OTHER NFL NEWS: NFL/NFLPA TO GET JUMP START ON NEW CBA

     NFL and NFLPA officials will sit down in the next few months
to discuss extending the league's collective bargaining
agreement, according to Paul Domowitch of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY
NEWS.  Domowitch reports because both sides are happy with the
current deal, which expires in '99, they will "at least talk
about an extension."  NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw, who received
extensive criticism when the current deal was implemented, says
the atmosphere has changed.  Upshaw:  "You know the crap I was
taking then.  Now they think I'm a genius.  It's not what they
thought it was."  Upshaw said the players' "biggest question" is
whether an uncapped year will remain as part of the future
agreement, and he agreed that no new agreement would be reached
without an uncapped year at some point.  Upshaw added, "Service-
time qualifications for free-agency is non-negotiable."
Currently a player can become an unrestricted free agent after
four years in a capped year, and five years in an uncapped year
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/13).