Bears, Cowboys, Packers, and Broncos willing to open books to get a CBA done

[NaTaS+ 958]

CSNChicago.com

 

By John Mullin

CSNChicago.com

 

The Bears have operated successfully for a long, long time, as long in fact as there’s been an NFL and even a little before that. And if it’ll help advance the cause of an agreement between league owners and players, they’re willing to show those needing to know.

 

And this could be part of a building movement that breaks the stalemate that is threatening at least the NFL offseason, if not more.

 

Bears President Ted Phillips has aligned the Bears with the Dallas Cowboys (and the already publicly owned Green Bay Packers, plus the Denver Broncos potentially) as teams open to the idea of open books, something demanded by the players’ side as long as owners are asking for a $1 billion giveback to help teams with operating expenses.

 

“If the league feels to get a deal done, they need to release [financials], we’re on board,†Phillips told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m actually proud of how we operate our club. We think we do a good job, revenue-wise and expense-wise.â€

 

The Bears have. Without violating confidences here, the Bears have been aware of the looming labor difficulties for a matter of years and they were managing expenses with an eye toward the future. So it was no surprise at all that the Phillips and the Bears were out front with the fact that they were not anticipating layoffs, pay cuts or some of the carnage that has nicked some teams.

 

And what’s too often glossed over in the interest of keeping a good cliché running, the Bears have done all of this without coming anywhere close to their “Misers of the Midway†misnomer. The Bears have spent money, not always on the right players or even coaches at times, but they have spent it.

 

Consider: Besides doing a new Lovie Smith contract with years in excess of $5 million, the Bears also have coordinators (Rod Marinelli, Mike Martz) in the $1 million range plus an offensive line coach (Mike Tice) in the upper echelon of his position pay grade.

 

More to the on-field point, in recent years they have done market or above deals with Lance Briggs, Jay Cutler, Tommie Harris, Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher, some as extensions, like Smith. Muhsin Muhammad, John Tait….

 

The list of money deals goes on but you get the point. Phillips was the finance man under Michael McCaskey before succeeding him as president in 1999 (the year the Bears hosed down Phillip Daniels and Thomas Smith with signing mega-deals). The contracts done by GM Jerry Angelo and finance man Cliff Stein are known throughout the league as “real†deals, meaning ones without inflated final years that no one will ever see and force players to be cut.

 

It’s easy to make jokes about the Bears and their money. Those jokes are old and years out of date. And no one should be laughing, least of all some of the other owners who are not remotely as effective financially as the Bears. As the McCaskeys have accurately stated over the years, their only business is football and the Chicago Bears. They’re not Daniel Snyder (thankfully), nor have they ever aspired to be.

 

They can be and should be proud of those books.

 

I wonder if this will get more owners on-board and get this season back on track.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

This seems a step in the right direction. Encouraging signs. I dig it.

[Bangy 19]

Epic glad that these four teams have shown some sense, Props to the Packers, Broncos and very reluctently the Bears and Cowboys

[Guest Durant4MVP]

Good to hear.

[Bay 2,003]

[oochymp 2,393]

to be fair, the Packers are publicly owned so their books are already open, but still, kudos for being willing to do what it takes and I hope more owners get on board

Edited March 27, 2011 by oochymp

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

to be fair, the Packers are publicly owned so their books are already open, but still, kudos for being willing to do what it takes and I hope more owners get on board

 

Ya.. which means we were the first ones to do it. Start following suit, guys.

[NaTaS+ 958]

Sorry Bay - mean to plus 1 you, will get you back in another thread.

[Bay 2,003]

Sorry Bay - mean to plus 1 you, will get you back in another thread.

 

No prob.

[Maverick 791]

Sorry Bay - mean to plus 1 you, will get you back in another thread.

 

I've seen you and others do this before...

 

Is it really that difficult to select the green one instead of the red one?

 

/asshole

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I've seen you and others do this before...

 

Is it really that difficult to select the green one instead of the red one?

 

/asshole

 

I meant to hit the red one that time.

[BigBen07 285]

Good step in the right direction. Now if other owners do this we can get a new CBA in and get a season going.

[Maverick 791]

I meant to hit the red one that time.

 

I knew that was coming when I posted that...lol.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I knew that was coming when I posted that...lol.

 

Haha. I still love ya mav.

[NaTaS+ 958]

I've seen you and others do this before...

 

Is it really that difficult to select the green one instead of the red one?

 

/asshole

 

Oh look, its the kid that never makes mistakes!!

 

I usually dont have a problem with it. New laptop with an entirely different way of movement (gestured) so yes, its taking me some time to get acclimated. I do things very fast and since there is no way to remove a neg once you click it; you'll see posts like mine above.

[rzb+ 367]

I meant to hit the red one that time.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

I wonder why they had to wait until now to give in. While it's a good sign, it's a little late.

[oochymp 2,393]

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

I wonder why they had to wait until now to give in. While it's a good sign, it's a little late.

I'm pretty sure the players have said they'd be happy to reopen negotiations if the owners would open the books, true it's a little more complicated since decertification, but there's still time for negotiating

[WindyCitySports 407]

This is very encouraging. Leave it to the Bears.

[rzb+ 367]

I'm pretty sure the players have said they'd be happy to reopen negotiations if the owners would open the books, true it's a little more complicated since decertification, but there's still time for negotiating

I meant late as before a lockout was in place, not late as in before the season begins.