Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com did an excellent job at taking Cornwell’s words and giving a brief summary of the attorney’s statement.

As Cornwell explains it, the league and the union will negotiate to impasse in March 2011, and the league then will invoke a provision of federal labor law that allows the owners to impose new rules relating to wages and other terms of employment. Under federal labor law, the rules must be substantially similar to the last offer made by the league.

The union could then strike. The more likely outcome is that NFLPA would decertify and sue the league for violations of the same antitrust laws at issue in the American Needle case. That’s why the union has been writing editorials for guys like Drew Brees in connection with the American Needle case, and it’s why NFL general counsel Jeff Pash tiptoed around my recent questions regarding whether the league believes it’s a “single entity” for labor purposes.

If Cornwell is correct, NFL fans everywhere will be rejoicing. It just doesn’t seem possible for the most popular sport in America to have a strike. Many cannot even begin to imagine a year without football. Cornwell’s confidence regarding the matter is very refreshing and it brings a hope that many analysts are not giving at the moment.

Let’s all just cross our fingers and hope Cornwell is on to something.

There has been talk around league circles that Bush will be asked to restructure his deal and if he declines the team will explore other options.

One option would be to move Bush, who would surely have a market. While he is not a number one running back, Bush brings a home-run threat to special teams and he can provide a spark to the offense. Many offensive coordinators around the league would love to have a weapon like the former Heisman Trophy winner.

The Seattle Seahawks have been mentioned as a team that could be looking to add Bush to the offense. With his college coach Pete Carroll running the show in Seattle, the move makes sense. The Seahawks have also been exploring the running back position in the upcoming draft — Clemson speedster C.J. Spiller has been mentioned often.

Another possibility for Bush is the San Francisco 49ers. Bush could return to his home state and the 49ers have been looking for a solid back-up to current starter Frank Gore.

Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News has also pointed to Bush as a player of interest for the Detroit Lions this offseason. Kevin Smith, the team’s starting tailback, tallied 747 yards through 13 games this season before suffering an injury.

Smith has undergone surgery this offseason and there is concern that he will be unavailable for the start of the 2010 season. It is widely expected that he will be placed on the PUP list throughout training camp, and that will leave the Lions without a serious threat at the position.

So while Bush’s future with New Orleans is uncertain there is a market for him out there and with Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell on the roster, the Saints do not need to hang on to Bush. If he refuses to restructure his deal, the franchise can ship the former No. 2 pick off any of the interested teams.

It should be interesting to see how the Miami Dolphins staff decides to use Tim Tebow who said he will be playing in the game.

Here is the press release:

Coaching Staffs Named for 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl

Mobile, AL. (Jan. 8)—The season isn’t over just yet for both the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions, or at least not for their coaching staffs.  Both staffs have been selected to coach the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl, game officials announced today.  The Dolphins will coach the South squad in Mobile later this month, while the Lions will head up the North.

This is the fourth time the Dolphins have coached in the Senior Bowl and first since the 1994 game.  Legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula coached the three previous trips to Mobile, going 2 and 1 overall with wins in the 1987 and 1994 Senior Bowls and a loss in the 1977 contest.

Current Miami coach Tony Sparano will be coaching the Senior Bowl for the first time in his career, but the Dolphins are no strangers to the talent that arrives in Mobile each January.  Miami selected two Senior Bowlers in last year’s NFL Draft, including the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player—quarterback Pat White.

“My staff and I are looking forward to coaching in the Senior Bowl,” Sparano said.  “The Senior Bowl’s outstanding track record and history of developing players for the National Football League is well-known and we’re excited to have the opportunity to work with these young players in preparation for the next stage of their careers.”

The Dolphins went 7 and 9 in 2009 and own the 12^th pick in April’s draft.  They currently have 14 former Senior Bowlers on their active roster, including four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter (1999 Senior Bowl) and quarterbacks Chad Henne (2008 Senior Bowl) and Chad Pennington (2000 Senior Bowl).

