The truth remains, though, that the league’s owners and players are still marching towards a potential lockout at the end of the 2010 season.

On Monday, the NFL Players Association won in an arbitration against the collective NFL owners under Special Master Stephen Burbank.

The decision prevented the owners from dismantling the supplemental revenue sharing pool (SRS) in 2010, as planned. The pool, valued at $220 million, all but solidifies that 2010 will be an uncapped year with no limitations on team spending.

The league and the NFLPA are currently in a race to establish their positions in the wake of the disassembling of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was established in 2006 between the two parties. The agreement states that any changes to the SRS must be approved by the union, something the NFLPA isn’t willing to do.

“We find no explicit distinction between capped and uncapped years or between capped years in The Final League Year”, Burbank wrote. Without a distinction between the two seasons, the league’s hands remain tied.

This is a clear victory for both the players and the NFLPA, but it only serves as a precursor for what is to come, a lockout in the 2011 season.

If the league and its players don’t reach a new CBA by March 5, the end of the 2010 season could spell serious trouble for the NFL.

This black cloud over the league has stemmed from the agreement made in 2006 that caused the salary cap to significantly increase from $80 million in 2005 to $102 million the following year. In 2009, the cap had risen all the way to $128 million.

Due to the incurring economic strain on the league, the owners have slowly watched their profit margins shrink and are now demanding a lower percentage of profit sharing and a limit on salary engagements to young, unproven players.

The league truly flexed their industry muscles when they hired outside source Bob Batterman, a giant in mega-corporate council representation. Batterman belongs to Proskauer Rose, a law firm that oversees all four of the major sports leagues in the US.

Batterman’s focus is on the NFL and the NHL. His involvement with the league comes as an omen for what may come, perhaps a repeat of the NHL’s lockout during the 2004-05 season, a move that Batterman himself oversaw.

As a quick note, a lockout occurs when management (the league) attempts to prevent its players from operating under current conditions, usually unfavorable to the party performing the lockout.

If and when the players decide that those conditions are grievous, they can then opt to go on strike, an act that will certainly plummet the league and its players into a deeper struggle over revenue sharing and salary conditions.

If no agreement is reached before March 5, we can be almost certain that we, the fans, may very well have to do without a 2011 season or, at least, do without the players we love and know so well.

But all of this is pure speculation, nothing more than a look at the possibilities at their gravest. For now, all we can do is enjoy the NFL’s greatest week of football and marvel at two of the league’s best quarterbacks duking it out on the greatest stage in television.

As for the league itself, circle March 5 on your calendar and hope for the best, friends.

For more information on the end of the CBA and it’s effects on the 2010 offseason, click here.

His hiring came after former quarterback coach Hue Jackson left to join the Oakland Raiders as their new offensive coordinator.

Zorn is coming off an embarrassing two-year tenure as the head coach for Washington where he led the ‘Skins to their worst record in fifteen years at 12-20. His team came close to victory time and again, but was never able to overcome the mistakes of an inane owner and a rookie head coach.

Owner Daniel Snyder promoted Zorn from offensive coordinator to head coach before the season ever began; the team’s first mistake.

The organization then expected success from a team built around an aging, overpaid defense, an offensive line whose experience stemmed from Arena football, and a quarterback who has been asked to learn a different offensive scheme nearly every year.

This was Jim Zorn’s bed and he slept in it week after week with a face of humility and a cool sense of propriety.

Before he entered the Redskins’ organization, Zorn was considered a successful quarterback coach. His influence in Seattle during their brighter years was evident behind Matt Hasselbeck’s arm.

Now, Zorn joins a team on the brink of championship-caliber potential. Normally noted for its veteran leadership on defense and a do-everything running back in Ray Rice, Zorn now has the opportunity to coach one of the NFL’s hopeful youths, Joe Flacco.

Flacco has spurred his team to the playoffs twice in his two years as a pro and he’s done it with pure athletic ability and class. As his new coach, Zorn will only further Flacco’s potential and open up the Ravens’ playbook to new standards.

Gaines was rushed to the emergency room in the early hours of morning and, while the cause of death or concern is still unknown, the coroner has divulged that Gaines appeared perfectly healthy before his death was pronounced. An autopsy is scheduled for later today.

