NFL owners have “reached out several times over the past few months to the union to talk about an extension to the current CBA,” according to sources cited by ESPN's Dan Graziano. They plan to “reach out again and try and start talks here in the next month or so.” There are four seasons remaining on the current deal. It is unclear “how eager the NFLPA is to do this.” However, the owners “are motivated because they want to get some more of those stadium credits that they used up in the previous deal, maybe get some new stadiums built in places like San Diego or Las Vegas” (“NFL Insiders,” ESPN, 10/14). The N.Y. Daily News' Mike Lupica noted the question is "whether the owners are willing to give back some of the insane power" Commissioner Roger Goodell "got the last time they negotiated this deal." It is "impossible to believe the union would sit down at the table if that's not on the table." Lupica: "We keep hearing the owners are happy with things the way they are. Only now, one wants to move and get a brand-spanking-new stadium and another one wants the same kind of stadium to stay. It will be interesting to see how thrilled those two owners are with the current CBA if they think Goodell's power might affect the power of their money” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 10/16).
TALK OF 18 GAMES AGAIN: PFT’s Mike Florio said the possibility of an 18-game regular season "doesn't get discussed much anymore," but the NFLPA is "bracing for the league to ask for expansion from 16 to 18 games in the next round of CBA negotiations." Those talks "could begin soon, at least the NFL could soon reach out to the NFLPA and say, ‘We have five years left. Let's work on some things and extend the deal even farther’” ("FNIA," NBC, 10/16).
