Per Schefter & PFT: NFL salary cap debacle continues---updates include NFLPA filing collusion lawsuits---links and discussion current--MET

[Son of Gadsden]

I would say its very likely the collusion case against the NFL will proceed, but sadly that has nothing to do with us having the cap penalty reversed. Indeed the Redskins, as a franchise member of the NFL, are in fact in danger of being sued for collusion by the NFLPA, one of the parties who agreed to the sanctions against the Redskins for, you know, not colluding. Go figure.

Whatever that missing cap space is not coming back.

I disagree. I would think it's very possible, though I don't think our case is directly involved. If the NFL is found guilty of collusion, that means the "spirit of the cap" was illegal....if it is ruled as that...the Skins and Cowboys should be able to counter-suit against the penalties that were imposed via a colluding organization.

[PortisBetts]

The NFL has been able to get away with this because the NFLPA agreed to the penalties. That's why the judge refused to go through with the case. Now, the NFLPA is crying collusion and that the owners were not fully honest with them. If they prove that then the NFL is in trouble. 36 million is a LOT of money. Not only would they have to do away with the penalty for next off-season, but they'll have to reimburse us for last off-season and simply giving us back that money wouldn't be enough (imho). They locked us out of a major free agency market. If the NFLPA case looks like it is making headway then the NFL will come looking for some kind of a deal.

An adding of a first round draft pick perhaps? (one can hope)

[Momma There Goes That Man]

I really hope your right but I dont know what would have changed from back in May when our appeal was dismissed and we accepted the ruling.

I mean if the NFL gave us some back room deal to reinstate $18M of cap space in return for example for us not passing over evidence of collusion to any court hearing such a case I'm not sure how the NFL could explain away us getting the cap space back without handing the court a huge red flag.

Well for one, we are a flagship franchise for the NFL that now has the most exciting player in the league as well leading us. What changed is they could see further handicapping of the Redskins as bad for the league and want to push Griffin and his team so they remove the penalties. Not likely just saying. Also, just to make it go away in the same way the Saints players were offered settlements we could be offered a "look, forget last year's penalty, I can't undo that. You're off the hook for next year and lets just move on, unified" type of deal.

Additionally, that could be spun any number of ways as not to tip off the collusion cases. Upon time to reflect Goodell decided he thought the initial penalty was too harsh, perhaps Tags advised him on it and he changed his mind etc.

I'm sure this is all pointless anyway but it sure would be nice.

[MartinC]

I disagree. I would think it's very possible, though I don't think our case is directly involved. If the NFL is found guilty of collusion, that means the "spirit of the cap" was illegal....if it is ruled as that...the Skins and Cowboys should be able to counter-suit against the penalties that were imposed via a colluding organization.

We already appealed and that appeal was dismissed. Unless we want to take the NFL to court and sue for anti trust - which would clearly be a bad idea - who are we going to take action against and how?

---------- Post added December-12th-2012 at 10:00 AM ----------

but it sure would be nice.

It would be nice - but its highly unlikely. At least IMO.

[brandymac27]

An adding of a first round draft pick perhaps? (one can hope)

How would that even work though? All the other teams that pick after us would be bitching non stop about it.

[Taylor 36]

Thanks. The kicker on that though would be that to rescue ourselves from being sued in the collusion case we would have to provide evidence that throws the NFL and the Redskins business partners under the bus. Tough to do business on that basis.

How is that any harder than doing business with a group of guys that willingly plotted to cheat and screw you over? The business relationships have already been tarneshed between Snyder, Jones and 28 other owners.

[DC9]

I really hope your right but I dont know what would have changed from back in May when our appeal was dismissed and we accepted the ruling.

I mean if the NFL gave us some back room deal to reinstate $18M of cap space in return for example for us not passing over evidence of collusion to any court hearing such a case I'm not sure how the NFL could explain away us getting the cap space back without handing the court a huge red flag.