It seems 26 is the unlucky number right now in the NFL. This story strikes a chord as it follows the death of Cincinnati’s wide receiver Chris Henry no more than a month ago, also at the tender age of 26.

The league and it’s fans alike were only just healing from Henry’s tragic loss and are now faced with another to overcome.

Gaines, a former Clemson University star, was drafted with the fourth overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2007 draft. He was traded to the Bears in October of last year for a second round pick in April.

He appeared in 15 games with the Bears last season and recorded one sack, two forced fumbles, and three safeties.

During the 2007 draft, in a time when character was on the chopping block, players like Adam “Pacman” Jones and Florida’s Marcus Thomas were only projecting the attitude that had cast such a flawed shadow over the league.

Adams was one of the few players who countered that image and showed that good character was not something of a rare nature in the NFL. Although later he and a few others at the combine admitted to using marijuana, it didn’t stain or reflect in his personality.

He continued to be a positive influence in the locker room and appeared to be headed in the right direction by adding himself to an already budding Bears defense.

After General Manager Tim Ruskell was released from the Seattle organization in December, it was clear the Seahawks were headed for a makeover.

The first major change was the firing of first-year coach Jim Mora. Apparently the front office didn’t feel a 5-11 record warranted a second chance.

In a surprise move, the team landed Pete Carroll, the long-time USC wheel-man, as a successor.

The move wasn’t met with overwhelming approval by fans and media personnel, alike. Carroll’s departure came after allegations of recruiting violations and a mediocre season. Some believe his flight to Seattle was a cop-out from the consequences that awaited USC in the off-season.

There was also speculation that Seattle violated the Rooney Rule, a preventative measure that holds each team responsible for interviewing a minority candidate for the head coach position and any similar front-office position. However, it was later discovered that the team had extended an offer to Tony Dungy to become the new team president, an offer to which Dungy declined

Carroll’s credentials at the professional level were also questionable. He served a one-year stint as the head coach for the New York Jets in ’94 but a fruitless season prevented a return for a second season.

Carroll took a break from the NFL and gave it another go in ’97 where he coached the New England Patriots for three years. He was marginal at best, earning a 48-27 record and a playoff berth.

Carroll always claimed he was dealt an unfair hand by both organizations. Any coach will tell you a year is never long enough to truly make a difference (cue Jim Mora), but in Carroll’s case, that’s all the Jets needed to see.

In New England, Carroll’s influence on personnel changes and overall control of the team was limited, prohibiting him from making the necessary adjustments needed to take the team in the right direction.

Now, Carroll is headed to Seattle for one more chance and this time he will have no excuses. The team is currently without a GM and Carroll will most likely have a direct influence on who the organization chooses to hire and you can bet it will be someone who will allow Carroll to make the final decisions regarding personnel.

The team also stands in a good position to make an impact with the draft. They own the sixth and the fourteenth picks in a class dominated by physical defenders and explosive play-makers on the offensive side.

Owner Paul Allen isn’t afraid to spend money, either, and in an uncapped year without restrictions on the ‘Hawks’ player transactions, the team stands to vastly improve their current squad.

With a new coach comes a new staff, most of them being former assistants of Carroll when he was at USC. The first to follow was Jeremy Bates, the quarterback coach at USC and former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator

Bates was strongly pursued by a number of teams, namely the Chicago Bears, but ultimately felt he had more job security playing under his old coach in Seattle. He was instrumental in bringing in and bringing up former Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, and then later had similar success at USC with Matt Leinart and, more recently, Matt Barkely.

Whoever ends up taking snaps for Seattle next year will have one of the best coordinators calling his plays.

Next to follow was Alex Gibbs, the illustrious offensive line coach who spent a considerable amount of time playing under Mike Shanahan in Denver.

He spent a short time there in the mid-80s but truly blossomed as a coach there from 1995-2003. During that time, Gibbs’ offensive line set a number of franchise records including total yards (6,554 in 2000), most first downs (383 in 2000), most rushing yards (2,468 in 1998), and most rushing touchdowns (32 in1998).

