Filed under: NFL Analysis
DALLAS -- While NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith continues to take a combative stance toward the slow-moving labor negotiations which face a March 4 deadline before the collective bargaining agreement expires, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell maintained a mostly conciliatory attitude during his annual state of the game press conference on Friday."We need to have intensive, round-the-clock negotiations, address the issues and find solutions," Goodell said. "If we're committed to doing that, I think we can be successful. I can assure that I have that sense of urgency and I think both sides do. There are no dealbreakers. There are many different ways (to) address the issues we have. In negotiations, there is give and take. That's how you get an agreement that makes the game better. The status quo is not acceptable. We have to address these issues going forward. This isn't about the next three months. It's about the next 10 years. This is about getting an agreement in place that will ensure the success of our games going forward. "
While Smith said Thursday that March 4 is a hard deadline, NFL chief counsel and lead negotiator Jeff Pash said Wednesday, "If you're making progress, you can stop the clock. It's not a Thelma and Louise situation where you just go over the cliff." Goodell termed it "a very important" date.
"Our window of opportunity is in the next few weeks to get an agreement that works for everybody," Goodell said. "I'm sure a lot of steps will be taken. Our window of opportunity is in the next few weeks to get an agreement that works for everybody. We're prepared for every outcome. The commitment of ownership is to get an agreement and we will get an agreement. (But) that will only happen with intensive negotiations. If we're committed to doing that, I think we can be successful. I can assure you that I have that sense of urgency and I think both sides do."
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/04/goodell-there-are-no-dealbreakers-in-labor-negotiations/
No comments:
Post a Comment