[DrCeshing]

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

[DoctorTDent]

I hope this doesn't happen and it if it does, that they get a deal in place before the season.

[teentodiefows]

I hope this doesn't happen and it if it does, that they get a deal in place before the season.

If this happens, football is cooked.

[baxodrom]

i hope there is a riot at every NFL stadium if a lockout comes to fruition.

[botagozzz]

If this happens, football is cooked.

Orly?

[fabrizioitwloch]

If this happens, football is cooked.

No, not at all.

But the owners have a pretty bad PR situation. Most of what I've heard from the players side has been pretty reasonable.

[chuecfafresslds]

If this happens, football is cooked.

baseball made it back and it wasnt as popular as the NFL is beforehand.

[sasaderesada]

City of Green Bay would fold

[SallyIsNice5]

baseball made it back and it wasnt as popular as the NFL is beforehand.

It took a long time for baseball to come back. And really, they never bounced back to being America's favorite pro sport.

[theonsushv]

baseball made it back and it wasnt as popular as the NFL is beforehand.

I don't think a lot of people are going to have much sympathy for players or owners in the event of a strike or lockout. Don't forget that baseball was trying to make it's way back in a better time, financially speaking. I think that will have an impact on how quickly people return to watching/buying the product.

[fkjghfg]

baseball made it back and it wasnt as popular as the NFL is beforehand.

Baseball made it back built on lies and cheating.

[valiumcheapll]

No, not at all.

But the owners have a pretty bad PR situation. Most of what I've heard from the players side has been pretty reasonable.

It'll come back and people (myself included) will always watch, but common folk can be easily detered by greedy owners and athletes.

[gennickhif]

It took a long time for baseball to come back. And really, they never bounced back to being America's favorite pro sport.

That was a players strike. And they lost an entire postseason.

[sirmzereigMix]

Baseball made it back built on lies and cheating.

And there's enough of that in the current NFL.

[KignPeeseeamn]

It'll come back and people (myself included) will always watch, but common folk can be easily detered by greedy owners and athletes.

But the athletes aren't playing the greed card.

The Owners are.

And as fans, we relate more to the players than the owners.

[verizon]

That was a players strike. And they lost an entire postseason.

Youre right. But if come Fall 2011 and there is no NFL football, a lot of people will be pissed and some of them won't be back.

[seperalem]

Youre right. But if come Fall 2011 and there is no NFL football, a lot of people will be pissed and some of them won't be back.

I agree, in general. But it won't be as bad as with baseball... unless it drags on too far.

Hockey's situation would be similar, being a lockout. Losing an entire season, it puts the hurt on a league. The owners have to see that.

[RafaelYV]

I agree, in general. But it won't be as bad as with baseball... unless it drags on too far.

Hockey's situation would be similar, being a lockout. Losing an entire season, it puts the hurt on a league. The owners have to see that.

My pipe dream if there is an NFL lockout is the NHL gains more fans.

I know, it's quite the dream.

I don't see how the owners can go about this. They already make the most money out of all the leagues, some teams are worth billions.

Hell Jerry Jones can poop out a turd and it'd be more expensive than the Phoenix Coyotes.

[gtyruzzel]

My pipe dream if there is an NFL lockout is the NHL gains more fans.

I know, it's quite the dream.

I don't see how the owners can go about this. They already make the most money out of all the leagues, some teams are worth billions.

Hell Jerry Jones can poop out a turd and it'd be more expensive than the Phoenix Coyotes.

UFL expands to 8 teams.

[AndyColemants]

My pipe dream if there is an NFL lockout is the NHL gains more fans.

I know, it's quite the dream.

I don't see how the owners can go about this. They already make the most money out of all the leagues, some teams are worth billions.

Hell Jerry Jones can poop out a turd and it'd be more expensive than the Phoenix Coyotes.

But the problem is that 'franchise value' doesn't mean that they are making money.

And the NFL teams don't want to put up financial disclosures, because the ones that ARE making money would just be told to share a little more of the wealth, and game on.