Labour talks cancelled could mean sides are far apart

Saturday, February 12 2011

Efforts to jump-start NFL labor talks seem to have stalled just days after the owners and the players promised to work harder to reach a deal before the collective-bargaining agreement expires March 3. This article was written by the Staff of The Seattle Times.

All-day meetings scheduled for Thursday were abruptly canceled, raising doubts the two sides were any closer to reaching a compromise in their standoff of more than two years. With the threat of a lockout looming, neither side appears to have made headway in the dispute over how to divide the league's $9 billion in revenue.

If anything, the two sides may be farther apart. Wednesday's meeting in Washington broke down well before its scheduled close. The owners came close to walking out after the players rejected their proposal for an additional $1 billion in spending credits. They were also frustrated by a proposal by the players to eliminate spending credits and simply split all revenue down the middle.

Under the current system, the players get almost 60 percent of all revenue after $1 billion is subtracted for expenses the owners incur. Factoring in that deduction, the players receive about half of the league's remaining revenue.

The union and the league held conference calls with their constituencies Thursday. No other meetings are scheduled.

"We certainly don't want to have another meeting like yesterday," said a person involved in the talks who was not authorized to speak for his side.

Domonique Foxworth, a cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens and a member of the union's executive committee, said on Twitter that he was "sorely disappointed" that Thursday's meeting was canceled. "I can PROMISE you that (AT)NFLPA is trying every avenue to bring you football next year."

Additionally, the NFL canceled an owners meeting planned for next week.

"The commissioner did not see a need for it right now," said Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the league.

Both sides could continue to talk in smaller groups or by phone. Commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, have met privately, even when full meetings were not scheduled.