Yes it will. And why you ask very simple. Because if a deal is not in place after the season all player moves will freeze accept for the NFL Draft.
That means instead of teams developing a “Free Agent’s targeted first strategy” they have to shift their thinking to “NFL Draft Picks first”.
One of the most critical processes for an NFL team is “how they acquire players” now they must have comprehensive plans in place to re-think/engineer that and their thinking. Unfortunately, like most U.S. businesses, they are not good at making quick adjustments in a bad economy.
Teams like the Cardinals and 49ers who need starting quarterbacks big difference in how they approach it. For example, couple of differences:
Draft Strategy differences – Are you now going to draft more for need vs. best player in fear of not getting the free agent you targeted?
Free Agency differences – So late in the season will it drive more players negotiating with their current teams and not test the water due to shortened free agency?
How does this impact any potential 2011 fantasy football rankings? Its going to make it easier, less player movement on the free agency side, with more rookies forced into positions too early. I am taking the approach based on some historical analysis that says – less player movement means more consistency in a teams output. Imagine how much better Sam Bradford will be knowing his Oline will be in tact. Or Drew Brees knowing Reggie Bush will probably stay. Arguments can be made from both sides.
The off season has not even started, but then again for fantasy football fans- yes hit has baby!
The NFL owners have already said that if there is not a new deal in place by the March 4th deadline that there will be no free agency this off-season. All players whose contracts were up after this season will be retained by their clubs and given a 1 year deal commussurate to their 2010 salary.
Guys like Derek Anderson, Marc Bulger, DeAngelo Williams, etc will all end up playing for the same teams they played for last year and will not be abe to be moved.
Of course I think this all to be bluster as just like the last time there was a CBA concern, they extanded the deadline 3 times before finally getting an agreement in place less than 2 weeks after the original deadline.