Spring practice kicking off on college campuses

Those of you tired of all this Doomsday talk concerning the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement can take comfort in the fact there are no labor issues at the collegiate ranks, where spring practice has already begun on many college campuses. Players have taken the field already at Alabama (see photo), Auburn and Texas. Tennessee begins its spring drills today, and Virginia Tech goes March 22 and wraps up with its annual spring game on April 15.

Speaking of those NFL labor talks, latest reports say that Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the eight league owners who make up the Management Council Executive Committee have unanimously voted to break off talks with players on a new CBA. It’s looking more and more each hour that no deal will be reached to extend the CBA, and NFL owners will proceed as if 2007 season will be played without a salary cap. The new league year and free-agency period are slated to begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday and teams will be cutting players left and right – actually, that process began Wednesday – to get under the current $95.5 million cap. Teams such as the Raiders ($26 million over the salary cap -- talk about getting less bang for your bucks.), Miami Dolphins ($12.9 million over – same here) and Kansas City Chiefs ($20.7 million over), will have until 10 p.m. Thursday to cut enough salaries to limbo under the cap stick.