A fine mess over Bountygate

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The public relations battle continues between the NFL and NFLPA.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees appeared recently on the David Letterman show, bashing the NFL over Bountygate, while media leaks continue to flow from the NFL side. The two parties couldnt be further apart since the 2011 lockout when both courted the public for backing.

Issues big and small appear colossal to get resolved, such as bounty gate suspensions, HGH testing, 18 game schedules, fines for improper equipment on game day to name a few. Perhaps fans should just appreciate receiving double their money witnessing the phony drama a WWE wrestling match provides, along with some great football simultaneously.

Time to settle

Like most negotiations, neither party is going to be entirely happy with everything in the agreement. Unfortunately, the NFL and NFLPA started singing "Kumbaya," reaching an agreement to a new CBA long before outstanding issues were ever resolved. They kept the money train rolling down the tracks, but now continue to use those outstanding issues and new ones like Bountygate suspensions for public relations purposes.

Now that we know the Bountygate investigation started in 2009, can we even call it a new issue? Bountygate should have been addressed and resolved in the new CBA, similarly to how Paul Tagliabue dealt with such issues when the CBA came into existence in 1993. Iron clad information provided by the take our word for it method in the NFL is starting to have more holes in it than a beaver dam while the players' conduct has been anything but saintly.

Its why you settle. All suspensions should be cut in half. Neither side is happy, but maybe its just enough to motivate each party to get a deal done. Jonathan Vilma and players who are looking for retribution for sullied reputations may think twice about this deal, which would save millions in court costs. The NFL has a reputation of its own to uphold.

At this point, the NFL needs Bountygate to go away before Commissioner Roger Goodell gets booed out of all places, New Orleans, the host city for this years Super Bowl.

Commissioner Goodell has not yet ruled on the appeals of player Bountygate suspensions. This is now the time to strike a deal or another train will be gaining steam while rolling down the tracks. Its time for the NFL and NFLPA to stop this nonsense and start getting down to real business addressing outstanding issues. It needs to be done for the same people each are courting--the fans.

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