NFL Lockout News

[AGurv]

:wall

Sources: NFL-union talks canceled EmailPrintComments 57 ESPN.com news services Talks scheduled for Thursday in Washington between the NFL and its players' union have been canceled, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Future Of The League In a guest column, NFL rep Greg Aiello outlines the league's problems with the CBA and ways to fix the system as the game moves forward. Story With the CBA expiring on March 3, NFLPA executive George Attallah breaks down how the players and the union view the crucial talks. Story • Sando: 10 things to know The two sides are so far apart that Wednesday's meeting in Washington broke up prior to Thursday's cancellation of discussions, according to one of those sources, who said the sides can't agree on how to split an additional $1 billion in revenue. The current collective bargaining agreement expires in three weeks. "We are not confirming, denying, or commenting on CBA meetings at this point. We are focused on finding a way to get an agreement," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told ESPN. Wednesday's session was the second in five days, with the previous negotiations taking place in Dallas on Saturday. Neither side would comment on what was discussed or how fruitful Saturday's talks were. On Sunday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the two-hour meeting with the players' union was "beneficial." "It's always a positive when both parties are talking," Goodell said. "My focus is on the next three or four weeks. I've often said, our agreement expires [at midnight] on March 4. We have to use that period of time to reach an agreement that's fair for the players, fair for the clubs, and allows our great game to grow for our fans." In an interview Sunday with ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said it was a "good meeting" but added, "I don't think anyone went into the meeting with the idea that we were going to build Rome in one day." Smith said the sides have been talking continually and it's probably better that the discussions are not publicized. Team owners opted out of the CBA in 2008. Goodell heavily emphasized during his Super Bowl news conference last week the urgency to get a deal done in the coming weeks. Smith has said he expects the owners to lock out the players after the CBA expires. Team owners want a bigger cut of the revenues, which are roughly $9 billion, as well as a rookie wage scale and to increase the regular season by two games to 18, dropping two preseason games. The players think those two extra games will cause a rise in injuries, although that issue appears more negotiable than giving back any percentage of the revenue pool. The league estimates there would be a cut in gross revenues of $120 million without a new agreement by early March; $350 million if there's no CBA by August, before the preseason starts; $1 billion if no new contract is in place until September. And if regular-season games are lost, the NFL figures the revenue losses would amount to about $400 million per week. The NFL has had labor peace since a 1987 players strike that led to three games with replacement players.

[Rick121212]

Re: NFL Lockout News Thanks for the updates AGurv. Much appreciated. :hope Fingers crossed for some good news though.