NFL Lockout: Larry Fitzgerald, Von Miller and Others Talk Work Stoppage with B/R

The NFL lockout continues to dominate the headlines in the sports world, even with the NBA Finals are around the bend and the MLB season is in full swing.

Though not technically an organized union at the moment, the NFL Players Association recently brought 36 of the top selections from the 2011 NFL Draft out to Los Angeles for its annual Rookie Premiere weekend, during which young guns like Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Von Miller had the opportunity to try out their new threads for the first time in public.

And though the focus of the weekend was obviously on the rookies themselves, so much of the talk surrounding the events centered on the work stoppage and whether it will come to an end any time soon with a new collective bargaining agreement.

I had a chance to catch up with some of the rookies as well as a view veterans of the league at the Premiere League Flag Football Game at UCLA to get their thoughts on the current tiff between the owners and the players.

Read on to find out what they had to say.

Terrell Davis

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

11 Nov 2001 : Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos heads downfield against the San Diego Chargers during the game at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won 26-16. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/Allsport

Former Denver Broncos running back and NFL MVP Terrell Davis was among the former players and celebrities who actually participated in the flag football game, and he was kind enough to offer his thoughts on the labor situation.

Do you think the labor situation will be resolved in time for a season? 

I think so. I just think there’s too much money. The game has built up so big that to stop that momentum right now and cancel games, nobody would win doing that, man. The NFL is going to lose big time, they’re going to lose their fan base.

People are already flustered about the ticket prices being too damn high. DirecTV is killing people. I mean, the cost of taking your kid to a game is ridiculous right now, right? So all you need right now, just for the fans that are teetering. They want to hang in there, but if you’re not catering to the fan base and you cancel those games, that’s a selfish move by the players and the league.

Fans don’t want to see that. They don’t want to see a bunch of snobby billionaires and millionaires fighting it out. I think that at the end of the day, when it finally comes down, there will be games played. The camps might start late, but there should be games.

Von Miller

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - APRIL 29: Von Miller of the Denver Broncos speaks to the media at Dove Valley on April 29, 2011 in Englewood, Colorado. Miller, a projected outside linebacker in head coach John Fox's new 4-3 scheme, was selected second overall from Texas

TD wasn't the only Bronco in attendance at the event. Denver rookie linebacker Von Miller showed up to mingle with fans and sign autographs, as well as talk about his involvement as a plaintiff in the players' lawsuit against the NFL.  

Are you excited to get back into it once everything gets settled with the lockout? 

Yeah, I’m extremely excited. You know, that’s the biggest thing I miss about playing football is the camaraderie in the locker room and being around the guys and just working, you know. That’s a big part of football and that’s what I enjoy, you know, just being there and playing with them.

Do you think there will be a season? 

I’m confident there will be a season. I’m confident that football will continue to be played. Being a part of this lawsuit hasn’t really been a chore for me. I’m doing it for the guys who’ve come before me and broken their backs and given their life to the game, so this is the least that I can do. I’m just anxious to be a part of it. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to represent the rookies in this lawsuit.

What’s it like working with DeMaurice Smith? 

Honestly, he’s a very intelligent man. There’s a million other things he could be doing right now, but his best interest is in the players and that’s why he’s here. That’s why he’s a part of this thing. He’s all in it for us.

Julio Jones

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) poses for a photo with Julio Jones, #6 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons, holds up a jersey on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Ph

Atlanta Falcons rookie Julio Jones is not quite as involved with the labor situation as is Von Miller, but he still had some thoughts about the current situation to contribute.

Any thoughts on the lockout? 

Nah, man. I mean, that’s out of our hands, you know. We can’t do nothing about that as rookies or even as players, you know. We’ve just got to deal with it, stay in shape and be ready to go when it’s time to go.

Larry Fitzgerald

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 2: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a touchdown against the San Francisco 49er during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald was also in LA for the weekend, and, as a current player, he had plenty to say about life without mini-camps and OTAs.

What’s it been like dealing with the lockout situation? 

It’s been difficult, just trying to keep the morale high. You know, we want to be out there playing but it’s not the players that want to stop playing. We want to continue to play. We were happy with the agreement. When you sign an agreement, you usually try to stick to it, and we planned on doing that but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.

