NFL, NFLPA Form Subcommittees Focused On Areas Of Dispute

NFL, NFLPA Establish Subcommittees To Help Work Through Disputes

The NFL and NFLPA “have established subcommittees aimed at working through the various areas of disputes,” according to multiple sources cited by Mike Florio of PROFOOTBALLTALK.com. The source said that “nearly ten subcommittees have been established, with groups focusing on drug-testing policies, injury issues, and other specific subjects.” The subcommittees already “have begun to meet, and the meetings are continuing.” Florio noted the union “proposed the approach -- and the league agreed to it” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/14). Meanwhile, a league source indicated that there is “talk that the NFLPA is willing to agree to the expansion of the regular season to 18 games.” The source added that as an “inducement to getting a deal done before the start of the uncapped year, the union is willing to adhere to the free-agency eligibility rules that will apply in 2010 absent a new labor deal.” Florio noted players whose contracts expire after the season “would be required to have six years of service in order to be eligible for unrestricted free agency” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/14).

LOCKOUT LOOMING? Eagles CB and player rep Sheldon Brown said that NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith recently told players that there is a “‘95[%] chance of a lockout’ by the owners for the 2011 season.” Brown: “Of course, we’re willing to sit out. It hurts the guys that sat out years ago, too, right? If they did it, it can be done. We’re not the first people to do it.” Brown added, “If they show us that the [CBA] plan in place doesn’t work or make money, then we’re not stupid -- we’d be like, ‘We got to change it. We’ll do whatever you want us to do.’ We’re not a bunch of greedy athletes trying to get more, trying to change anything.” NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello said in a text message, “We are not commenting on the negotiations. We provide play-by-plays of our games but not of our labor negotiations” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/15).