Theres a reason there hasnt been a meaningful work stoppage in pro football for almost 27 years, and its not because this is a sport where the players have nothing to complain about. Custom Blackhawks Jersey . The very nature of the sport makes it difficult - some might say near impossible - to keep players united during a work stoppage because work stoppages are always about making sacrifices in the short term to benefit in the long. And for a great number of players in a sport with short careers and non-guaranteed contracts, there is no long term. But perhaps even more difficult to overcome is the fact that in football a small number of players on every team are paid far more than the rest, especially the large number of players on every team who will earn at or near the league minimum. And it is those star players, who already enjoy the biggest paydays and the most job security, wholl gain the most as the result of a successful work action. Look at any roster in either the CFL or NFL and youll probably be surprised to earn how many players are earning at or near the league minimum, which this NFL season will ranges between $420,000 and $645,00 for players from zero to three years of service in the league. In the CFL, that figure will go from $45,000 to $50,000 for this season based on what the parties have agreed to so far during current CBA negotiations. Since payrolls for CFL teams arent public, lets use an NFL team as an example to illustrate the payroll dynamics in pro football, which are similar in both leagues, albeit on a different scale. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers enters this season with an average salary of $22 million, nearly double that of anyone else on the team. Among Packers currently under contract, there are only four with an average salary of more than $7 million season, and another four at more than $4 million. There are eight players listed at between $2 million and $4 million, and 67 whose average salary is less than $1 million, 49 of whom are due to earn less than $600,000. The numbers in the CFL are obviously smaller but the manner in which they compare to one another is similar, with star quarterbacks earning roughly $500,000 per season while a large portion of each roster earns less than $60,000 per season. The truth is that whatever gains are made for the players in either league usually mean the rich will get richer. For example, the NFL will operate this season with a salary cap of $133 million dollars. But if that figure was suddenly increased to $200 million, the primary beneficiaries would be the Peyton Mannings, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Bradys and Richard Shermans of the world, while the leagues rank and file would essentially remain un affected. Same thing in the Canadian Football League - where if the CFLPA were to get its wish and have the salary cap jump immediately from $4.4 million to $5.8, the benefits would go to players such Ricky Ray, Darian Durant and the rest of the players whom fans pay to see. Of course theres another dynamic in the CFL game that doesnt exist south of the border. And thats that starting Canadian players - the ones mandated by the leagues quota system - also stand to benefit handsomely from any increase because of the laws of supply and demand. But the question becomes how do you convince the great number of players earning at or near the league minimum - young American players or backup Canadians - to commit to a work stoppage when theres little or no chance many of them will benefit from it? Standing up for a much higher minimum salary might help boost support among the rank and file, but that never seems to be the priority in either league. And therein lies the challenge of trying to keep a union full of professional football players all on the same page during a negotiating process. Consider that, despite having the leverage of being able to shut down the most profitable sport in North America, NFL players werent much interested in testing the resolve of their membership by missing paycheques when the league locked out its players during the off-season three years ago. They settled before that could happen. In Canada, the CFLPA has made a lot of noise about being disappointed in the leagues various offers this spring. But it hasnt said anything about having all of its membership on side, or being unbreakable, or being willing to miss game cheques in order to reach their goals in negotiation. The truth is that if the CFLPA were to strike a portion of the season, a great number of players will never get that money back - even if the owners were to capitulate completely. Many would simply be out of the league before they could benefit or would be left to watch the windfalls go to star players while they continue to earn similar amounts. All of these dynamics play to the owners advantage. And in the CFL, where were talking about players needing money to simply pay for the cost of living, the advantage is even greater. Will we see a CFL players strike later this month? Perhaps while its just training camp being missed, when no one has to make a true financial sacrifice to benefit the group for the long term. But in a sport where the rewards of such an action are likely to wind up in the hands of a select few, expecting anything more may be asking too much. Jonathan Toews Black Jersey . Bryan Murray made an announcement after the GMs meetings - and as was reported by Pierre LeBrun a couple of weeks ago - that Jason Spezza wants a trade out of Ottawa. Whats the latest on that? Pierre LeBrun: Yes, he made it public. Patrick Kane Black Jersey . -- One game. After a season featuring more losses than wins, thats all that separates the New York Knicks and the final post-season spot in the weak Eastern Conference standings.ATLANTA -- Mike Minor is working to correct flaws in his mechanics that were discovered when he looked at this years results and matched them up to tape from his strong 2013 season. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he was enthused with the early results. Minor gave up three runs, Chris Johnson and Ryan Doumit each drove in two runs during Atlantas six-run third inning and the Braves beat Eric Stults and the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Sunday. "I thought it was better than a quality start," Gonzalez said after Minor allowed eight hits in 6 2-3 innings. "It was outstanding and well go from there." "I think the thing that was really, really visible was that his arm action and his delivery was there, Im not going to say every pitch, but 90 per cent of the time. He was able to command his fastball on both sides of the plate and that was because of his delivery." Though far less than dominant, the start was an improvement after Minor (4-6) gave up six runs in each of his last two outings. He had allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts. "There are some mechanical things that we focused on," Minor said. "There are some different things Ive been doing this year. We looked at film of last year and we found three big things I was doing different this year. We tried to change them but I think its going to take time. I feel like its going to be hard to do it right in the middle of the season, so its going to be something that I will slowly adjust." Minor was 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA in 2013. His ERA is 5.32 after Sundays start. The Braves trailed 1-0 before roughing up Stults (3-13). Back-to-back doubles by Gerald Laird and Andrelton Simmons started the inning. Tommy La Stella hit an RBI single that skipped between Stults legs, Johnson had a two-run double before Doumit followed with a two-run single. Yangervis Solarte led off the third with his first homer since his trade from the Yankees on Tuesday. Minor didnt allow another run until Rene Riveras eighth homer with two outs in the sixth. A feww thousand fans arrived early to watch the Hall of Fame ceremonies on the Turner Field video board. Corey Crawford White Jersey. Among the inductees were former Braves managers Bobby Cox and Joe Torre and pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. Gonzalez delayed optional batting practice so he and Braves players could watch with the fans. Stults gave up six hits in Atlantas big inning and then allowed only one other baserunner on La Stellas sixth-inning walk. La Stella was caught stealing to end the inning. "You know, you come to a ballpark, you never know what youre going to see," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Eric Stults threw five no-hit innings. And in one inning he gave up six hits. "Really, he deserved a better fate." Stults allowed six runs on six hits and two walks in six innings. Minor left the game with two outs in the seventh and Denorfia on second base. Tommy Medica hit an RBI single off Anthony Vavaro to cut Atlantas lead to 6-3. Justin Upton hit a two-run double in the Atlanta seventh. Doumit made his fourth start of the season in right field as Gonzalez rested Jason Heyward. Gonzalez said hell give B.J. Upton a day off on Monday when Jordan Schafer starts in centre. After the game, Black announced the team will put outfielder Carlos Quentin on the 15-day disabled list on Monday because of a sore left knee. Second baseman Jedd Gyorko will come off the disabled list. Gyorko has been out since June 4 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Second baseman Brooks Conrad will be optioned to Triple-A El Paso. NOTES: Converted OF Jason Lane will be recalled by the Padres from Triple-A El Paso to make his first major league start on Monday against the Braves. RHP Ian Kennedys turn in the rotation will be skipped due to a left oblique strain. Black said Kennedy sustained a "mild" oblique strain in an at-bat and is expected to make his next start. Lane threw 4 1-3 scoreless innings in two relief appearances with San Diego in June. RHP Ervin Santana will start for Atlanta. cheap jerseys ' ' '