His offensive line also flourished in pass protection. From 1995-2000, the line didn’t allow more than 35 sacks per season. His line was also instrumental in blocking for NFL MVP Terrell Davis, who rushed for over 2,000 yards in ’98.

After two mediocre years in Houston, Gibbs is set to continue his legacy and establish a successful zone-blocking scheme in Seattle.

Ken Norton Jr., the USC linebacker coach, has also opted to follow Carroll to Seattle. Norton is relatively new to coaching in the NFL, but he has experienced great success at the collegiate level, delivering great linebackers like Clay Matthews Jr. and Brian Cushing to the NFL.

There will be more new faces to come in the next few weeks, but for now, the Seattle coaching staff is looking like it has the capabilities to fill the big shoes of ex-coach Mike Holmgren, one of the most popular Seahawks coaches, ever.

I don’t think anyone has dreams of Seattle making the playoffs in the coming year, but I think it’s clear they’re in a position to exhibit tangible progression. If the team can acquire some consistency at the offensive line, Matt Hasselback could easily return to starting quarterback status

One of the controversies last year facing the team was the absence of running back Justin Forsett. He received limited snaps behind ineffective starter Julius Jones.

The arrival of Carroll and Bates and their high-octane offense should give Forsett a chance to shine.

The Seahawks possess a young, quick, and physical defensive squad with miles of potential. If their strengths can be utilized to fit the new system, I believe Seattle has a chance to seriously contend in a weak NFC West within at least two years.

A new General Manager is expected soon and with him will come further changes.

Lately, there have been talks that Seattle may attempt to steal wide receiver Brandon Marshall from an inevitable Denver tender and/or transition tag. They have the draft picks and the money to make such an acquisition but it’s unclear if Denver is willing to let that happen.

The pieces in Seattle seem to be moving in the right direction. It will inevitably rest on Carroll’s shoulders whether or not the team finds success as execution always holds precedence over planning.

The latest addition to the Redskins coaching makeover comes as a surprise, as the former Tulane star has been a part of the Steeler organization for fourteen years. He is one of only two assistants to be a member of the coaching staffs that saw three Super Bowls: XXX, XL, and XLIII.

Pittsburgh has been known for their success at the linebacker position over the years, sending at least one to 39 of the 57 Pro Bowls that have been played.

During Spanos’ tenure, he has coached a number of memorable linebackers. Players such as Greg Lloyd, Levon Kirkland, Kevin Greene, Chad Brown, Jason Gildon, Clark Haggans, Joey Porter, and most recently, James Harrison.

With Jim Haslett in as the Redskins’ new defensive coordinator, the team will more than likely switch to a 3-4 defense, something Spanos is very comfortable with.

What does this mean for Washington fans? Well, a number of things.

First, rookie Brian Orakpo had a standout year with 50 tackles and 11 sacks. A large majority of sack leaders in the past decade have done so in a 3-4 system, so expect Orakpo to continue on his way to becoming a Pro Bowl linebacker.

Also, while London Fletcher is the starting Mike linebacker, it’s safe to assume that H.B. Blades or Chris Wilson will fulfill the second middle position. That is, unless the Redskins acquire a better option in free agency or the draft (Rolando McClain?).

Even though he has spent a year in rehab, you couldn’t ask for a better anchor on a three-man line than Albert Haynesworth. He is big enough to fill the gaps and has a collection of moves to provide a marginal pass rush.

Washington is a team heavy with linemen and light on linebackers, but I expect that Spanos has the ability to turn mediocre players into role-players.

The Redskins also hope to bulk up their run game with the hiring of former Denver running backs coach Bobby Turner. His experience in Shanahan’s run-first, throw-second philosophy will do wonders for a struggling rush attack headed up by an aging Clinton Portis.

Kiffin is coming off a one-year stint in Tennessee where a prosaic season and allegations of recruiting violations forced Kiffin to face the music or abandon ship. Kiffin’s strong personality never really assimilated to the SEC as several coaches found themselves butting heads with the Volunteer head man more than once in 2009.

Kiffin’s switch is not only surprising to Tennessee fans, but also to those close to the USC organization. It was only mildly believed that the organization would extend an offer to Kiffin or that he would actually accept it.

