And we're back...

...excuses, excuses, but really life is busy and the NFL is more depressing right now than anything.

From Real Clear Sports, Here's a convenient round-up, with links, to the major mock drafts . The mode for the Jags is Ryan Kerrigan, DE from Purdue, while RCS somehow (I haven't looked into their methodology) averages out the Jags pick to be Aldon Smith, OLB from Missouri. Kerrigan makes more sense to me from my impressions of the players but there's no deciphering Gene Smith's board...

...Owners and player continue to meet which is good news, although it's not hard to imagine them continuing to meet right up till their eye balls fall out. I can't imagine most of these guys have a lot else going on more important than the labor situation.

A lot has been made of the money the owners didn't get from TV contracts, and that it gave the players this immense amount of leverage, or dramatically leveled the playing field, or something of that nature, I think that's overstating the magnitude of the effect. It certainly helped the players but really it just means NFL owners would need to get a more expensive loan, which hurts but only a marginal amount. It also doesn't change the fact that the owners are not going to personally be affected by not having football. If players start missing checks I think they'll fold pretty quickly, it would have a dramatic effect on their immediate lifestyle. Owners though could lose a season without it affecting their immediate lifestyle and really without it affecting their lifestyle over the course of their lives. All of these guys were insanely rich before football ever became part of their lives (unless you count the old guard guys like the Rooneys or Brown's). Owners are greedy (no argument there) but I think it's going to come down to whether or not they're telling the truth about the current model really losing them money (or eventually losing them money). If they're telling the truth, then they really have no incentive to return until the deal changes. If their not, then I imagine they'll get what they can from the players, and call it a day. I just doubt this is all a big rouse. If these guys were making money hand over fist they'd be a lot less willing to rock the boat. We shall see but I'm betting on either players capitulating soon, or owners breaking them down.

-Q