A few things stood out from Cardinals kicker Jay Feely’s appearance on Monday’s PFT Live.
He stressed that players wanted to meet with owners more last week. In two days in Washington, Feely estimates he sat across from the owners for roughly 30 minutes.
Feely also indicated more progress was made than the NFLPA seemed to indicate on their media conference call Monday. (More on that soon.) Feely compared the NFL’s strategy of waiting until the last minute to present their offer to how contract negotiations often go between teams and players.
“I think that’s what their thinking was, to come back on Friday right before the deadline with an offer that moved a little bit to where we were,” Feely said. “But the process was so convuluted along the way, there was so much frustration along the way, then by that time the players were at the point we said we’re going to use our legal opportunities and options as well.”
Feely indicated that things could have been different if the NFL came to them with that offer earlier in the week. (He says it was a counter-offer.)
“But had them come back with that at the beginning of the week, I think we could have made progress. By that time, may it was just too late,” Feely said.
One thing that we think has been lost in the shuffle: The sides are closer on some key issues, like health and safety. Progress was made last week.
That makes it a little more frustrating that talks were stopped, but it makes us hopeful a deal can happen before any games are missed.
For Feely’s complete interview, head to the PFT Live homepage.
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