What do the NFL and NFLPA Really Want?
Its getting close again to another lockout deadline. At midnight on Friday, the extended Collective Bargaining Agreement expires and if that happens the NFL goes back to square one.
After all these weeks, the question remains whether the NFL and its players want to settle or not? It is clear they will need more time to hammer out an agreement but that can happen in time.
Every once in a while, in protracted labor negotiations, a client has to be honest about what he (or they in case) really want. Do the players and owners want a lockout? Do they want to go to the wall? Do they want expensive litigation? The owners have just lost a big round in the court and lost (pending appeal) their $4 billion slush fund.
If there is no extension and a lockout, you would have to assume this standoff could drag on until August and until the NFL is on the brink of a lost season. That situation will cause a financial disaster for some of players and maybe even some of the owners. Also a long and protracted lockout will only serve to hurt fan enthusiasm for the league that can make as much money as it wants.
Is a $9 billion pie enough to find peace for the players and owners. We may know by midnight on Friday.
My name is Christopher Fusco. I am the managing partner of Callahan & Fusco, LLC with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.