NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Facing the possibility of an extended work stoppage in the NFL, the Packers will take a series of cost-cutting measures that could include pay cuts to top-level employees such as president and CEO Mark Murphy, coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson.

By making those cuts, the team hopes to avoid laying off lower-salaried workers. "We all hope for the best, we are all optimistic that this will get done," Packers vice president of administration/general counsel Jason Wied said in a conference call with reporters Saturday.

"We know that all parties have every intention of getting this done. But we need to plan for the worst." Even amid the tension between players and owners, Murphy said it's too early for fans to worry about a work stoppage affecting the 2011 season.

"We're still very far away from that," Murphy said. "I would encourage people, let's be reflective. We still have a lot of time and hopefully, at the end of the day, cooler heads will prevail and we'll be able to reach an agreement without any interference in terms of football games or training camp."

The Eagles sent a letter today to season ticket holders and also posted it on the team’s web site.

“In light of the events that occurred yesterday, we wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the status of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and how it affects the Philadelphia Eagles. As we are sure you are aware, the contract between the league and the labor union representing the players has expired, the union decertified and we have entered into a lockout.

“However, the NFL remains committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached – an agreement that is good for the long-term health of the league. We believe that a deal will get done and we fully expect football to be played in 2011.

“We want you to know our focus is on preparation for the 2011 season and we are going to continue to do everything we can to strengthen our football team. We will be ready to take advantage of all opportunities within league rules to help reach our ultimate goal. We are also excited about the upcoming 2011 draft on April 28-30 and our preparation for that has been in the works for a long time.

“Regardless of what transpires throughout this offseason, our commitment to winning a Super Bowl remains the number one priority throughout our entire organization. We are also committed to keeping an open line of communication with you and our entire fan base throughout these labor discussions. We plan on hosting several events throughout the off season that our fans can enjoy. Our annual Draft Party will take place on April 28 at Lincoln Financial Field.

“We greatly appreciate your continued support.”

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Banner

Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times reports Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski delivered a quick knockout in the boxing ring Saturday night.

Zbikowski scored an easy technical knockout of Richard Bryant despite being outweighed by roughly 30 pounds, winning the fight in the first round at MGM Grand at Las Vegas.

It only took one minute and 45 seconds for Zbikowski to take care of business, earning a $50,000 payday for less than one round of work as he improved to 2-0 for his career.

Fighting at 193 pounds, Zbikowski punished the 225-pound Bryant as he knocked him down with a powerful left to the body to put him away.

“I was looking to get a little more work but you take a win any way you can get it,” Zbikowski told Las Vegas reporters. “I know I hurt him with the hook, you could feel the air come out.”

As many of you that follow the site know, I am an avid follower of the NFL Draft.  When I first started following the draft as a kid, I just watched the draft religiously and then read up on all the players the Lions drafted after the fact.  Over the last 15-20 years the draft has gained so much popularity that there are far more resources for draftniks like me to use.  We're now in the thick of draft season now that the Senior Bowl and Combine are completed and Pro Days have started.  There are several steps that the "At Home Scout" should follow and the first is know your team.

When I do my draft preparations I conduct them as if I am the Lions' General Manager and I am drafting for the team.  The first step in that process is undertsanding the team's needs and what type of players fit the coaching staff requirements.

Coach Schwartz  and Martin Mayhew approach the draft with a best player available at a position that makes sense.  If Cam Newton is the highest rated player on their board and he's sitting there at 13 the Lions obviously wouldn't draft him because that would make no sense with Stafford on board already.

Click HERE to read the rest

A couple of star quarterbacks are fighting back against the lockout, as the Pats Tom Brady, the Colts Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees of the Saints were among 10 players who sued the NFL in federal court Friday in Minneapolis.

The 10 players are accusing the league of conspiracy and anticompetitive practices that date back years.

Their lawsuit asked the court to prevent a lockout, which the league imposed at midnight ET Friday and confirmed in a statement Saturday morning. Less than two hours after the players’ union decertified, clearing the way for antitrust lawsuits, the players filed their 52-page claim and supporting documents in U.S. District Court. They asked the court for class-action status.

They filed a request for an injunction that would keep the NFL and the teams from engaging in a lockout. Invoking the Sherman Act, an 1890 federal antitrust statute that limits monopolies and restrictions on commerce, the players said they were entitled to triple the amount of any damages they’ve incurred. That means the stakes could be in the hundreds of millions.

The players accused the 32 NFL teams of conspiring to deny their ability to market their services “through a patently unlawful group boycott and price-fixing arrangement or, in the alternative, a unilaterally imposed set of anticompetitive restrictions on player movement, free agency and competitive market freedom.”