Mike Freeman, CBSSports.com; 7/21/11)
Players, fans aren’t as idiotic as owners think they are (Ray Ratto, CBSSports.com; 7/21/11)
Players delay vote on owners’ proposal to end lockout (Eric Edholm, ProFootballWeekly.com; 7/21/11)

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The post Bumpy road ahead to new NFL CBA agreement appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

Most, myself included, expected Judge Susan Nelson of the U.S. District Court to rule in favor of the players in their preliminary injunction attempt to lift the lockout as part of the Brady v. NFL case. What was also expected was a stay from Judge Nelson to hold the lockout in place until an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit could be filed by the NFL.

So, Judge Nelson’s ruling to lift the lockout immediately, but to not issue a stay of her order until the NFL’s appeal could be heard has thrown the league into chaos on several points, some of which are not entirely clear to legal analysts specializing in sports law in the first hours following the issue of the order.

First, here is Judge Nelson’s full 89-page order issued Monday, April 25.

The NFLPA issued a statement Monday night:

Re: Brady, et al. v. NFL

We are class counsel along with Dewey LeBoeuf on behalf of the 10 named plaintiffs in the Brady lawsuit as well as the 1800 members of the soon to be Brady class. We are pleased with the ruling granting the plaintiffs preliminary injunction to lift the NFL owners’ illegal lockout issued this afternoon by Judge Susan Richard Nelson. We believe that this 89-page well-reasoned decision is totally consistent with prior precedent, governing caselaw as well as administrative rulings on all the issues raised by the NFL Defendants. We are confident that this ruling will withstand any appeals.

De Smith, co-class counsel and Executive Director of the NFLPA said; “I’m happy for our players and for our fans. Today, those who love football are the winners.”

In addition, plaintiff Osi Umenyiora stated: “Today’s ruling is a win for the players and for the fans that want to see a full NFL season in 2011. The lockout is bad for everyone and players will continue to fight it. We hope that this will bring us one step closer to playing the game we love.”

- James W. Quinn, Class Counsel

The NFL also issued a statement following the order:

We will promptly seek a stay from Judge Nelson pending an expedited appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes. We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree. But we also believe that this dispute will inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which would be in the best interests of players, clubs and fans. We can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations toward that goal.

The league, according to SI.com’s Peter King has filed two motions with Nelson’s court: a motion of clarification, seeking more info on the practical implications of the ruling, and a motion to stay the ruling while the Eighth Circuit hears the NFL’s appeal.

There are three possible outcomes, according to King. One, a stay which would keep the lockout in place until the Circuit Court hears and rules; two, no stay and an order to begin the 2011 NFL league year at her discretion; and three, passing the decision of a stay to the Eighth Circuit, which could take about a week to decide.

Judge Nelson’s order has set the following in motion:

The NFLPA via an email, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, advised players of their legal right to report to work at club facilities on Tuesday, April 26. It is unclear how many team player reps are telling players to report. Some like the Lions’ Kyle Vanden Bosch, have told players not to report for a day until the dust settles, while the Steelers’ rep Ryan Clark is telling teammates to report to work, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

Late Monday, according to Schefter, the NFL Management Council has told teams to let players into buildings on Tuesday, but also recommended keeping weight rooms closed and to have security in place to avoid any potential confrontations or photo opportunities for the media.

That advisement from the Management Council will avoid an awkward situation where team security directors, which assist players during normal labor times, would have been the ones turning the players away at the facilities or changing access codes the players use in some cities to access parking and the facilities.

ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that coaches have been told not to be in contact with players until the league has had a chance to seek a stay of Judge Nelson’s order.

Even if the league year is ordered to begin, there is plenty of uncertainty of if the previous CBA would apply going forward. Teams will also have some minefields in antitrust law to navigate, according to sports law professor Michael McCann in SI.com.

In the same article, McCann says the NFL’s appeal will hinge on two points: lack of jurisdiction by Judge Nelson because the National Labor Relations Board is yet to rule on the legality of the NFLPA’s decertification order and lack of irreparable harm to the players.

The league’s lawyers, led by David Boies, made those arguments in front of Judge Nelson in preparation for their appeal to the Eighth Circuit.

According to ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson, the owners may try to impose new work rules, or try to negotiate a new deal with the players, or try to do both.

Andrew Brandt of NationalFootballPost.com says that there is plenty that could still happen in the wake of Judge Nelson’s decision.

The league also faces a mid-May hearing in front of Judge David Doty as he will rule on potential award damages in the lawsuit filed by the players over the owners’ current television contracts. Those contracts would have provided a substantial “war chest” in a lockout. Judge Doty ruled for the players in March, and he will decide on those damages and if there should be an injunction on the TV contracts.

One major question also looms over the NFL Draft to be held over three days later this week. Teams were previously told that the only trades that could take place were ones involving draft picks in the 2011 and future drafts only. With a lifting of the lockout, no one is sure whether deals can be made involving current roster players under contract (for instance, Eagles QB Kevin Kolb).

The next week or so will be unique in NFL history on many levels. In any case, with less than three days before the 2011 NFL Draft, the chaos potential is very high for a league used to order in conducting its business off the field.

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However, the victor in Judge Nelson’s ruling will have a short-lived time to celebrate as there will be an immediate appeal on the injunction ruling by the losing side. That means the real leverage for one side won’t be decided until the appeal is heard in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

To revisit the issues behind Brady v. NFL, National Football Post’s Andrew Brandt, who is also reporting on the labor fight for ESPN.com did a primer on March 18 for NFP.

Brandt did an update on April 20 which touched on the mediation brokered by Judge Nelson in advance of her decision and where the situation may be headed in the coming weeks.

Another pressure point will come May 12 when Judge David Doty will hold a hearing to decide damages in the TV lockout-funding case brought by the players against the owners. A major award to the players of money that the owners expected to have as a “war chest” in the lockout could also shift leverage. Doty ruled against the owners in the suit in early March.

Late last week, there were reports that some NFL players were interested in having a seat at the mediation table in Minneapolis. The NFLPA, through its’ NFLLockout.com web site, made an email public from an unspecified law firm looking for 70 potential clients to intervene in the mediation, which broke off April 20.

Meawhile, unlike the previous mediation talks in Washington with George Cohen of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, where details were leaked almost daily, the mediation under Judge Arthur Boylan was done under a gag order which carried real legal issues if it was violated. The mediation talks under Judge Boylan were suspended on April 20 to resume May 16.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t news from the NFL in past two weeks. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell held several conference calls with season-ticket holders of the Dolphins, Chargers, Giants and 49ers to go over the league’s positions on the labor issues.

The NFL also released its’ 2011 regular-season schedule. And ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter found that the league built in some safeguards to have a complete schedule even if the first three weeks are not played as planned.

In short, the league has asked Indianapolis to hold hotel rooms for another week to play Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 12 if needed. The league would also take away one of the two weeks between the conference championship games, so teams would have to head to Indy the day after winning their respective conference titles for Super Bowl week. Also, every Week 3 game has been safeguarded as the teams off in a particular bye week match up to their Week 3 opponent.

So, according to ESPN, the season could start as late as October 2 (Week 4) and a full 16-game schedule could be played.

For up-to-date Tweets on the NFL and the Ravens, please follow me on Twitter (@BlogAndTackle). For more national NFL stories, please visit my personal site at BlogAndTackle.net.

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