Before the announcement, it was widely reported that the top contenders were Steve Mariucci, formerly the head coach in Detroit and San Francisco, and Chris Peterson of Boise State as well as a few other minor candidates.

Kiffin spent six years as a coach in various capacities at USC, but it was generally understood that controversies that arose there would prevent or at least deter his return. Two unsuccessful years in Oakland propelled Kiffin to Tennessee and now, after another disappointment, he finds himself back in Los Angeles.

The announcement of Kiffin landing in USC comes as more than just a shock; it’s a slap in the face to every Tennessee recruit who planned to play as a Volunteer under Kiffin. There are already new student recruits who have arrived at the school as early as last week after graduating early from high school.

Mike and Mike in the Morning discussed that Kiffin’s scouting assistant sent out emails to all Tennessee recruits imploring them that, if they planned to follow the coach to USC, to not attend classes this week as that would make it easier for them to make the transfer.

Kiffin’s offensive mind will bring a different light to the post-Carroll era at USC. It’s less likely now that the school’s verbal commitments will back out two weeks from signing day, but his brashness may be met with opposition at first now that he is the head man.

USC nation is most apprehensive that newly-anointed quarterback Matt Barkley and Lane Kiffin will eventually build a healthy player-coach relationship.

Kiffin did a decent job with Crompton in Tennessee, but the USC program holds higher regard for a team that has largely dominated the PAC-10 for a decade and expects that trend to continue.

With two assistants from USC following Carroll to Seattle already, it’s refreshing to see a non-USC coach making his way to the Seahawks organization. Although he’s only officially been the head coach for a day or so, this is Carroll’s best decision yet.

Gibbs has a long, illustrious career in the NFL, helping to elevate numerous running attacks and to beef up a number of offensive lines.

His longest stint was an offensive coaching gig in Denver under former head coach Mike Shanahan and Jeremy Bates, the new offensive coordinator in Seattle. He spent three marginally successful years there (1984-1987) before returning to establish one of the league’s most dominant running games (1995-2003).

At Denver, the offensive line set numerous franchise records including most total yards (6,554 in 2000), most first downs (383 in 2000), most rushing yards (2,468 in 1998), and most rushing touchdowns (32 in 1998).

His offensive line also knew how to pass protect. From 1995-2000, Gibbs’ line did not allow more than 35 sacks per season. During that time, center Tom Nalen was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls. In 1998, three Broncos’ offensive linemen were nominated to the Pro Bowl; all three had previously attended two consecutive Hawaii berths. They were also commended for blocking for then-NFL MVP Terrell Davis, who rushed for over 2,000 yards.

Gibbs then spent a year coaching in Atlanta before becoming a consultant for the Falcons in 2005 and 2006. In the year he spent coaching, the Falcons led the NFL in rushing for the first time in team history.

They rushed for a team-record 2,672 yards, third highest rushing yards total in the NFL since 1990. During Gibbs’ time in Atlanta, the team also led the NFL in rushing with 8,157 yards.The Falcons were also the only team during that three year span to amass a rushing average that exceeded 5.1.

Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme has a been a long-respected attack and his influence in Seattle will be strongly felt in the running game. Seattle’s run game has lately been weak, finishing in the bottom half of the league for two consecutive years.

With two early picks in the draft, Seattle will have their options to either beef up their dwindling offensive line or add some size and strength to their running game, or both.

Either way, with Alex Gibbs at the helm of their offensive line, Seattle, in time, should find nothing short of tangible progression.

The former Buffalo linebacker was atop a long list of prospects that included Mike Zimmer of the Cincinnati Bengals. When the Bengals resigned Zimmer earlier this week, it was clear the deal between the ‘Skins and Haslett would gel quickly.

Haslett has served as defensive coordinator for a number of NFL teams including the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, and the St. Louis Rams. While his defense has been noted for its success against the pass, Haslett’s philosophy has recently changed from a 4-3 to a 3-4.

In a defense crowded with defensive tackles and short on linebackers, it’s a wonder what Haslett will do with Washington’s current roster. The Redskins have the number three pick in the draft and could really help elevate the line-backing corps with a pick like Rolando McClain from Alabama.

