OTA’s Start for Arizona Cardinals

Ok...not really but admit it, you read the headline and thought....really?  Of course if this was 2010, this would be a true statement.  The Arizona Cardinals would be up to their ears in free agent signings and OTA's would be here or right around the corner anyway.  As it is though, we are in day 416 of the NFL Lockout, or something like that.

So, we are nowhere closer to an agreement today than we were in March.  We are one day closer to the 8th Circuit Court's decision on the NFL's appeal of Judge Susan Nelson's decision to lift the lockout.  You can say what you want and no matter what side you are on, I think you can agree both sides need to end this soon.  There is a lot of off-season activity being lost everyday that goes by.  Equate this shutdown to an NFL rookie holding out at the beginning of training camp.  Everyday that goes by, that rookie loses out on reps, meetings, all the things a rookie needs to learn when he joins the NFL.  None of that time can be made up.

Sure, you can cram a lot of what was lost during this lockout in a condensed period of time.  Let's be honest though, the calendar doesn't stop turning day after day, so any lost time is just that - lost.  Depending on who you believe, the court will deny the stay and life the lockout or this season may not happen at all.  It's all in the court of opinion right now.

All it does right now is hurt the NFL, its players, and ultimately the fans.  I would love to see this resolved out of court.  Unfortunately I don't think that will happen.  Regardless of what you hear, I have a feeling we are in for the long haul on this one.  So, say goodbye to 2011 OTA's.  Next stop, training camp.