This will mark the eighth time the Detroit Lions have coached in the annual senior showcase event.  Former Lions coach Bo McMillan actually coached in the very first Senior Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida in 1950 and returned for the first Senior Bowl in Mobile the following year.  The Lions last trip to the Port City as a staff came in 2003.

Under first-year coach Jim Schwartz, the Lions went 2 and 14 this season and own the second overall pick in April’s draft.  Schwartz, like Sparano, will be coaching his very first Senior Bowl but he too is familiar with the pre-draft event having served on the Baltimore Ravens’ staff when they coached in the 1998 game and more recently as Jeff Fisher’s defensive coordinator when the Tennessee Titans’ staff coached the North squad in 2006.

“I’ve been a part of two staffs that have coached at the Senior Bowl and found both experiences to be exceptional,” Schwartz said.  “The hospitality of the people of Mobile and the hard work of the Senior Bowl staff makes this a special event for everyone involved.”

The Lions currently have 21 former Senior Bowlers on their roster and drafted four Senior Bowlers last year, including tight end Brandon Pettigrew with the 20^th overall pick.

“As one of the coaching staffs for this year’s Senior Bowl, we look forward to working with some of the best college football players in the country and contributing to the game’s tradition,” Schwartz said.

The 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl is scheduled for January 30^th at 3pm (CT) in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.  The game and all practices will be televised by the NFL Network.

Tickets for the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket offices (151 Dauphin Street and inside Bel Air Mall), select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.

Draft order is based off of current records and strength of schedule.

Pick	Team	Player Selected	Player’s Position	Player’s School	Analysis
1.		Ndamukong Suh	Defensive Tackle	Nebraska	The Rams added the likes of Adam Carriker and Chris Long along the defensive line in recent years. By adding Suh, the best player in the draft, St. Louis adds quality depth to their d-line and Carriker could bump out to left end.
2.		Russell Okung	Offensive Tackle	Oklahoma State	Detroit selected their quarterback of the future in the ‘09 Draft, so it only makes sense to select a guy to protect him. Okung is an athletic, well-rounded offensive tackle who can secure the left tackle position. With Okung and Cherilus, the Lions have their bookends for 10+ years.
3.		Gerald McCoy	Defensive Tackle	Oklahoma	In what may be a surprise to some, the Bucs pass on top safety Eric Berry in favor of bolstering the defensive line. Many sources close to the Buccaneers organization have indicated that the team is looking very closely at the top two defensive tackles, McCoy and Suh. With Suh off the board, McCoy becomes the pick
4.		Jimmy Clausen	Quarterback	Notre Dame	The Cleveland Browns won’t be able to do anything in the AFC North until they get a reliable offense and that starts at quarterback. Cleveland goes back to Notre Dame and grabs yet another Golden Domer in hopes of turning around the franchises future.
5.		Eric Berry	Safety	Tennessee	Kansas City would be ecstatic is Eric Berry fell to them at number five. Berry has drawn comparisons to Ravens safety Ed Reed and he would be a huge, and welcomed, upgrade in the Chiefs secondary.
6.		Sam Bradford	Quarterback	Oklahoma	It has been clear for a while now that Jason Campbell’s future is not in Washington. The organization is a mess and it appears as if Mike Shanahan will be taking over as head coach next season. Look for Shanahan to grab his quarterback in the first-round, whether it be Clausen or Bradford.
7.		Bruce Campbell	Offensive Tackle	Maryland	Campbell will become the replacement for long-time left tackle Walter Jones. While the Seahawks would prefer to land Russell Okung, Campbell is an excellent consolation prize. At 6′7″, 310, Campbell has the size you want in a tackle and he is still growing. He should help open things up in the Seahawks running game.
8.	(CHI)	Rolando McClain	Inside Linebacker	Alabama	McClain is a perfect fit for inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. He has an intriguing size/speed ratio and McClain is never afraid to lay a devastating hit. He has drawn comparisons to All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis.
9.		Dez Bryant	Wide Receiver	Oklahoma State	Buffalo is really looking to add a left tackle with their first pick, but with both Okung and Campbell gone in this scenario they must look elsewhere. Bryant adds a physical receiver to the mix and he could replace Terrell Owens if T.O. moves on in the offseason. Bryant would be a perfect compliment to the Bills speedster Lee Evans.
10.		Joe Haden	Cornerback	Florida	Joe Haden is the only premier corner in this draft. Partner him with Nnamdi Asomugha and the Raiders could have one of the best cornerback duos within a few years (assuming Asomugha stays). Oakland’s pass defense has been an issue, so don’t be surprised when they acknowledge that with this selection. Of course, this is Al Davis we are talking about, so who knows.
11.		Trent Williams	Offensive Tackle	Oklahoma	Alex Smith has done a serviceable job behind center, but to fully reach his potential he is going to need some more protection. Williams is a versatile guy who can play any position along the line which increases his value. The offense needs to focuse on giving the rock to Frank Gore more, so this pick makes the most sense.
12.	(CAR)	Taylor Mays	Safety	USC	San Francisco needs any help they can get in the secondary. Look for them to add the best defensive back available with one of their two first-round picks. It ends up being Taylor Mays in this mock. Mays runs like a corner and hits like a linebacker. He will remind 49er fans of Ronnie Lott.
13.		Earl Thomas	Safety	Texas	When Troy Polamalu was injured, everything seemed to fall apart for the Steelers’ defense. Ryan Clark is also a free agent this offseason, so the team will need to add some depth. Thomas has great cover skills and he will be able to play center field and allow Troy Polamalu to do his thing.
14.		Tim Tebow	Quarterback	Florida	Rumor after rumor points to Tebow winding up in Jacksonville. The team needs to find any possible way to put fans in the seats or else the team could end up in Los Angeles or London. Tebow will be a project QB in the NFL, but he can be brought in during special situations and spark the offense.
15.		Derrick Morgan	Defensive End	Georgia Tech	Jamaal Anderson has been a bust for Atlanta and the team needs to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Hometown boy Derrick Morgan is a top ten talent, and the Falcons would be happy to see him available at 15.
16.		C.J. Spiller	Running Back	Clemson	With their targets off the board, Houston adds some running back depth and an explosive runner in Spiller. He is a home run threat and could be a dynamic weapon for this offense.

