The answer may be a slotting system, but as NFLPA President Kevin Mawae states, if the players give in on a slotting system, the owners better be giving something back in return. The other major issue I see comes in the debate over what percentage of overall revenue the players should be entitled to. NFL players currently receive roughly 60%, amounting to a total of $4.5 billion each year, leaving owners about $4 billion. Mawae says that no matter what the issues are, the players remain united around Gene Upshaw (has the disunity subsided?).

Some other issues that are being discussed include: G-3 funding for stadiums, better benefits, easier access to treatment for retirees, pensions, bigger salaries, and guaranteed contracts. To be honest, I have always wondered how the owners get away with giving players these fake contracts that have little to no guarantee. Sure, football is a dangerous sport full of major contact on the human body, but shouldn’t that actually play as a strong point for guaranteeing a contract? If a player is going to give his all every Sunday, should he not be compensated for putting his life or future ability to walk in danger? Why do baseball and basketball players have their salaries guaranteed but football players struggle to get a small portion of their contract deemed as “guaranteed money”?

Most likely, the retirement and pension issue will get pushed to the side like it always is, in favor of talking about the sexy issues of revenue sharing and rookie slotting. There are many, including Leigh Steinberg, who will be upset if the NFLPA and the owners push the topic to the back of their agenda.

• WMA must have heard that I call Dynasty, Sports Agency 2.0 [William Morris, Media Execs Create 'Agency 3.0'].
• The MLB draft is approaching…should the NBA be taking notes? [Building a better mouse-release]
• Clayton Kershaw is so hot right now [Dodgers Rookie Sensation Clayton Kershaw Signs Exclusive Collectibles Agreement With Steiner Sports].
• Freddy Adu Bids Hello To IMG [IMG Signs Freddy Adu].
• Derrick Rose to the Miami Heat? Perhaps BJ Armstrong will invite me to sit with him courtside for a game if Joey Dorsey truly has inside info [Draft Notes: The No. 1 question persists for Chicago].
• How many of these cheaper players will have their options picked up before July 1st? I’ll pay to see Chris Quinn somewhere else [NBA Teams Face Options Decisions].
• Kevin Mawae and Jay Feely are green with envy [Mawae: Big rookie contracts like Ryan's 'disheartening'].
• I am not buying this new intentional infliction of emotional distress claim [Clemens adds new claim to suit against McNamee].
• Back in 1992, Mitch Albom was being paid by the Detroit Free Press to knock down agents [Mitch flashback: Alan Trammell negotiated his own contract].
• Nice intentions, but I am full of doubt [WVU lawsuit against Rodriguez headed for mediation].

Matt Stover’s only comment was that the move was “interesting.” The important quote from Stover is, “We need Gene to be in full authority through the next CBA, even if it means going beyond his current contract. I just think we can have a orderly process that still gets his successor in place without undermining Gene. That’s where my heart is.”

Gene does not want to hear anything about a succession plan, though. And he may need to concede on that point if he truly cares about strengthening the union in preparation for a big battle against NFL owners.

“I’m not sitting here defending Gene Upshaw, but when you have Matt Stover, who is not even the president of the NFLPA — I think, it’s Kevin Mawae — making a decision that we all need to stand behind, it makes us not look like we’re a strong front and shows that we’re divided,” Texans veteran defensive end N.D. Kalu said. “And that doesn’t look good when you’re negotiating, because whoever the NFLPA negotiates against or with, they are going to know we are divided on certain issues.”

Gene Upshaw has always had his critics. Many think that he does not do enough to ensure fair compensation for retired players. Others think that he has been stubborn and not promoted policies to allow for greater care of players on the field, where they are prone to massive concussions. Whatever your beef may be with Mr. Upshaw, it seems like he is on his way out. But should the public really be gaining this information via the Baltimore Ravens place-kicker? Not only that, but Kevin Mawae, the new active-players leader, refuted Stover’s letter, saying that there are no plans to replace Upshaw. More disagreement followed when Brian Dawkins seemed to back the idea that there is currently a search for Upshaw’s replacement. What does a PR expert like my pal Joe Favorito think about that? This should all be happening behind the scenes. Honestly, you and I should not have any idea that any of these talks were going on unless we represented one of the players involved in the decision making process.

Now might not be the best timing for such information, either. I cannot believe that news of a possible Upshaw ouster can help the recent press about the NFL possibly heading toward a lockout at the end of the 2010 season. 130 NFLPA registered agents have been formally warned that the CBA may end two years early, with the possibility that it won’t be renewed or replaced in time for the 2011 season. It would also make the 2010 season an uncapped year. Hear that? No salary cap in 2010. It’s not official yet, but agents need to be kept on guard that talks are going on behind the scenes.

Problems with unity within the players’ union and the possibility of a lockout coming out at the same time. What’s going on with America’s sport?