The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT June 1, 2011

With the lockout still looming large over the NFL, it may now be time to just admit defeat for both sides in the labor dispute.

And while the wins and losses on the football field are on hold for right now, you can't help but wonder just how the owners and players didn't learn a lesson from their MLB counterparts 17 years ago.

WHENEVER THE lockout is lifted (hopefully soon), a frenzy to sign players will likely commence as teams begin to make up for lost time by adding more pieces to their puzzle.

It could also get interesting as teams try to get moves done by the scheduled start of training camp at the end of July.

Today is June 1 - and I don't see NFL camps opening on time for the first time in a long time.

Players and owners have been at a stalemate for months, and show no signs of settling anything soon.

But really, didn't anyone learn from the fiasco that was the baseball strike in 1994?

Not only did they lose the World Series that year -the Montreal Expos were leading the National League East. Once baseball resumed, they moved most of their players and were never the same.

They were later moved to Washington, D.C.

NOT THAT some NFL markets will wind up losing teams, but considering that some were struggling before the lockout happened, we'll see what happens next.

It took baseball three years to recover from the damage that was caused. And considering that it wasn't until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa played home run derby through the final month of the 1998 season that I began watching again, it really makes me wonder.

What will be waiting after this latest lockout is a lot of unknown.

Will the Jacksonville Jaguars really wind up moving to Los Angeles?

Can Tim Tebow and Cam Newton be the top quarterbacks in the NFL and lead their teams to a championship?

Or will most football fans have to resort to recording college football games on Saturday to fill the void.

ONE THING does remain clear about both situations — it appears neither league has learned anything.

The only people being hurt in this situation are the fans, who put the money in the pockets of both the owners and players.

Owners will still make their money, regardless of who takes the field.

Players will still want that cash because they think they deserve it.

There has been one thing I’ve learned about both situations.

Greed is good, no matter the cost.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached via telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].