With no talks scheduled between the NFL and NFL Players Association between tomorrow’s midnight deadline, the players are resigned to an uncapped season in 2010, and bracing for a possible work stoppage in 2011.
“You prepare for the worst and hope for the best . . . Two years from now we could be coming into some issues. But we have a year to get something done to prevent a work stoppage, and that’s what our goal is,” said Pro Bowl center Shaun O’Hara, the Giants’ player rep.
“We implemented a program we call 25-25, encouraging players to put a minimum of 25 percent of their salary into savings for the possibility of a work stoppage. That’s what we’re trying to do, in case we do get to a lockout that players still have finances so they don’t find themselves in dire straits.”
A host of players were at Brian Leonard’s Rally at the Alley last night, the Bengals running back’s charity bowling event last night at Chelsea Piers. And Ray Rice, Leonard’s ex-Rutgers teammate, was preparing for just such a work stoppage.
“You’ve got to prepare for the worst. You’ve got to do the right thing, prepare the right way,” said Rice, a Ravens Pro Bowler and New Rochelle grad. “I just want to play football, but you’ve got to prepare for things like that.”
Fourth-year players like Dolphin tight end Anthony Fasano were expecting to hit unrestricted free-agency payday now find themselves restricted. And a third-year pro like Leonard finds his pension threatened.
“This might not be a credited season, so if I play two more games I get my pension. But I won’t get it if I play this year. I heard that might happen,” said Leonard. “[The NFLPA] advised everybody to put money away every week so you’re able to spend if there could be a lockout. You never know. There might be.”
Fasano stands to lose even if they play next year because he’ll have to wait until his sixth season for unrestricted free agency.
“I would’ve been unrestricted and now I’m not,” said Fasano. “You can’t let it affect you. It’s just a situation you have to deal with. It’s unfortunate to be restricted but I’m sure it’ll all work out.”
