E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

HOWEVER YOU CUT AND DISSECT,
THE LOCKOUT IS EASY TO DEFINE
--- IT'S ABOUT MONEY AND CONTROL

By Dave Klein
When speaking privately, members of the NFL's negotiating team, including commissioner Roger Goodell, will dissect the issues and stances and postures of the other side - the NFL Players (temporarily defunct) Association - and boil it all down to money and control.

Similarly, the players, who agreed to a decertification of their union (craftsmen's guild) and therefore have no union all-for-one, one-for-all status, will agree that the owners have managed to boil down the issues to those two basic tenets, money and control.

Then what's all the fuss about? Well, the owners say the players want too much of the control and money, and the players say it's about time the owners relinquished some of that money and control.

In the waning hours of the last official negotiation session, the NFL presented a handful of new proposals which, it was felt, met with enthusiasm by the players. Included was an offer to reduce the length of off-season training programs, trim the Organized Team Workouts (OTAs) from 14 to 10 during the pre-training camp time frame and allow those players currently active on rosters and in that limbo called Veteran Free Agency the chance to be able to participate in the players' association medical plan for life.

The players mounted enough of a response to note that the owners' proposals came a little too late, and before they could be discussed the deadline approached and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith announced that the decertification process had begun.

So now everybody is stuck on this spot, between the proverbial rock and hard place, and those twisting in the wind are the fans. Oh, sure, the players will eventually feel the wrath of no income, but not yet. The owners might be able to withstand a full lost season comfortably. But both sides are taking a somewhat calculated risk that the fans will be back.

Perhaps there is someone out there with a magic wand, or more persuasive powers than any of the previous Federal negotiators and judges, who can simply dissolve the differences between the sides, blow away the smoke and point out that money and control are the only two issues on which to concentrate - and then proceed to concentrate on them.

But it will never happen. Too much in the way of ego and macho stands in the way. Such people are always reluctant to back off by an inch, and each side is beginning to feel the pressure of not giving in - no matter what.

Commissioner Goodell appears to be a hard-liner, as are many of the owners (Dallas' Jerry Jones, for instance), and on the other side DeM Smith has established his stature as a difficult negotiator who doesn't always have the facts on his side but does possess a powerful will to win and a stubborn streak.

Some teams - the Giants included - have already announced that invoices that will go out for season tickets don't have to be paid until there is a new CBA in place; fellas, that could be a long, long time.

EXTRA POINTS - First they have to decide where their most pressing draft needs are, and then the Giants can look around at the available talent when the 19th pick comes up in the first round April 28. ... So where do you think that need exists? ... Unless you have missed something, you can find a strong case for taking an offensive lineman, a linebacker or a running back. ... That comes in no particular order, and any bluechip representing one of those categories will be gratefully welcomed.

But where? And, hand-in-hand, where would the best value exist? ... The answer to that can come only from the identities of the first 18 selections, and of course nobody knows that yet. ... But there are reports that there are few if any teams that need a first-round running back, which could (if you subscribe to the fact that the Giants might be in that category) free up Alabama's Mark Ingram, Jr., who would be a second-generation Giant if they take him.

It is something to ponder, what with Ahmad Bradshaw's propensity to suffer leg and ankle injuries and Brandon Jacobs' difficult keeping himself focused.

The offensive linemen are plentiful, from such tackles as Nate Solder and Anthony Castonzo, center Mike Pouncey and guard Danny Watkins. Want a linebacker? Again, there seem to be lots from which to choose, including Von Miller, Robert Quinn and Bruce Carter.

And if there is a continuation of the lockout, teams will more than ever be inclined to draft for need instead of best available athlete.

Defensive end Justin Tuck, who has quietly emerged as one of the Giants' leaders, is said to be trying to schedule a face-to-face with Oakland Raiders' cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, probably the best cover-corner in the NFL. He is currently a veteran free agent and with the uncertainty looming over the lockout, he isn't signing anywhere soon; in fact, he isn't allowed.

The seven-year veteran from Cal-Berkeley would be a prize addition to any team, even one with Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas the current starters. ... The 6-2, 210-pound former first round pick (2003), the same round and year that the Giants plucked defensive tackle William Joseph, will instantly make the secondary better push the Giants ahead of Philadelphia with Assante Samuel, and provide depth beyond the normal expectations. ... Will Webster or Thomas be a backup? ... Will one of them switch to safety? ... The prospects would be limitless.

But honest, fellas, don't get too worked up over this. ... Chances are that a dozen teams would be thrilled to throw great gobs of money at Nnamdi, including the Jets.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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