The NFL told its ownership Thursday that the canceled CBA talks with the NFLPA are part of “normal negotiations,” sources said. With 20 days to go before the expiration of the CBA, the two sides are significantly far apart in their proposals. “These kinds of things – ups and downs, bad sessions and good ones, are an inevitable part of a messy process,” a management source said. “It is like watching the sausage being made. It is 'normal' in that sense.”
The NFL also told owners during a conference call that the goal is still to reach a new CBA by March 3, notwithstanding the ticking clock and with no new negotiating sessions having been set. The NFL and NFLPA scheduled two days of bargaining sessions this week in DC for Wednesday and Thursday. The union proposed, according to reports, an exact split of revenues between players and owners, not far off the current divide. The players take just under 52% of revenues.
The owners, who are seeking far greater concessions from the union, rejected the 50-50 split and according to some reports walked out of the meeting. The two sides also exchanged vastly different proposals for a rookie wage scale. The NFLPA could not immediately be reached for comment.
