"Players need to band together in this. Unfortunately, getting all the players to stay together is one of the toughest things, if you want to battle for something in the CBA. It is the toughest thing because the billionaire owners have deeper pockets than millionaire players" -- ESPN's Mike Golic, on the idea of fully guaranteed contracts in the NFL ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 7/5).
"It’s not the sole motivating factor. I love to just go out there and compete. But at the same time, knowing that you can decide your own fate is comforting because you go out and put it all on the line and have nothing holding you back because you already know what the reward is" -- MMA fighter Rick Story, who will make his Professional Fighters League debut tonight, on the format and payment strategy the outfit uses for its fighters (WASHINGTON POST, 7/5).
"I haven’t met a player that we haven’t overpaid for yet, and they smile when I say that” -- Islanders President of Hockey Operations & GM Lou Lamoriello, on the team being aggressive in free agency despite losing C John Tavares (NYPOST.com, 7/5).
