They are not getting hurt in some frivolous hobby. They are hurt applying themselves to the exact task they've been hired to do. This is a risk that ought to be shared in a fairer way.

Now we're getting a whole generation of kids who have never had a football team in L.A., so they don't miss it and don't ask for it. It becomes self-perpetuating. They don't know what they're missing.

Hey, our Founding Fathers wore long hair and powdered wigs - I don't see anybody trying to look like them today, either... But we do look to them as role models.

Nobody wants to kill this golden goose. I don't like the salary-cap system. There's nothing I like about it except that it's a system that both sides have been able to agree upon. But that has meant that football's been able to concentrate its energies and efforts at the union and management level on developing new revenue sources and promoting the brand with the general public.

Obviously Mark's been a starter since 1995 and is confident of his ability to lead a team. But he looks forward to the ability to compete for a starting job in training camp.

It is not in your interest to pull one over on the other side and get them to make a bad deal. You want the situation to be justifiable and reasonable while getting what you want. The two of you might be doing deals in the future.