Expect Raheem To Break Communication Rule
February 24th, 2011
Some of the latest buzz swirling around the annoying NFL Labor talks has the league demanding that coaches have no contact with players during a lockout, so reports ProFootballTalk.com.
Not even a beer, it seems, or the wrath of the league shall strike down upon their heads.
Today Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that coaches and executives will be reminded at today’s meeting that they’re not allowed to have any contact with players once the lockout starts. And Mortensen said coaches will be threatened with fines, forfeiture of draft picks and other discipline for breaking that strict rule.
Joe knows many head coaches won’t take this rule seriously, if there’s indeed a prolonged lockout. In the age of texting and all kinds of other communication technology, it’s nuts to think coaches won’t be looking to stay connected to maintain an edge.
Joe sees Raheem Morris as a coach whose edge is his relationship and communication with players. And Joe can’t imagine Raheem playing along and potentially having some of his critical relationships erode if there’s a prolonged lockout. Too much is on the line for the young Bucs.
Joe wonders how much creativity would be implemented around the league to make this happen.
That said, the NFL not letting coaches communicate with players just shows how much they don’t give a crap about the fans and the game. Surely, Raheem on the phone to Aqib Talib and Josh Freeman isn’t going to affect labor negotiations or how much cash these guys all make however they slice up the damn pie.
February 24th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Buy everyone a tracphone. works for drug dealers.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Ahhh, remember the good old days of beepers?
February 24th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
“That said, the NFL not letting coaches communicate with players just shows how much they don’t give a crap about the fans and the game.”
Preach!!!
February 24th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
I would break it. Not to be spiteful in coordinating football efforts, but if they are friends, it wouldn’t deter me from being a friend.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
so know rah gotta dump free on facebook??? just sayin
February 24th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
“Nah, I’m not Raheem Morris. I’m his nephew. Now lets huddle up!”
February 24th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
This can only enhance Freeman’s development.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
If and that’s a big IF that’s true and there is a lockout all I can say is:
BOYCOTT THE FRIGGIN NFL!!!!
February 24th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Is it just me or is the NFL (& owners) really starting to piss off the fans more?
February 24th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
BucFanJeff- it’s not just you! What other business in this country does it’s labor negotiations in public, and threatensto punish THEIR CUSTOMER if they can’t work out ordinary business issues, like labor contracts. It’s an insanity that only works because of our passion for the sport. But with the bad economy, the owners are taking a big chance. They are slapping the golden goose! Without us, nothing they do matters. We are the customers, and it’s our hard earned money they are fighting over. If we boycotted the first three games, I bet we wouldn’t see this BS again
Just to let them know we are tired of being pissed on every 5 or 6 years!
February 24th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Good points Captain Tim, but you know deep down we all will be tuned in and fired up ready to go once the season starts. The NFL knows this.
Heck its February and were posting away!
February 24th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Madness… simply madness. Ok, so the NFL and owners don’t give a crap about fans because of the negotiations, but the players love the fans and would do anything to play for us because that’s what they do… short of negotiating a new deal that is….
This is a business. For both sides. If the fans are alienated, it’s because the employer (NFL) and employees (NFLPA) can’t agree and neither gives a crap about the fans enough to budge. The owners are taking a big chance? What about the players? Money coming their way will be based on a percentage of profits. Smaller profits, smaller salaries. Both sides are taking a big chance.
I’m not saying one side is right and the other is wrong, not in any way. Both need to come to an agreement, on behalf of their customers, the fans. I will say this though, Goodell has reached out to fans in many ways. Maybe it’s just a good publicist for the NFL that gets things into the media, but I’ve seen more good things about Goodell reaching out than DeMaurice Smith. Most I’ve heard Smith say is that there will be a 150% chance of a lockout… and that was 9 months ago!!! He never wanted there to be a deal. He wants everyone to hate the owners and the NFL and have pity for the poor players union, but he stated they wouldn’t agree to anything months ago. If the players union was “all about the fans”, they wouldn’t be making statements about how they’ll hold out for the same deal they got last time when the last deal was opted out of by the owners. If the owners wanted to keep that deal, we’d still have football now and through 2012. The last deal was the most beneficial to active players of any deal in the history of the NFL. Of course the players want to hold on to that, I can’t blame them… but if the owners opt out, it might be because it was a little too sweet for the players and something will have to give.
Like I said, I’m not pro-NFL or pro-NFLPA, but it has to be realized that they’ll have to meet somewhere between the last deal and what the owners are asking for now. Until then, neither side gives a crap about the fans and both sides are alienating fans…. but the “greedy” owners just don’t get fans backing them. Fans don’t know the owners, they know the players, and every average Joe will sympathize with the employee over the owner every time. Nature of the beast I guess.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Nailed it BamBamBuc! Excellent post!
