Discord Among NFL Owners Threatening Labor Deal

Added on Jun 17, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

The mystery of why NFL brass is extending their annual meeting has been solved–and it’s not exactly good news for pro football fans. Reportedly the longer meetings are necessary to stem some dissention in the ranks of league owners. Word is that several owners are resisting the labor deal that is currently being pitched to players claiming it doesn’t adequately address the issues from the 2006 collective bargaining agreement that are perceived as problematic.

Ironically, there’s a strong suggestion that the internal dissension among the owners is now a bigger threat to a resolution of the NFL’s labor situation than differences between the league and its players. Sources suggest that this division dates back to March when the league’s owners authorized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to negotiate whatever he thought was in the best interest of the league. After the players voted to decertify the NFLPA, Goodell briefed owners on the situation and several–the current cabal causing the trouble–thought that the deal was too ‘one sided’ on behalf of the players.

In a separate development, the prevailing opinion within the league’s executive offices is that a deal would have to be finalized by July 14 for a full preseason and regular season schedule. Since NFL exhibition games are essentially a cash grab for team owners (since they don’t have to pay players until the regular season begins) that will likely hasten the pressure from that side to work out a deal.

Once players and owners agree on a deal there’s still a lot that has to happen before the preparation to play football can begin–the courts have to approve the agreement, the NFLPA has to recertify, teams and agents have to be brought up to speed on the rules and players have to get into training camp.

The most likely scenario is that the minority of NFL owners holding up the process will be brought in line and negotiations will continue apace. There’s just too much money at stake for everyone concerned to do otherwise. Even if NFL owners don’t get a perfect deal it’s obvious that playing football is much more conducive to their interests than a scenario where the season is delayed or cancelled.