Theres a reason there hasnt been a meaningful work stoppage in pro football for almost 27 years, and its not because this is a sport where the players have nothing to complain about. Boone Jenner Blue Jackets Jersey . The very nature of the sport makes it difficult - some might say near impossible - to keep players united during a work stoppage because work stoppages are always about making sacrifices in the short term to benefit in the long. And for a great number of players in a sport with short careers and non-guaranteed contracts, there is no long term. But perhaps even more difficult to overcome is the fact that in football a small number of players on every team are paid far more than the rest, especially the large number of players on every team who will earn at or near the league minimum. And it is those star players, who already enjoy the biggest paydays and the most job security, wholl gain the most as the result of a successful work action. Look at any roster in either the CFL or NFL and youll probably be surprised to earn how many players are earning at or near the league minimum, which this NFL season will ranges between $420,000 and $645,00 for players from zero to three years of service in the league. In the CFL, that figure will go from $45,000 to $50,000 for this season based on what the parties have agreed to so far during current CBA negotiations. Since payrolls for CFL teams arent public, lets use an NFL team as an example to illustrate the payroll dynamics in pro football, which are similar in both leagues, albeit on a different scale. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers enters this season with an average salary of $22 million, nearly double that of anyone else on the team. Among Packers currently under contract, there are only four with an average salary of more than $7 million season, and another four at more than $4 million. There are eight players listed at between $2 million and $4 million, and 67 whose average salary is less than $1 million, 49 of whom are due to earn less than $600,000. The numbers in the CFL are obviously smaller but the manner in which they compare to one another is similar, with star quarterbacks earning roughly $500,000 per season while a large portion of each roster earns less than $60,000 per season. The truth is that whatever gains are made for the players in either league usually mean the rich will get richer. For example, the NFL will operate this season with a salary cap of $133 million dollars. But if that figure was suddenly increased to $200 million, the primary beneficiaries would be the Peyton Mannings, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Bradys and Richard Shermans of the world, while the leagues rank and file would essentially remain un affected. Same thing in the Canadian Football League - where if the CFLPA were to get its wish and have the salary cap jump immediately from $4.4 million to $5.8, the benefits would go to players such Ricky Ray, Darian Durant and the rest of the players whom fans pay to see. Of course theres another dynamic in the CFL game that doesnt exist south of the border. And thats that starting Canadian players - the ones mandated by the leagues quota system - also stand to benefit handsomely from any increase because of the laws of supply and demand. But the question becomes how do you convince the great number of players earning at or near the league minimum - young American players or backup Canadians - to commit to a work stoppage when theres little or no chance many of them will benefit from it? Standing up for a much higher minimum salary might help boost support among the rank and file, but that never seems to be the priority in either league. And therein lies the challenge of trying to keep a union full of professional football players all on the same page during a negotiating process. Consider that, despite having the leverage of being able to shut down the most profitable sport in North America, NFL players werent much interested in testing the resolve of their membership by missing paycheques when the league locked out its players during the off-season three years ago. They settled before that could happen. In Canada, the CFLPA has made a lot of noise about being disappointed in the leagues various offers this spring. But it hasnt said anything about having all of its membership on side, or being unbreakable, or being willing to miss game cheques in order to reach their goals in negotiation. The truth is that if the CFLPA were to strike a portion of the season, a great number of players will never get that money back - even if the owners were to capitulate completely. Many would simply be out of the league before they could benefit or would be left to watch the windfalls go to star players while they continue to earn similar amounts. All of these dynamics play to the owners advantage. And in the CFL, where were talking about players needing money to simply pay for the cost of living, the advantage is even greater. Will we see a CFL players strike later this month? Perhaps while its just training camp being missed, when no one has to make a true financial sacrifice to benefit the group for the long term. But in a sport where the rewards of such an action are likely to wind up in the hands of a select few, expecting anything more may be asking too much. Jack Johnson Blue Jackets Jersey . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. Ryan Murray Blue Jackets Jersey .