Giants' Osi Umenyiora, Others React To Owners' Vote For Labor Agreement
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Reaction to the NFL owners voting in favor of a tentative 10-year agreement to end the lockout, pending player approval:
"Hopefully we can all work quickly, expeditiously and get this agreement done. It is time to get back to football. That is what everyone here wants to do." — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
"It must have been a great deal for the owners if they ALL approved it. ... The plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit are essentially irrelevant as we are getting nothing out of the deal. Whether we agree with it or not, it's going to get passed if the executive committee approves it." — Giants DE Osi Umenyiora, who was a named player in the NFL antitrust suit.
"I'm happy that there will be football this year, but I am not clicking my heels. OK, it's good, but I watch it with a different set of eyes each time this happens." — Giants fan Pete Tyrrell, 47, of West Caldwell, N.J., whose family has had season tickets since the 1950s.
"The clubs have ratified a 10-year agreement that is both comprehensive and fair. I am confident that we will be back on the field soon and have put a framework in place that will make the game better in the long run." — Jets owner Woody Johnson.
"Media spin on owners position in this lockout is ridiculous. Believe my colleagues tweets tonight about the events of the last 24 hours." -- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
"The league took a great first step tonight in terms of getting the lockout behind us and getting the season under way. Certainly, we have our fingers crossed that the players will also approve and we can get going." — Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.
"I would be surprised if (the players) didn't ratify. That's really our hope, that they do. If they don't, we'll deal with that as it comes. But we certainly want to have a full preseason and (all the) preseason games." — Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy.
"This evening is a fine example of the NFL's P.R. machine in full throttle. Everything that transpired this evening is an attempt to break the spirits of our men and to fracture the solidarity that we've exemplified thus far. And mainly, it's an attempt to turn the players." — Buffalo Bills safety and player representative George Wilson.
"I think we've got to look at the agreement and what different things they've placed in it, all the potential loopholes they've left in it to wiggle out of dealing with guys' issues or whether or not they've finally woken up and got it right this time." — former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kyle Turley, a board member of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.
"We’re making up for 20-some years of inequalities. I know that it’s something we fought for. I feel really good about that. But still, many of the players have bad memories of how things were handled under the old players association." — Hall of Famer Carl Eller, the lead plaintiff for the retirees.
"We've got a business model that we think will work for the next 10 years. We're excited about it. We're sorry that our fans had to go through this whole process with us, but unfortunately, that's just part of the deal. We're anxious to get our players back on the field, and start an exciting season." — Houston Texans owner Bob McNair.
"Even in difficult circumstances, I think both sides have worked together to come to a long-term agreement, and the goal of having an agreement that works for the clubs, the fans and the players has been reached. I think both sides gave a little bit. It was a tough negotiation but I think one that will serve all sides really well in the long term." — Chicago Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips.
"I never doubted for a minute there would be a full season. Just too much money involved for players and owners alike. It sounds like a good deal for both sides, but especially for owners. Let's face it, the owners' average IQ is probably higher than the players." — Randy Smith of Olathe, Kan., a small business owner and until two years ago Chiefs season ticket holder.
"I'm all for it. I hope they get the season going. The economy needs it and people need it, too, to forget about the economy." Titans fan John Allinson, who just bought a 3-D television so he can better see the NFL.
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