Schwarzesbrett » (7-3), 6-2. Berdych is through to the quarterfinals in Mel

Jason Pottinger chose his words carefully, because this was the first time he could speak for himself, on the record. And the Ottawa Redblacks linebacker wanted to be sure his words delivered their full effect. "Its an insult," he said over the phone Wednesday after the CFL Players Association lifted its media ban, giving its members the ability to speak openly about stalling collective bargaining talks. For Pottinger — 30 years old and an eight-year CFL veteran taken by Ottawa in Decembers expansion draft— "It," is an all-composing term, referring to the CFLs reluctance to explore any revenue-sharing model, and the publication of the leagues newest offer Wednesday, which includes a "ratification bonus" ($1,000 for rookies and $3,000 for veterans) if the players agree to the leagues terms by June 2. "Its a slap in the face." "It" ultimately alludes to a negotiation process that has made no progress for months. Like most players, Pottinger has not directly been part of the talks. There is now a week left before the current CBA expires on May 29. Last week the CFLPA began mailing out strike ballots to its members. Pottinger has received his, and he has voted Yes. "Im hopeful," he said. "But the league has to start taking us seriously." For the most part, players have kept quiet over the last few months. The CFL made certain no one representing the league or any team spoke, threatening hefty fines for any league or team official willing to share any thoughts on the negotiations. And then today - after TSN initially reported the leagues latest offer to the players - CFL commissioner Mark Cohon released the offer on the leagues website along with an open letter to players and fans. The leagues offer includes an initial nine per cent increase on the salary cap — from the existing $4.4 million to $4.8 million — in the first year of a new CBA, and a yearly $50,000 increase over the life of a new five-year deal (putting the cap at $5,050,000). The league minimum salary would also be raised from $45,000 to $50,000. And the CFL would maintain a $450,000 annual payment to the CFLPA for "Player marketing and other rights." The proposal also includes larger active rosters, plans for limited amounts of contact practices, and the continuation of player pension, medical, and life insurance benefits. "The CFL offer strikes an appropriate balance of, on the one hand, providing significant compensation increases and health and safety improvements to the Players while, on the other hand, creating an environment in which the League and its teams can continue to build for a strong and stable future," Cohon wrote in his letter to the players. "I was surprised [the league went public]," Pottinger said. "This must have been their plan. We had an understanding that neither side would approach the media for 24 hours. [The players] gave that notice [Tuesday afternoon] and the league broke that understanding. They came in [to the proposed Toronto meeting place Wednesday] handed their proposal and walked out. Now is that bargaining?" Four hours later, CFLPA executives held a press conference and released their counterproposal. The crucial component of the players offer is $6.24 million salary cap partly determined by a revenue-sharing model, which would allocate 55 per cent of gross revenue from TV, internet and radio rights, 45 per cent of gross sponsorship revenue, and 40 per cent of gross ticket revenue to the players. "We advised the CFLPA in no uncertain terms that their proposal was not realistic, and would not form the basis for any financial settlement," Cohon said in his letter. "In fact, it would threaten the very existence of the CFL." "The league has only recently been upfront with us about their finances," Pottinger said. "This isnt just about the players now. This is about the players who are coming into the league, and who will come into the league. In five years, I will likely be out of the league. I want players coming to the CFL then to say Thanks for putting up a fight. CFLPA president Scott Flory also issued a letter to CFL fans Wednesday afternoon. "We are in not interested in destroying the game that has given us all so much. We put our bodies, hearts and souls on the line and seek nothing more than to be fairly paid for what we do," Flory wrote. Sources - players both close to the negotiations and outside of the meetings - have told TSN over the past few months that some kind of revenue-sharing scheme must be an integral part of any new CBA. But are the percentages in the CFLPAs recent proposal fixed, immutable numbers? Or a starting point that hasnt yet been properly considered? Pottinger, a businessman himself working toward his Master of Business Administration, paused when considering the questions. The terms "whats fair" and "fair share" were constantly repeated principles when players were advised to say little or nothing. The message wont change now. "In the end - and I know youve heard this enough times already - but we want whats fair," he said. "I want you to write this: Back in 2010 [when the soon-to-be-expired CBA was being negotiated] revenue sharing for the players was around 56 per cent. The league approached us and said they couldnt operate with a revenue sharing model. They told us the league wouldnt be healthy. They told us to be partners. We understood. We thought we were partners." "Now it just feels like take, take, take." Players used social media to air frustration and show their filled-in strike ballots. Ones with NO crossed have yet to be seen. "In writing this letter, we the Executive, are still here where our negotiations were scheduled to be, working towards furthering talks. We need two sides," Flory wrote in his open letter. What is the timetable now? Does Pottinger expect to miss the first week of training camp? The first preseason game? The first week of the regular season? Is he ready to strike? "Im still hopeful for a new deal," Pottinger said. Nike Air Max 270 Cheap Uk . Dalton completed his only pass and led the Bengals to a touchdown in his only drive -- one that took four minutes to finish -- and the Cincinnati Bengals ended the preseason with a 27-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night. Air Max 720 Wholesale Uk . With Van Osch out with a flu bug that has been rampaging through the tournament, Knezevic stepped in to lead B.C. (4-3) to a pair of victories on Tuesday before 1,131 at the Maurice Richard Arena. http://www.fakeairmaxukoutlet.com/best-max-270-trainers-cheap-uk.html . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. Air Max Shop Uk . The two-time former Formula One champion downplayed his third-place finish three weeks ago in China and said progress is going slow for Ferrari as it tries to make up ground on Mercedes. Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale Uk .The rookie goalie made 36 saves to help the Calgary Flames blank their Pacific Division rivals 1-0 on Saturday following a 48-hour ordeal that included lost baggage, a cancelled flight and a new pair of contact lenses.Melbourne, Australia - Third-seeded Rafael Nadal and No. 6 seed Andy Murray punched their tickets into the Australian Open quarterfinals on Sunday. Nadal cruised past South Africas Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-1, 6-4, while Murray beat 10th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5. The 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal beat Roger Federer in the 2009 Aussie final and is a two-time runner-up in Melbourne, including last year when he was stunned by Stan Wawrinka in the final. Nadal, of course, is the reigning French Open king. Nadal will play in the quarterfinals here for the eighth time. He will next face seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, who defeated Bernard Tomic 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Berdych is through to the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the fifth straight year. Murray, a three-time Aussie Open runner-up, was almost taken to a fifth set on Sunday. The Brit saved a set point while servinng at 5-2 down in the fourth set, then got it back on serve at 5-5, broke Dimitrov to love -- which prompted the 23-year-old to destroy his racquet -- and then served out.dddddddddddd. The victory sends Murray to an Australian Open quarterfinal for the sixth straight year, and came against an opponent who ended his Wimbledon 2013 title defense in the quarterfinals last year. Murray also reached his 16th straight Grand Slam quarterfinal. The last time Murray failed to reach the last eight at a major was when he lost in the third round at the 2010 U.S. Open to Wawrinka. Next up for Murray is Australian Nick Krygios, who rallied past Andreas Seppi of Italy 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 8-6. Seppi was trying to build off his monstrous upset of Federer in the third round. Krygios, who saved a match point, became the first Australian man to reach the quarterfinals here since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005. ' ' '