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2. http://www.hockeybluejacketsauthority.com/cam-atkinson-blue-jackets-jersey-c-8/ . - The Pittsburgh Pirates plan on keeping promising left fielder Starling Marte playing alongside National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for years to come.TEL AVIV, Israel - Even casual Israeli basketball fans begin their day with an update on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the newfound obsession with the NBA franchise has little to do with superstar LeBron James. Rookie head coach David Blatt is one of their own, making his name professionally in Israel and raising a family there.Nearly all of Clevelands games are broadcast live on Israeli sports channels, and the national morning radio broadcast almost always delivers the score of the previous nights games. Radio shows feature a daily update segment, and local newspapers have begun to resemble Ohio dailies in their blanket coverage of the drama surrounding Blatts talented yet underachieving team.Its beyond surreal. It feels almost alien-like, said Gil Barak, who broadcasts Clevelands games for the Sport 5 TV channel. This is a guy were used to seeing around here as his everyday self. Now hes got LeBron and directing the most high-profile team in the world.And as Cleveland fans worry that Blatt isnt using his roster properly, Israelis are proudly sticking behind him. Boston-born Blatt, 55, remains one of the countrys most beloved figures, thanks to his winning history as a coach in his adopted homeland and national pride in his making it big time.It means a lot from two perspectives: Number one, I can do something for the people in Israel, and number two, I can do something about bringing seven million new fans to the Cavaliers, Blatt said Monday night after a third straight win put the Cavaliers at 22-20. Ive been very fortunate, we had a great deal of success in Israel the last several years, so people are positive about this and about me and Ive got Bron and Kevin and Kyrie and they love the NBA over there so its a natural tie-in, and its great.Israelis went crazy in 2009 when Omri Casspi became the countrys first NBA player, and again when Gal Mekel made fleeting appearances for the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. But those reactions paled in comparison to the hoopla surrounding Blatts sudden ascension to become the first coach to jump from the European leagues to the NBA. Learning that he would coach the planets greatest player has only added to the excitement.Barak said the channel has experienced a spike in ratings this season, and that he is often stopped on the streets by strangers who want to pick his brain about Blatt.From our provincial perspective, it is a huge deal and we want to see one of our own succeed, he said.Blatt played his college ball at Princeton under coach Pete Carril. He has called Israel home since 1981, when he first arrived to play for the U.S. at the Maccabiah Games. A solid playing career in the Israeli league followed before an even more successful coaching careeer began in 1993. David Clarkson Blue Jackets Jersey Authentic. Over the next two decades he developed his reputation as a top international coach and offensive wizard whose stock surged dramatically after leading the Russian national team to a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics. His signature moment in Israel came last year when he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a series of upset wins en route to a dramatic Euroleague championship title.As rumours floated that Blatt would soon head to the NBA, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even pleaded with him to stay.His roots in Israel remain deep. Hes married to an Israeli woman, Kinneret, and raised his four children here, with the oldest two having completed their military service. He speaks fluent, albeit American-accented, Hebrew and is a popular pitchman for TV ads who has professed a desire to one day serve as an ambassador for the country. An economic newspaper recently reported Blatt just purchased a pair of high-rise Tel Aviv apartments.Overnight, the Cavs became Israels team in the NBA, replacing traditional favourites like the Celtics, Knicks, Bulls and Lakers. Even those who rooted against him have become his backers, with the loyal following taking up a prominent presence online to defend him against critics.Dotan Ben-Yosef, a 25-year-old university student, is among many who cant wait for the morning highlights and gets up at 3 a.m. to watch the games live.Hes living out the dream of every Israeli who wants to make it big in the world, he said. I think everyone here wants him to win.So far, it hasnt worked out that way. With a slew of injuries, questionable team chemistry and a seemingly awkward relationship with James, the Cavs are in the middle of the pack after being favoured to win the Eastern Conference.Blatts every move in America is scrutinized in the local media with commentators saying the pressure is taking its toll. Known for a demanding, vocal style in Israel, Blatt often appears muted on the NBA sidelines and monotone in postgame press conferences.Devin Smith, his former player on Maccabi, said hes confident once Blatt gets through the growing pains he will thrive.Youve got a group of guys who have never played together, said Smith, who played his college ball at the University of Virginia. Its a growing process. People expected because LeBron is there for him to go back and win every game, but that is not the case.Guy Goodes, Blatts former assistant and successor as Maccabi Tel Aviv coach, said if anyone could withstand the enormous expectations it was Blatt.David is going through a tough stretch, but he will adjust, he said. We are all happy for him and proud of him and feel a part of helping him get there.____Follow Heller on Twitter @aronhellerap Jerseys From China Jerseys NFL China Jerseys NFL China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Jerseys NFL China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '