Originally posted by HessianDud:
Originally posted by dj43:
I listened to a couple of different reports this morning and all inferred that events behind the scenes are lining up for a work stoppage. All these mediated meetings appear to have gained little. No owners have attended, and they are the ones who will actually vote.
With a week to go, it does not look good for a new agreement by March 3. If it doesn't happen by then, it will be a long time before it does.
i agree that even with the basically positive news of these continued meetings that nothing is likely to get done by March 3rd, but i disagree that the fact that no owners have attended is a factor. Goodell is there, and i believe that the owners respect his decisions and input. Say what you will about Goodell, but he is held in high regard by the owners and I think he is capable of communicating with them and getting a consensus, if something meaningful happens in these meetings.
Not that it means that everything will be solved by these meetings, but headway could be made, and, while unlikely, I could see, if there is something meaningful accomplished, Goodell getting the owners to agree to extending the current CBA by a week or two in order to get the new deal finalized.
Yes, you're right. Goodell does have the confidence of the owners, and we can bet that he already has a solid understanding of what they will, and will not, accept.
The greater importance of the owners presence would be if a deal was very close, then they would likely be there.
As to an extension, I don't think they need to do that. There is nothing in play right now so they don't really have to do anything if they feel like they can get something done by March 15 or so. Of course, that doesn't mean they won't extend, just that I don't see it as a big deal.
...hoping it gets done soon...