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**DrCeshing** · 03-15-2010, 05:29 PM

The players at the annual meeting seem to have already achieved unity on one thing: the belief that the owners plan to lock them out when the CBA expires next March.

“We know the deal,” said Houston Texans player rep Chester Pitts. “We are prepared or are preparing for what is on the horizon, and what is on the horizon is the fact that owners plan to lock us out.”

Chicago Bears alternate player rep Rashied Davis said all players at the meeting believe a lockout is coming. “Everyone believes it. It’s not a strike. It’s a lockout," Davis said. "The owners are the ones. We want to play. That is what the players want to do. Owners don’t want to let us play, so they are planning to lock us out."

Executive committee member Mike Vrabel said: “You prepare for it just like you prepare for a long and grueling season. ... We are preparing for the same thing with the lockout.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, asked for a response, said by e-mail Monday morning, "The goal of ownership is to negotiate an agreement."
Union sources acknowledged that its leadership was discussing strategy for a lockout, but no player or source would reveal any details, no surprise since labor strategy is usually kept private for tactical reasons.

The NFLPA says the league is asking that players take an 18 percent reduction in salaries (a figure the league disputes), and players say they are not prepared to accept that without being shown some proof of why they should. The NFL, unlike the NBA, has not shown the union profit and loss statements for the clubs or the league.

Pitts said NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith has “driven the point home” that if the NFL were to show players proof of owners struggling financially, the players might be willing to take a serious look at their proposals. “But they have refused to show us the financials to that effect,” Pitts said. “How do you negotiate on a good-faith basis? If you are negotiating, bring all the information to the table and let’s get a deal done.”

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/137718

03-15-2010, 05:29 PM	#1
DrCeshing Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 509 Senior Member	Lockout Talk The players at the annual meeting seem to have already achieved unity on one thing: the belief that the owners plan to lock them out when the CBA expires next March. “We know the deal,” said Houston Texans player rep Chester Pitts. “We are prepared or are preparing for what is on the horizon, and what is on the horizon is the fact that owners plan to lock us out.” Chicago Bears alternate player rep Rashied Davis said all players at the meeting believe a lockout is coming. “Everyone believes it. It’s not a strike. It’s a lockout," Davis said. "The owners are the ones. We want to play. That is what the players want to do. Owners don’t want to let us play, so they are planning to lock us out." Executive committee member Mike Vrabel said: “You prepare for it just like you prepare for a long and grueling season. ... We are preparing for the same thing with the lockout.” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, asked for a response, said by e-mail Monday morning, "The goal of ownership is to negotiate an agreement." Union sources acknowledged that its leadership was discussing strategy for a lockout, but no player or source would reveal any details, no surprise since labor strategy is usually kept private for tactical reasons. The NFLPA says the league is asking that players take an 18 percent reduction in salaries (a figure the league disputes), and players say they are not prepared to accept that without being shown some proof of why they should. The NFL, unlike the NBA, has not shown the union profit and loss statements for the clubs or the league. Pitts said NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith has “driven the point home” that if the NFL were to show players proof of owners struggling financially, the players might be willing to take a serious look at their proposals. “But they have refused to show us the financials to that effect,” Pitts said. “How do you negotiate on a good-faith basis? If you are negotiating, bring all the information to the table and let’s get a deal done.” http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/137718
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