NFL gives labor talks intense scrutiny

Friday, February 04 2011

With just over a month left before the current deal with players expires, the National Football League's lead labor lawyer said Wednesday that it's time for "intensive, serious negotiations" on a new agreement. This article was written by Don Walker and appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"The time has come for both parties to make a shared commitment and devote all of their energy to accomplishing a successful negotiation by the beginning of March," NFL lawyer Jeff Pash told reporters here at a press conference.

Pash said that if the players' association and the NFL can't reach agreement in March, it would have "adverse revenue effects" in that month alone that could reach a half-billion dollars. The current deal expires March 4.

Pash said nearly 500 players will become free agents in March, and more are eligible for bonus payments that month. Those would not be paid out, a suggestion that NFL owners are prepared to lock out the players.

"If we sustain significant revenue losses, it will be harder, not easier, to make a deal," he said. "The eventual agreement will be more costly and more difficult. And for everyone's benefit, it makes sense to get something accomplished sooner than later."

A negotiation session is scheduled for Saturday in Dallas with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, the head of the players' association.

Pash said owners want a new business model that will benefit both parties. The current business model, he said, is unsustainable. For each dollar of new revenue the league generates, a total of 70 cents goes to the players, he said.

"They know we are getting crushed on non-player costs," Pash said in reference to rising debt loads on new stadiums as well as increasing operating and maintenance costs.

The union has said the league wants to roll back the cut of player revenue by 18%, or as much as $1 billion.

Pash said both sides should have an incentive to come up with a new system that will help the NFL and its players prosper. Although salaries to players have doubled in the past 10 years, Pash said a new system and contract could allow the players to see that kind of growth in salary for the next 10 years.

NFL owners have raised the prospect of an 18-game regular season. Players say they have health and safety concerns about adding regular-season games, even at the expense of dropping two pre-season games. The average player has a career that lasts 3.5 years, and union officials want retirees to have improved health insurance when they leave the game.

"An 18-game season could be part of the new business model," Pash said. "The best reason for 18 games is that it's being responsive to the fan."

Pash was asked what would happen if a lockout lasted until Sept. 1.

"There would be pressure to get the games going," he said. Players would have to be signed, training camps have to be organized, and teams would need to get stadiums ready to play.

The loss of the preseason games alone would amount to $1 billion, Pash said.

"We think March is a serious date," Pash said.

Union officials are expected to give their side of the dispute on Thursday.