Word surfaced Thursday that a super-secret NFL labor meeting took place Wednesday between the NFL and its players union in Chicago.
This should be glimmer of hope after almost three months of an impasse that has taken fans’ attention through the court room and away from the field. It should bring great optimism that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith were reportedly in the same room.
Unfortunately, the sides have gone 79 days without a deal and hope seems to be tackled for loss at every turn. Judges and negotiators have sucked the fun out of the off-season. And, at least for this NFL follower, optimism is going to take a seat on the sidelines until a deal is officially signed.
We’ve lived through federal mediation, Judge Susan Richard Nelson’s ruling that suspended the lockout and two subsequent stays that overturned her ruling. Each time there was glimmer of hope that the players and owners would agree on a new deal. Each chess move appeared to give one side or the other the power to say “checkmate.”
However, neither side has budged and it officially affected what happens on the field this season – if there is a season.
So all of the optimism from this site is spent. All of the hope for a mini-camps has been dashed. And all of expectations for a 2011 season have gone away. At this rate, we will be lucky to see a game by Thanksgiving.
Send an email when its over. Float a Twitter bomb this way. Heck, send up some white smoke when the two sides agree.
Until then, we’re done planning for next season. Because give either side hope is like giving them a check. And at this time, neither the players or owners deserve a dime from us.
Sources: NFL, NFLPA hold secret talks [ESPN]
