NFL Lockout 2011: John Mara Says 'I Believe We Can Make A Deal'

by Ed Valentine on Mar 15, 2011 3:30 PM EDT in New York Giants News

New York Giants co-owner John Mara, who was heavily involved in the mediated negotiations between players and owners for a new collective bargaining agreement, said today he still believes a deal can be reached in time for there to be a 2011 NFL season.

"I remain optimistic because I believe that we can make a deal that is fair for both sides," Mara, the Giants' President and Chief Executive Officer, said in an interview with The Second Verse, a show hosted by Ryan Ruocco and Peter Lundberg on ESPN 1050 Radio in New York. "I don't think that the players are interested in missing games and missing paychecks. Certainly, the owners don't want to see that happen. So I think as we get through the summer and we get closer to training camp, it would be hard for me to believe that we are not able to sit down and negotiate a fair deal, because there is enough money out there for everyone. It is just a question of how it is allocated."

As management has done consistently since talks collapsed on Friday and the NFLPA decertified, Mara criticized the players for taking their case to court.

"Both sides have to be willing to sit down across the bargaining table. We are willing to do that right now. But they have made a determination that they have to go into this litigation mode," said Mara.

"I sense that they were convinced that the most leverage that they had was to pursue the litigation strategy and decertify. And that is obviously what they are doing right now. We will have to see how that plays out. But I believe that there was a deal there to be made if they were serious about doing it. But apparently they were not."

Ralph Vacchiano has the full transcript of Mara's remarks.
Complete lockout coverage can be found at SB Nation New York.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

they should just put the two competing offers on the table

and flip a coin. be fun to watch too.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON... BUY THAT MANSION. WE DONT NEED A CONDO.

by kendynamo on Mar 15, 2011 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

better yet...

forget mediation, go to arbitration. That’s right, the NFL vs the NFLPA, the new CBA will be decided on The People’s Court!

by Raptor22 on Mar 15, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

hahaha

I’d pay to see that.

Judge Judy, or Brown?

Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.
-John Madden

by Willgfass on Mar 15, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

well

my first thought was Judy… but I’d like to see Wapner come out of retirement for this one :-D

by Raptor22 on Mar 15, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Judge Alex !

mmmmm.... delicious

by Cup Noodles on Mar 15, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

an arbitrator

woulda been great.

FIX IT

by andiamo708 on Mar 15, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Knowing the NFL, the coin flip would be in secret like with the Giants and Jets for the first game in the new stadium. And then who do you think would win? :-)

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Mar 15, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

@ the idea of a coin flip

we know one side would cry and say “we had no idea the coin flip took place” lol

"I like prime rib, and I'd love to win a Super Bowl" -Andy Reid

by nyg94 on Mar 16, 2011 6:50 AM EDT up reply actions

YUP :-)

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Mar 16, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Im the type of guy who would normally side with the players.

Keep the damn 16 games. No salary cap ever. And if you can’t figure out how to split up 9 billion annually then your greed has reached the pinnacle. How about we just send next years 9 billion and give it to Japan…If there was anyway I could organize a MASS FAN LOCKOUT they might get the picture. No one is going to pay your salaries if all the fans refuse to go to games and quit buying NFL merchandise.

Die hard Giants fan since wide Right! I was 5...

by wangstu13 on Mar 15, 2011 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

Kind of reminds me of the 1994 (?) MLB strike.

Took baseball years to fully recover with the fans. Reminded the fans that MLB is slow and a bit boring, and they didn’t really miss it too much.

Unfortunately, for your plan to work the NFL would also have to be a snoozer and damn them, it’s just too much of an adrenaline rush. A fall without football would really suck (although maybe we would all become bigger NCAA fans).

Anyway, MLB is to the NFL like twinkies are to heroin. One is way less addicting.

by Shofner85 on Mar 15, 2011 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: leverage

John Mara said,

“I sense that they were convinced that the most leverage that they had was to pursue the hnitigation strategy and decertify. And that is obviously what they are doing right now.”

If the roles had been reversed the owners would have done the same thing.

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 15, 2011 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly.

