CASPER
New member
INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL Players Association doesn't want a lockout. It wants a deal.
On Friday, union executive director DeMaurice Smith and four of the league's most prominent agents put on a unified front at the league's annual scouting combine. The hope is the union and the NFL can agree on a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires next week.
If they can't, a lockout could begin next Friday.
"We want a deal and our hope is it will get done as quickly as possible," Smith said before entering the afternoon session of a daylong meeting with player agents.
When asked to characterize the last seven days of negotiations with a federal mediator, Smith declined to answer. He said "thanks" and briskly walked away.
Both sides have abided by mediator George Cohen's request to keep quiet about negotiations, even as the league and union have spent the past two days going over contingency plans and possible lockout rules.
The union took the unusual step of putting Tom Condon, Ben Dogra, Drew Rosenhaus and Joel Segal side-by-side in a show of support for the players. The agents represent some of the league's biggest names, including brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Terrell Owens.
"The agents are unified. We are 100 percent behind Dee Smith and my clients are 100 percent behind Dee Smith," Rosenhaus said. "He's doing everything he can to get a fair deal with the owners."
It's been a strange week at the combine, one of the league's biggest and busiest offseason events.
Three blocks away from the opening workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts and next year's Super Bowl, Smith was talking to agents about how to handle a lockout.
On Thursday, the same day the Super Bowl host committee unveiled its logo, NFL officials were discussing contingency plans with coaches and general managers in a local hotel. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio called it an informational session.
"We know we're going to play football in 2011, so our preparation has not changed one bit," Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Friday. "Like everyone else, if (a lockout) does take place, we'll adjust and be able to handle it."
On Friday, union executive director DeMaurice Smith and four of the league's most prominent agents put on a unified front at the league's annual scouting combine. The hope is the union and the NFL can agree on a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires next week.
If they can't, a lockout could begin next Friday.
"We want a deal and our hope is it will get done as quickly as possible," Smith said before entering the afternoon session of a daylong meeting with player agents.
When asked to characterize the last seven days of negotiations with a federal mediator, Smith declined to answer. He said "thanks" and briskly walked away.
Both sides have abided by mediator George Cohen's request to keep quiet about negotiations, even as the league and union have spent the past two days going over contingency plans and possible lockout rules.
The union took the unusual step of putting Tom Condon, Ben Dogra, Drew Rosenhaus and Joel Segal side-by-side in a show of support for the players. The agents represent some of the league's biggest names, including brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Terrell Owens.
"The agents are unified. We are 100 percent behind Dee Smith and my clients are 100 percent behind Dee Smith," Rosenhaus said. "He's doing everything he can to get a fair deal with the owners."
It's been a strange week at the combine, one of the league's biggest and busiest offseason events.
Three blocks away from the opening workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts and next year's Super Bowl, Smith was talking to agents about how to handle a lockout.
On Thursday, the same day the Super Bowl host committee unveiled its logo, NFL officials were discussing contingency plans with coaches and general managers in a local hotel. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio called it an informational session.
"We know we're going to play football in 2011, so our preparation has not changed one bit," Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Friday. "Like everyone else, if (a lockout) does take place, we'll adjust and be able to handle it."
