NFL Betting News: Tonight is Deadline with NFL Lockout Imminent
Thursday, March 03, 2011
by Bodog Sportsbook
At 11:59 p.m. ET time tonight, the NFL essentially goes away. Yes, the owners and NFL Players’ Association are negotiating today, but when the current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59, the owners then are expected to lock out the players first thing on Friday. All player movement outside of the draft will cease.
Is there a chance for a last-minute agreement – or at least an extension? Very, very unlikely.
Assuming the sides can’t come together today, other possibilities are that the union will decertify sometime before the deadline (this seems likely), meaning the players would give up their rights under labor law and instead take their chances in court under antitrust law. The NFLPA made big gains in 1993 after it voluntarily agreed to be decertified a few years earlier. Also, the deadline could be extended, and NFL general counsel Jeff Pash reiterated that was a possibility.
But things obviously aren’t going well as most owners who were in Washington, D.C., for federal mediation talks said after Wednesday’s meeting that they were leaving town, and Thursday's planned get-together was canceled.
The core issues remain these: No. 1 is how to divide the league's revenues, including what cut team owners should get up front to help cover certain costs. Under the old deal, owners received about $1 billion off the top of the $9 billion in league revenue. Now they want an additional $1 billion credit. Also, the players got 59.6 percent of the remaining revenue. The owners believe that's too much. Among the other significant topics are a rookie wage scale; the owners' wanting to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the preseason by two games; and benefits for retired players.
Most experts believe the sides have no chance of coming to a deal until the summer at the earlier when the sense of urgency for the 2011 season will become much greater.
Bet on 2011 NFL futures now at Bodog Sportsbook because then football goes dark
Related Articles
- NFL Football Betting News: Latest Lockout Deadline Nears
- Odds to win Super Bowl XLVII: NO Saints Jonathan Vilma Suspended
- NFL Betting News: Indianapolis Colts with no Surprise Pick Andrew Luck
- 2013 Super Bowl Odds: Sean Payton Suspended for 2012 NFL Season
- Sunday Night NFL Pick: New Orleans Saints Gets Visit From Detroit Lions
Category
Tags
demaurice smith - jeff pash - roger goodell