I'd imagine it would be related to a court case, but it wouldn't directly come from the Redskins being in a court case vs the NFL/NFLPA. Like, an out of court settlement type thing if the NFL needs the Redskins loophole closed in order to fight off the collusion case from the NFLPA.

That type of thing is what I see coming. I see the NFLPA getting something out of court and I see the Redskins and Cowboys getting something out of court.

[MartinC]

How is that any harder than doing business with a group of guys that willingly plotted to cheat and screw you over? The business relationships have already been tarneshed between Snyder, Jones and 28 other owners.

Tarnished maybe. But not burnt to ashes and scattered over FedEx Field at half time.

There may be some lingering feeling over the way we were treated (given Snyders comments after we beat the Giants I think thats certainly the case) and I'm sure Snyder and Jones will not forget what Mara and other did and will get their pound of flesh at some point. However thats different to turning prosecution witness against the business they are partners in.

---------- Post added December-12th-2012 at 10:10 AM ----------

I'd imagine it would be related to a court case, but it wouldn't directly come from the Redskins being in a court case vs the NFL/NFLPA. Like, an out of court settlement type thing if the NFL needs the Redskins loophole closed in order to fight off the collusion case from the NFLPA.

That type of thing is what I see coming. I see the NFLPA getting something out of court and I see the Redskins and Cowboys getting something out of court.

If there is some kind of out of Court deal that may be the only hope. But I see it as a very slim hope from the perspective of us getting that cap space back.

[DC9]

How would that even work though? All the other teams that pick after us would be bitching non stop about it.

it would be like a compensatory pick at the end of the first round, I would imagine. Though... it won't happen. ; )

[Son of Gadsden]

We already appealed and that appeal was dismissed. Unless we want to take the NFL to court and sue for anti trust - which would clearly be a bad idea - who are we going to take action against and how?

I don't know. But I want the cap space back, and I want it to be legal to take back. So if I want it, the rest doesn't matter, right!? It's the American way for God's sakes!

[skinsfansince1988]

The Redskins need to keep fighting, otherwise this proves that Mara can do whatever he wants to the Redskins and get away with it and you don't think he will do more and punish them more, I do. We are soon going to pass his cheating Giants for the best in the NFC East, I have no doubt Mara will do something else to us

[KingGibbs]

I really wish Schef wouldn't have given us that false sense of hope. Can some of you twitter geeks tweet him and ask him what up?

[PortisBetts]

How would that even work though? All the other teams that pick after us would be bitching non stop about it.

Isnt that why we are in this mess in the first place? Other teams bitching non-stop? I dont see the difference. It also 99% wont happen, but it would be nice wouldnt it? After Mara says we are lucky we didnt lose picks, to actually gain 1? I would kill for that irony.

[rk3025]

If we sue the other teams, we will open a can of worms and bring congress in for Anti trust and hurt everyone in football.

[chow184]

If we sue the other teams, we will open a can of worms and bring congress in for Anti trust and hurt everyone in football.

you do realize that when mara and the other NFL teams punished the redskins, they did so thinking we would just suck it up and not sue. They didn't consider the fact that they have no legal basis for the 36 million dollar cap punishment, just that it broke the unwritten rule.

they opened the can of worms when they leveled the redskins with a 36 million dollar punishment for what exactly pertaining to the rules? they threw a grenade at the redskins but didn't realize the redskins can throw it right back all 30 teams if they so choose (remember the cowboys got punished too). the redskins need to call their bluff

I think Roger Goodell has been way out of line, and it's finally biting him in the ass. I'd be quite happy if the redskins shook the NFL to it's core by also filing on grounds of collusion. I honestly feel they deserve it, and the other teams too.

all those other teams who spent absolutely nothing and would have violated the salary floor didn't get punished, technically giving them more cap room for future seasons.

and one of the biggest proponents of our punishment was the owner of a division rival team. that doesn't smell like horse **** at all, does it.