NFL Lockout Looms; Time Running Out On CBA
Less than 72 hours before the NFL's collective bargaining agreement expires, the league and the players' union were scheduled to resume negotiations in front of a federal mediator.
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Less than 72 hours before the NFL's collective bargaining agreement expires, the league and the players' union were scheduled to resume negotiations in front of a federal mediator.
If the collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of Thursday, as expected, rookies will not be able to sign contracts, attend minicamps, offseason workouts or even pick up playbooks until there is a new CBA in place.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's top labor negotiator used this week's annual scouting combine to update owners on the collective bargaining negotiations.
The NFL and the players' union have made "some progress" over seven consecutive days of face-to-face meetings, "but very strong differences remain," and negotiations will resume next week, mediator George Cohen said Thursday.
When the NFL and the players' union agreed to federal mediation, they knew it was voluntary. In theory, either side could walk away at any time. Instead, they keep coming back to the table.
At least one person participating in the federally mediated NFL labor negotiations was willing to say something — anything — about how he felt after more than 25 hours of meetings over four days. "Things are going well right now," said Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch.
The NFL and its players' union met with a federal mediator for the fourth day in a row Monday, trying to make progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement before the current labor deal expires.
Say this for the NFL and its players' union: They are on speaking terms at the moment. "Conversation," Jets fullback Tony Richardson said, "is good."
The NFL and its players' union met before a federal mediator for the third consecutive day on Sunday, trying to find common ground for a new labor deal before the current one expires.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, union executive director DeMaurice Smith and members of their negotiating teams participated in a second consecutive six-hour session with a federal mediator Saturday.
The contentious NFL labor negotiations went in front of a federal mediator Friday, two weeks before owners could impose a lockout on players and threaten the 2011 season.
The NFL and players' union have agreed to mediation in their labor negotiations. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service will oversee negotiations in Washington beginning Friday.
To paraphrase Bill Clinton in 1994 while discussing baseball's labor angst, I don't get why y'all can't just figure out how to share a few billion dollars.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was right when he said fans "don't care about the details" of contract negotiations. But he better keep his fingers crossed that doesn't change anytime soon.
The NFL says about 2,000 fans forced to sit in temporary seats at the Super Bowl will receive a face-value ticket refund or a free ticket to a future Super Bowl.
Negotiations to prevent an NFL lockout took a grim turn Thursday with the cancellation of the second day of a planned two-day bargaining session.
I have a new favorite quarterback in the NFL and his name is Aaron Rodgers. I like his attitude. I like his smile. I also like his story.
The NFL has added a second option for the roughly 400 fans who had to give up their seats at the Super Bowl: They can choose to attend any future Super Bowl instead of being limited to the 2012 game.
So much for Super Bowl experience. But for a few key drops, the "inexperienced" (in the Super Bowl, anyway) Packers easily could have scored 45 points.
Capping one of the greatest postseasons for any quarterback, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to their first NFL championship in 14 years Sunday with a 31-25 victory over the Steelers.
In their zeal to set a Super Bowl attendance record, the NFL and Jerry Jones overlooked one important detail: Making sure all the temporary seats inside mammoth Cowboys Stadium had been inspected and were ready for the fans.
The collective bargaining agreement that led to unprecedented success for the NFL expires at the end of the day on March 3, and barring an agreement before then, owners are threatening to lock out players.
Bundle up, football fans. Two of the next three Super Bowls are likely to be super cold, just like this one.
With the Super Bowl now just a few days away, Peter Schwartz joined Neil Keefe talk about media day, Cowboys Stadium, the latest on the CBA and to give his prediction for the Super Bowl.
On Wednesday, the Packers and Steelers practiced for the first time since arriving in North Texas - both teams took their practices indoors because of the inclement weather here in the Dallas area.