Whenever you hear the word “fair”, it is likely coming from the one with the weaker hand.

by Shofner85 on Mar 15, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I just feel like,…. If doctors, teachers, city employees can live with there pay checks getting cut, so can these players,… I agree,.. You cant agree? Send it to people who need it then. But I need my football. I just pray that they get it together. If they lower ticket prices stadiums would be packed all the time.

by VPate07 on Mar 15, 2011 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

But those govt. union workers in Wisconsin ...

don’t have “bling” bills to pay. Can’t see a sanitation worker wearing “WR earrings”.

by Shofner85 on Mar 15, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I have a bad feeling

that were not going to be seeing any football this year

by Plaxico Burress on Mar 15, 2011 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

it is so hard to even talk football with all this looming

sucks

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 15, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Not to enter into the politics of municipal and teachers pay but....

municiple workers and teachers aren’t by compensated by their performance. Unlike football players who are paid strictly by their body of work, teachers and city workers are not. Needless to say this system doesn’t produce the best teachers or city workers.

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 15, 2011 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

I 100% agree with the sentiment

But you have to take into consideration that teachers can’t control their “product”.

You could have a shitty teacher in a New Jersey suburb who’s students get better grades on tests than a great teacher in an inner city solely because the average student in suburbs care (or have the sense of care instilled in them) more than the average student in an inner city.

Sadly truth, but the way the world is

Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.
-John Madden

by Willgfass on Mar 15, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

True enough willgfass

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 15, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Or in Dan Snyder's case ... you pay for their body of work ... somewhere else ... in the past.

by Shofner85 on Mar 15, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

This kind of posturing reveals a lot

about both sides. Remaining “optimistic” that there will be an agreement is a far, far cry from actually having an agreement. “Believing” that a deal can be made does not equal a deal being made.
The owners are content with blaming the players right now, and the players are content with suing. One big group of folks who have thrown their suckers in the dirt.
I’m tellin’ ya, this one’s gonna take some time to settle. It may take losing several games before wither side sees.

Quit playing not to lose. Start playing to WIN! Geeez...

by GAgiantfan on Mar 15, 2011 5:50 PM EDT reply actions

with=either grrrrrr

Quit playing not to lose. Start playing to WIN! Geeez...

by GAgiantfan on Mar 15, 2011 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Giants at Albany State Pro Day

NFP

Albany State cornerback Prathon Wilkerson ran a 4.50 and a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash on grass at his campus Pro Day workout Friday in front of the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

wilddre22: why does everyone bring up Vick like its a given that that’s what EVERY player will do and respond from a prison sentence.

andiamo708: I have no clue... like going to prison is like going to LSU or something….

by GhostDini on Mar 15, 2011 7:43 PM EDT reply actions

Wake me when it's over......

by Shaunthegiant on Mar 15, 2011 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

I hope somebody

is fighting to get rid of the pink uniform month. I get the cause but come on one game is enough. I thing about breasts all the time, I dont need reminded when watching football.

nobody makes me bleed my own blood! - Eli Manning

by TheWenz on Mar 15, 2011 9:02 PM EDT reply actions

Tressel has sullied the Big Ten name

wilddre22: why does everyone bring up Vick like its a given that that’s what EVERY player will do and respond from a prison sentence.

andiamo708: I have no clue... like going to prison is like going to LSU or something….

by GhostDini on Mar 15, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

that might be a bit of a stretch

I think Tress (as I like to call him) should have reported the information found in that email. But this to me seems a bit on the lower rung of bad things coaches can do. The players were hocking their gold pants and other trophies for cash. They didnt accept money from anyone to come and attend tOSU and they didnt cheat by taking steroids. They kids got caught and they have to sit out a few games. that is just fine with me bc the bucks schedule is loaded with cupcakes at the beginning of the year. But Tress just decided not to tell on the illegal activity, so for me no big deal, I dont like it but who cares what I think. People will forget about this in no time. I do think it hurt his legacy but look at woody hayes, he punched an opposing player and people worship him here in columbus like a god. Are you excited for UM’s new coach?

nobody makes me bleed my own blood! - Eli Manning

by TheWenz on Mar 16, 2011 12:54 PM EDT reply actions