Truth is Chicago was forced to given Benson every chance to succeed. Thomas Jones had a terrific 2006 season but Chicago had already drafted Cedric Benson as their longtime answer at running back and given him a huge rookie contract.

So Chicago released Jones.

Benson had every chance to prove he could be the franchise running back in 2007. Instead in 11 games last season he ran for just 694 yards (a 3.4 average).

Then he got arrested twice within a month for boating while intoxicated and driving under the influence. The Bears cut him after the second arrest, leaving their running back position wide open.

So what’s your Forte Chicago?

That’s right. Matt Forte, rookie running back from Tulane, will more than likely be the starter. Adrian Peterson is the other option but he’s had his chances before and he’s never proven that he can handle the load.

Forte rushed for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns his senior season. The question is whether or not he can handle being an every down NFL running back.

Chicago Bears coaches believe he can.

He’s very quick and always keeps his legs driving. I enjoyed watching him run at Tulane, although to be honest we don’t get to see many Conference USA games nationwide. UAB is very close to where I live so I have had the opportunity to watch him play a few times.

To me his best performance was in New Orleans against LSU. He only ran for 73 yards on 16 carries but proved he could run against the nation’s best defense.

This kid has the talent to be a NFL running back but you have think that even in his greatest dreams he never imagined he’d be in a position where he would start right away. In Chicago he probably won’t get much help though, even if he is the next Adrian Peterson.

Peterson was in a position where he was the only offensive option for Minnesota, because Tavaris Jackson has not developed into a NFL quarterback. In Chicago their quarterback situation is a joke, as the Bears go back and forth between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.

Hopefully Forte is the option for the Bears because if he isn’t Chicago’s defense better be better than they were two years ago, when they led Chicago to the Super Bowl.

So Chicago, what’s your Forte? Hopefully a guy named Matt.

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