Though the chances of getting a new labor deal done before March 2010 remain remote, the NFL and the NFLPA are at least talking.
According to Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal, the two sides are meeting on Tuesday, their first get-together in nearly three weeks.
NFLPA Executive Director De Smith is leading the talks for the union, and NFL General Counsel Jeff Pash has the reins for the league.
In past years, union outside counsel Jeff Kessler has had a major role in the negotiations, but he is being phased out by new leadership of the union. And that’s viewed generally as a positive, given Kessler’s reputation for being belligerent and combative.
The thinking in some circles is that the union realizes that a deal won’t be done by March, but that by taking the position that they want a deal, the players will be in better position to persuade the public to blame the owners if a lockout occurs.
I dont know what I would do if a lock out where to occur
“NFL General Counsel Jeff Pash has the reins for the players.”
Shouldn’t that say:
“NFL General Counsel Jeff Pash has the reins for the [b]owners[/b].”
Lock-out won’t occur. At best possibly a two game strike. Too many people would lose money, and that is what this all about: money. The Union is turning into a bunch of cry-babies aren’t content with making more money than most of America for playing a game meant for entertainment. I’ve always found it amusing when players acted as though they were hot stuff for running around on turf with a leather ball in the hand. Can you imagine if doctors and firefighters were the same?
C’mon league and union… let’s get this deal done so that we fans can continue to bash each others’ teams and fan bases! I need a place to direct my ire – lol!
Agreed. Otherwise, I’ll have to get married and have kids to take my ire out on. I don’t think the NFL wants that on their concience.