Friday Walk-Thru: NFL Notes; Labor Disputes Still Ongoing

News about the progress (specifically, the lack thereof) toward an agreement between NFL owners and the players union has come in trickles during the offseason, with the two sides going months without so much as pulling up chairs.

Now that real football is about to start -- the Dallas Cowboys report for training camp today in San Antonio -- it's safe to say there will be even fewer updates and less gains made on the labor front. True, these things always have a way of getting done at the last minute, though this standoff, especially with the dissolving of the salary cap, has a funny feel about it.

But it was interesting hearing from the two sides this week, courtesy of separate appearances on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning." It was as if NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, (right) who appeared Wednesday, and NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash, who was given equal time Thursday, were lobbing their posturing and parting shots before the real football news kicks off and drowns them out.

Some highlights:

Smith said the union was fine with the expiring CBA, which guaranteed players 60 percent of revenue: "The players haven't asked for anything. The owners opted out of this deal. We've told them that we're happy with the deal the way it is right now before the uncapped year. We were willing to extend the current deal for another six years."

Pash's retort: "That's code for saying it's a pretty one-sided deal. ... We'll continue on with a system where if a player shoots himself in a bar and goes to jail he gets to keep his signing bonuses. We'll continue on where there isn't testing for growth hormone. We'll continue on with a system where there's four preseason games, that if the fans have been clear about anything, they don't want those games."

Asked about the pace of first-round picks being signed, Smith compared it to the pace of the free agency market last spring, drawing a fairly damning conclusion. "We look at a lot of information: the lack of free agent movement; the delays in signings, not only for current players but future players. We're looking at the information coming anecdotally from agents. ... We'll have to make a decision very soon as to whether or not those actions or in-actions suggest something is awry. ... You guys want me to say the collusion word."

Pash reminded the hosts that this time last year only two rookie first-rounders, quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, had signed.

Which brings us to the rookie wage scale, arguably the one issue that fans really understand.

Smith said the union proposed a deal -- "and every fan should know this," he added -- that would move $200 million from the rookie salary pool, with half going toward benefits for players that retired before 1993 and the other $100 million being spent on "proven" players. "The owners said no," Smith said. "Like many things in collective bargaining, some things don't make sense."

The reason owners said no, according to Pash, was that the union wanted rookie contracts to be limited to three years, thus making them eligible for unrestricted free agency.

"That completely undermines the whole system of competitive balance in this league," he said. "It makes it impossible for teams to build and plan for the future. It makes it impossible to do sensible roster planning."

Each side has valid points on these issues, along with some others of the hot-button variety (HGH, 18-game season, offseason workouts, etc.). We've heard their takes on most of them, but probably won't hear much of anything for a while now that the pads are being pulled over shoulders again.

Unless you got something really good -- like a new deal -- we'll talk again in February, fellas.

RAVENS PRE-CAMP CHIRPING

Baltimore's signing of quarterback Marc Bulger to back up franchise kid Joe Flacco apparently wasn't an altogether popular move in a Ravens locker room where Troy Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner whose status with the team now appears uncertain, had his backers despite limited playing time as an understudy.

Count Flacco, who's helped guide the club to back-to-back playoff berths since entering the league, among the miffed.

"I don't want to have any bad words about Marc. I'm sure Marc is a great guy," Flacco told The Baltimore Sun. "But I had a great relationship with Troy Smith and [third-teammer] John Beck. Depending on what happens, one of them might not be around and the two of them might not be around."

Then came Ed Reed, who pumped up Smith during a radio appearance on 105.7 FM and called Bulger "just another guy that's been in the league and been around."

Ouch.

For what it's worth, Smith has thrown for 558 yards and three touchdowns as a pro to Bulger's 22,814 yards, 122 touchdowns and two Pro Bowl appearances.

Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh did a spot on the same radio station Thursday and tried to quell the issue.

"Having Marc Bulger makes us better, and our players know that," he said. "Sometimes guys will make statements to support their teammates and guys they become friends with. I know Joe feels good about Marc Bulger being a part of it. He respects him, and he knows he's going to learn a lot from him."

We'll let you know when Ray Lewis weighs in.

QUICK SLANTS

A lot of players made a lot of noise -- and still are -- about the frustrating free agency rules heading into the final year of collective bargaining agreement. Denver linebacker Elvis Dumervil did not. He signed his $3.168 million restricted free agent tender and showed up for work. Turns out Dumervil's goodwill and good soldiering just might have helped the league's 2009 sacks leader get that $61.5 million contract extension he signed Thursday night.

"I was always taught that you get what you put into it," Dumervil told The Denver Post. "And as long as you conduct yourself as such, good things will happen to you."

Memo to Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill: maybe, just maybe, Dumervil gets it and you guys don't.

Before Dallas' first-round pick Dez Bryant signed Thursday night with the Cowboys, the highest-drafted player signed was Tampa Bay defensive tackle and second-round choice Brian Price, the No. 35 overall selection. Price got a four-year, $5.3 million deal from the Buccaneers, who hope to plant the former UCLA standout alongside Gerald McCoy, the No. 3 overall pick, and completely overhaul a defensive front that allowed 158.2 yards rushing per game last season.

Lots of buzz out of New England that Tom Brady is not happy with contract talks. Sounds like Bill Belichick's for-the-good-of-the-team locker room ain't what it used to be.

You've heard of the "Wildcat." Meet the "Wild Horse." That's what they're calling the formation in Denver, where rookie first-round pick Tim Tebow figures to give the Broncos an altogether different look. Instead of a running back lining up in the single wing-like scheme, the Broncos will have a quarterback, albeit an oftentimes non-conventional one. The former Florida superstar also figures to line up as a receiver for some quick-hit passes and use his 245-pound frame like a tight end. If nothing else, it will be interesting to watch.

Even Major League Baseball is taking shots at Albert Haynesworth. Appearing on ESPN 980, Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten was asked about the petulant and pudgy defensive lineman and if he'd ever experienced an athlete alienate a team like Haynesworth, barely a year from signing a $100 million contract, has this offseason. "I only had it once in my career, where teammates would come out against a player. That never happens," said Kasten, whose front-office stops include successful runs with the Atlanta Braves and NBA Atlanta Hawks. "The one time in my life that it happened was with John Rocker, but that's happened here and that should be all you need to know about what was right and what was wrong."

Repeat: John Rocker.