If Dallas wins in Minnesota this weekend, their free agency acquisitions will be limited, opening the door for other NFC East teams, like Washington, to pursue hot prospects.

Haslett is considered a player’s coach and, in a locker room divided by injury and losses, should do well to help bring the defense back together.

It’s important to also note that, while Haslett is being brought in to elevate the defense holistically, he must at least maintain the defense’s performance of the last two seasons. The Redskins defense ranked fourth in the league in 2008 and tenth last year.

Haslett will most likely also bring with him veteran defensive line coach Tim Krumrie, a guy who could really encourage Albert Haynesworth to bounce back from his injury and become a legitimate threat in the NFL again.

Mike Shanahan also plans on bringing in Bob Slowik, a former defensive coordinator of his in Denver, to possibly coach the ‘Skins defensive backs.

Either way, it’s believed that Haslett will bring a more advanced and aggressive style of defense, something Washington desperately needs if they plan on staying competitive in the NFC East.

It’s now come to light, though, that the Seattle organization reached out to Tony Dungy almost a month ago in regards to a position as their team president. Dungy considered the offer, but ultimately turned it down.

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance responsible for monitoring the minority hiring process in the NFL, spoke of the offer, “They called Tony about three weeks ago to see if he would seriously consider becoming their president…He told them he wanted to pray and sleep on it but the next day he called them back and said he wanted to stick with everything he was doing now.”

Although the team had made a conscious effort to hire a minority in a front office position, Wooten still encouraged the ‘Hawks to actively, or at least publicly, pursue Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier for the head coach position in order to further comply with the Alliance’s guidelines.

Frazier was a candidate largely recommended and supported by Tony Dungy.

Wooten also urged the team to digress from naming Carroll the new team president as that would put him in a biased position in the hiring of any other coaches, namely Frazier. It isn’t clear whether or not the team would have allowed Carroll to carry out both positions but it’s been done before.

Carroll is still considered to have much of the control within the organization, but the team will still make an active search for a new team president and GM while staying within the boundaries of the Rule.

For now, the Seahawks are seriously looking at two minority candidates, the New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross for the GM position and Pittsburgh Steelers business and football administration coordinator Omar Khan as a candidate for team president.

It’s clear now that Seattle’s alleged pursuit of Frazier was merely to save face in the public eye, and why their pursuit of Dungy remained under the grid is unclear, but it seems now that the Seahawks have followed the Rule closer than previously assumed.

In a press release, head coach Tony Sparano said, “I want to thank Paul for his services to the team, and I want to wish him the best.”

Pasqualoni is coming off a season in which his defense ranked 22nd in the league. The real kicker was the NFL-high 140 points his crew gave up in the fourth quarter.

It seemed at first that Sparano would be lax in his judgement against the coach, attributing the poor play of the defense to a lack of execution by the players, but the fourth-quarter debacles and the defense’s susceptibility to the big play spurred Sparano to make the decision.

With Pasqualoni gone, the door is wide open for any one of the number of coordinators available in this year’s free agency market. According to several sources, the leading candidates are Romeo Crennel, Bill Sheridan, Al Groh, and Mike Zimmer.

Under normal circumstances, Crennel would be a legitimate contender for the job, but Kansas City and Cleveland are already actively pursuing him. Also, Kansas City’s GM, Scott Pioli, just happens to be Bill Parcells’ son-in-law and the two will not likely butt heads on the matter.

Mike Zimmer is still with the Cincinnati organization, but his contract expires at the end of February. His former coaching relationship with Parcells in Dallas could prove to be a deciding factor in who the Dolphins opt to hire.

Al Groh, the former Virginia coach, also has a coaching history with Parcells. However, Groh is already in serious talks with Georgia Tech about becoming their new defensive coordinator.

Sheridan is a long shot, but his philosophy fits that of the direction the Dolphins would like to pursue. Paqualoni’s “bend-but-don’t-break” zone scheme was no longer applicable to the youth and speed of Miami’s defensive corps.

Miami’s two vacant linebacker coach positions could also be a viable opportunity for Sheridan.