February 24th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
BamBam- for once, I’m not guilty as charged. I am not going to pick a side either, as the guilt is deep and wide spred. To use the fan and ultimate fianancier of their industry as a tool in their talks is despicable by both sides!
But I was reacting to the owners ” enforced vow of silence” that Joe was talking about. That can only be perceived as childish and petulant! Futher adding to the insult and indignity being heaped on the we the fans.
The reporters and journalist can’t encourage a fan backlash, or they will lose their needed press passes.
A unified fan front is really needed to finally teach the arrogant why it’s “America’s Game”, and not” A bunch of arrogant rich bastard’s Game!” I hope it happens.
There was one brief mention about calling and protesting Ira Kaufmans treacherous Pro Patriots article. Hundreds of people called.
A lot of people visit JoeBuc everyday( because it’s the best!). At least we have a loud enough voice to let them hear our displeasure!
February 24th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Eric- lol! Damn it, that’s probably entirely true. It also castrated my whole speal as a crusader! Man, it just ain’t right!
February 24th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
It amazes me that they are all collectively too stupid to figure this out. They have had how many years now to get this deal done? I personally don’t like the idea of ANY employee ever having the ability to tell their owner how to run their business, especially when the employees are as overpaid as NFL players are. This is why I hate unions, the corruption they breed, and lean to the owner’s side of the table. The Owners should have had some type of alternate plan in place about 2 years ago. Their alternative solution is no football and that is what I don’t agree with. Another problem I see is that former players are involved in this and I don’t think they should have anything to do with it.
Have a new scab draft right after the college draft. Let’s draft Chris Simms with our first round pick(haha, no way) and Simeon Rice with our second. They could even make a play for Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp. That’s it, all old Bucs to replace the new Bucs. I’m sure they could all use the money. That won’t work because they all belong to that stupid union. Hockey it is, but I ain’t watching baseball.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I really don’t understand how the NFL has the power to enforce this rule. During a lock out the players and coaches are not employed. They aren’t paid. Why would the NFL still be allowed to dictate what they can and cannot do? The players can have contact with each other. The coaches can have contact with each other. Why can the players and coaches not have contact with each other? It’s almost as stupid as not letting injured players see team physicians during a lock out.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I just got done reading how players and coaches cannot be reprimanded for any legal altercations or drug use during a lock out…but yet they can still be told what to do? Seems to me they should be able to talk to who ever they want. Maybe the owners have an agreement that the coaches and players can’t use the team facility during a lock out, but why on Earth would they not be allowed to associate anywhere else? Ridiculous.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
So let me get this straight. Raheem is not allowed to pick up a phone and call Freeman, Ronde, Mike Williams, or anyone on the team? That’s got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Explain to me how the NFL is going to know if coaches are breaking the rules. Is Roger Goodell going to bug Raheem’s house and watch what he’s doing?
It’s really stupid how the NFL puts a rule into effect that all 32 NFL coaches will likely break.
Besides, why’s the NFL so weird about this. What’s Raheem going to do, tell Josh what passing plays to practice in his backyard? I think shutting down the practice facilities limits communication good enough.
Raheem can get on skype and do a live video chat with Josh if he wanted to. He can text. He can drive over to his house. Those things he could get away with. The NFL could probably spot communication on facebook or twitter unless Raheem and the players put in fake names and info on their account registration.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
@JDouble — The coaches ARE employed during a lockout. That’s pretty obvious. THey’re part of managment.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Still yet another childish move! They are so out of touch with their fan base, which is still suffering thru a recession! A recession caused by, oddly, out of touch guys like them! Hmmm.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Hope we don’t forfeit any draft picks.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Only one thing to do Chief:
Lower the cone of silence!
February 24th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Rah: Work on the quick slant over the middle
Free: What? Ive got an ant in my mcgriddle?
Rah: No the QUICK SLANT OVER THE MIDDLE
Free: What????????????????
Here all week, order the veal!
February 24th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Solution is easy…communicated to a go-between that is not employed by the Bucs or the NFL. No rules broken that way.
OR, just talk to someone on speaker phone with the player in the same room:
“Yeah, Joe Bob, I’d be really happy if those guys were working on play @#!@ this week.”
February 25th, 2011 at 5:09 am
Lots of teams will break the rule. And those teams will have an advantage in 2011. It’s how the Redskins won Super Bowls in 82 and 87.
If they do go into a lockout, I think it will be a long lockout. The owners feel they were shafted by the players in the last CBA, and the owners seem determined to shaft the players this time.
There isnt much the fans can do about it. All we do is buy tickets and that’s chump change to the league’s bottom line. The REAL money is in those multi-billion dollar TV contracts and that is the money the owners and players are fighting over.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:02 am
USFPete
Exactly! It sucks, but is what it is!