NFLPA CALLS UNCAPPED YEAR IN 2000 A "VERY BIG ISSUE"

          The NFLPA "has informed the league that it is prepared
     to allow" the CBA to expire after the 2000 season and not
     extend it through 2002, according to Leonard Shapiro of the
     WASHINGTON POST.  The present CBA calls for an end to the
     salary cap for the 2000 season, but the league and union had
     been negotiating to extend the deal, "and cap," through
     2002.  NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw said NFL owners want the
     cap through 2002 "to cover the first five years" of the new
     TV deal.  Upshaw: "We're not willing to do that unless
     they're willing to be give us something in exchange, and so
     far they haven't been willing to do that."  He declined to
     say what the players would want, but said, "Uncapped years
     is a very big issue to us."  NFL Senior VP/Communications
     Joe Browne said league owners will discuss the CBA at their
     February 18 meeting in Dallas (WASHINGTON POST, 2/5).