NFL Labor Watch: Woody Johnson Talks Pay Cuts, Furloughs In Event Of Lockout

Jets Owner Woody Johnson yesterday discussed the team's lockout plans, which include 25% pay cuts "for all employees under contract in football operations and one week of furlough per each month of a work stoppage for employees on the business side," according to Jenny Vrentas of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Jets employees "were made aware of their plans as early as four months ago." Johnson said, "It's tough to do it because nobody likes to take anything away from the people in the building that made it all happen for us. ... We did what we thought we had to do. To be responsible, we had to let our employees know about this furlough program, and give them time to prepare." He added, "I think we fully explained why we had to do this in a way we felt was believable to them" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/9).

EASING THEIR MINDS: In Dallas, Gerry Fraley reports Cowboys coaches "will not take the financial hit many of their peers will during a lockout." The Cowboys "have lockout language in the contracts of their coaches," but NFL Coaches Association Staff Dir Larry Kennan said that the Cowboys "will be kind to their coaches if there's a lockout." Kennan said Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones "does treat his people well." Kennan: "The Coaches Association isn't fighting with Jerry Jones. We're fighting owners who don't treat coaches nearly as well as he does" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/9).