Is there any bitterness now between the players and the owners? 

I wouldn’t call it bitterness. I would just say disappointment, you know. It’s all about honor, man, and when you sign a contract, you know, it’s about your word and, you know, it’s unfortunate because we want to play as players. This is our livelihood and we love doing it.

Has it brought the players closer together? 

The guys that have been together, I think so. I mean, like in Arizona, we all work out together every day and we still get that good team camaraderie and we’re able to build on things, but it’s not like we have the facilities and the ability to be with the coaches and watching tape and doing some of the things we usually do at work.

Larry Fitzgerald (continued)

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 25: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 27-2

What’s your average day like without the OTAs and mini-camps and such? 

We still throw the ball. We still do everything we would be doing at work right now, so we try to keep it as routine as possible. We work out at 8:30 every morning, usually done lifting weights about noon, so we have a good rotation that we continue to do.

Have you been able to do anything that you wouldn’t have done last year? 

I’ve spent some time at home. You know, taking my son to school every day, picking him up from school everyday. You know, some of the things that sometimes you’re not able to do. It’s nice being a regular father, you know.

Any exotic travel plans? 

No, I usually do all my traveling in January, February and March. I might sneak over to Barcelona again; my buddy Alan Anderson, who played at Michigan State, plays for the FC Barcelona basketball team, so if they’re in the championship, I might go there.

More Thoughts from Larry Fitzgerald

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals after scoring a touchdown against the American Football Conference (AFC) during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/

Any guess as to when the lockout will end? I imagine you’d hope it’s tomorrow. 

Yes, and I would hope…I heard everything is going to end tomorrow, did you hear that? The lockout is the least of our concerns at this point, I guess. You know, I’m optimistic and I’m just hoping that things will come to a standstill on June 3rd and the judges will rule in our favor and we’ll get back in the building.

What’s it like for some of the guys financially? 

Well, the PA (Players Association) did a really good job of educating us early on, saving the money, putting it away, and we’re going to be able to get some payments soon. For the young guys, I just try to stress to them just to manage it, live within their means. They know if they need anything, they can call me. I’m always going to take care of my guys.

Any stories about guys moving back home? 

No, never heard of anyone moving back home, nothing like that. I don’t know. Moving back with your parents might not be a bad thing. You know, free meals, laundry getting done. There are some perks and benefits of going back home.

You've got a couch though, right? You let them stay on your couch? 

Yeah, they can do that. That’s no problem. You get to spend more time with your family, which is nice. You know, it’s unusual, you know, being in the league now seven years, you’re used to a kind of routine, but it’s nice to take your son to school and pick him up. It’s nice.

Jake Locker

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Quarterback Jake Locker of Washington runs a passing drill during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Incoming Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker also chipped in to the discussion with some thoughts about the lockout.

What’s your perspective on the lockout? 

You know, it’s something that I don’t know a whole lot about. I know a little bit, but it’s the guys in the room that really know what’s going on. I think, you know, I speak on behalf of all the players that we trust those guys that are representing us, and I know something will get done and we will play football at some point. You just look forward to that opportunity and make sure that you stay in shape and be prepared for that.

Warren Moon

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Pro Football Hall of Fame member Warren Moon attends the Bud Light 'Best Round Ever' Pre-Draft Party on April 27, 2011 in New York City. Bud Light, the new official beer of the NFL, offered fans $10 million if they could correctl

Jake Locker wasn't the only former Washington Husky in attendance. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon was in LA to coach one of the teams participating in the flag football game. He, too, had some interesting thoughts to contribute to the NFL labor conversation.

Any thoughts on the lockout? 

Well, I’m really disappointed that both sides aren’t continuing to try and negotiate. Even though they’re waiting on court decisions to happen, they can still be negotiating. There’s nothing stopping them from doing that, but I think posturing has so much to do with this thing right now and trying to get leverage on the other side that that’s what’s kind of holding this thing up. After this June 3rd deadline, after this next decision by the court, we’ll see if maybe things start to pick up a little bit more as far as negotiating is concerned.