NFL Labor Watch: Chiefs Employees To See Pay Cut In Event Of Lockout

All Chiefs employees, including President Mark Donovan, GM Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley, "would see a pay reduction if the NFL experiences a work stoppage," according to Adam Teicher of the K.C. STAR. A team source said that the salary-reduction plan "would be phased in over eight months." Nobody "will be laid off or furloughed," and employees "would retain full benefits." Salary adjustments "would be tiered across the organization and those with the highest salaries would receive the greatest percentage reductions." If NFL owners and the NFLPA "reach a labor agreement in time for a full 2011 season to be played, employees would be reimbursed for the salary lost during the duration of the lockout." Teicher notes several Chiefs employees "were laid off after the end of the season," but the source indicated that those moves "had nothing to do with the impending lockout" (K.C. STAR, 3/2).

BUSINESS AS USUAL: In West Palm Beach, Ben Volin noted while the Jets are "planning to make their employees take a 25 percent paycut in the form of a one-week furlough each month until the lockout is resolved," Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Monday said his team will be conducting "business as usual." A team source said that Dolphins employees are "understandably nervous that paycuts could come eventually." But Ross said, "Hopefully we're not in the position where we have to do that. We can't really let it stop what we're doing. We wouldn't be ready for when we can go" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 3/1).

CHANGE OF PLANS: In Nashville, Jim Wyatt reports new Titans coach Mike Munchak "had hoped to gather his players today, introduce them to the new coaching staff and discuss plans in the event of a work stoppage." But sources said that the meeting was "abruptly canceled Tuesday ... because of concerns about NFL rules during a league dead period." Sources said players were informed by e-mail that the "timing of the meeting is not good" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/2).