John Niyo

New Lion Jon Jansen in tune with NFL contract issues

Jon Jansen never lobbied to be players' union representative in a 10-year stint with the Washington Redskins. The Clawson native and ex-Wolverine doesn't plan to be a rep in Detroit, either, although the veteran offensive tackle signed with his hometown team after the Redskins released him last month.

"I did want to be a player rep," Jansen said with a laugh, "until I saw the first five get cut the year they became player reps."

But that doesn't mean he isn't paying attention to the issues as the NFL Players Association and the league tiptoe into negotiations on a new collective-bargaining agreement, hoping to avoid a work stoppage in 2011.

"I've been involved in it a little bit in my career," said Jansen, an alternate player rep with the Redskins. "I understand what's going on. And in my opinion, everybody should, whether they're a union rep or not. You can't tune it out, because you need to know what's going on."

What's going on right now is the prelude to an expensive game of chicken. The owners opted out of the current CBA negotiated in 2006, and the 2010 season likely will be played without a salary cap, barring a quick settlement. Everything from television rights deals to coaches' contracts are being fashioned with a work stoppage in mind. And among the myriad issues to be resolved is the owners' desire for a more equitable split of revenue -- the players get about 60 percent.

"If they want to cry poor, then let's open up the books and see how poor you guys are," Jansen said. "But that's for both sides: Prove it. Prove it that that's the way it is. And for us, we need to prove that's what we need and what we should get."

For now, the proof is hidden by posturing. But while the rhetoric sounds a lot like it did in the NHL circa 2003, Jansen's convinced cooler heads will prevail.

"I don't think we're heading for a strike," he said. "I don't think we're heading for anything like that. Yeah, we're gonna threaten it. They're gonna threaten it. And at some point, everybody's gonna say, 'Oh, my gosh, this is gonna happen.' But when it comes down to it, if there's a strike ... the owners are in this for winning, obviously, but they're also in it to make money. And if we're not on the field, nobody's making money. They don't want that. And if we're not on the field, we're not making money. We don't want that. So there'll be a lot of (complaining) and moaning, but when it comes down to it, we'll figure it out."

Extra points

Circle Sept. 20 on the calendar. The Lions home opener against Minnesota in Week 2 of the regular season almost assuredly will feature Brett Favre under center for the Vikings. Favre's agent, Bus Cook , was busy denying a WCCO-TV report late Tuesday that Favre and the team already have a deal in place and are ordering No. 4 Vikings jerseys in anticipation of his comeback, barring an injury setback. But no one's buying it anymore.

The Vikings start with two in a row on the road -- at Cleveland and at Ford Field -- before a home opener against San Francisco. Then comes the grudge match, a Monday night game at the Metrodome against Green Bay, Favre's ex-team. Minnesota plays at Lambeau Field on Nov. 1.

... The Packers have made receiver Greg Jennings , the former Western Michigan standout, a very rich man. Jennings, who had 80 catches for 1,292 yards and nine touchdowns, signed a three-year, $27 million extension Tuesday, with $16 million reportedly guaranteed.

Jennings is scheduled to make $535,000 this season, the final year of his rookie deal.