NFL Lockout: FYI WIRZ- It's Decision Hour for Owners and Players

Owners, players and fans want a season.  Federal mediator Judge Arthur Boylan and U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson, would prefer to see negotiations solve the present labor/management impasse and get on with the NFL season.  

Everyone wants football, but the distance between owner and player demands may build a bridge to nowhere, where no one will hear the word, “hike” in 2011.

This week, the urgency is real and apparent at the same time.  Judge Susan Nelson has said she will make a ruling “in due course,” and talks between the two sides have no relevance to that process.

Judge Nelson is new to these Minnesota legal proceedings.  The previous judge favored the player unions, but Nelson’s stance is unknown to both sides.

Time is always precious, but what may be ticking away is the presence of regulation play in 2011. 

Owners might have been happy they have a new judge to maybe rule their way, but her uncertain intentions as she studies the case add to the intensity of the outcome.  That might be prompting the owners to try harder to get an agreement.

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of sports topics by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com.  Quotes and information derived from NFL media sources and press releases. 

NFL Commissioner Goodell’s recent comments during a fan question session seemed to stress often the importance of getting things done now so that there will be a 2011 season.  That’s good news for fans.

If Judge Nelson sides with the players, requiring NFL owners to lift the lockout then football in the fall likely happens.  If she sides with the owners, thus taking away much of the players’ leverage, a lockout could doom the 2011 season. A lengthy legal battle may follow either choice.

Goodell sounded optimistic to fans.

“My main priority right now is trying to get a new collective bargaining agreement,” Goodell said. “I know it is important to the league, it is important to the fans and it is important to the players.  We are going to do everything we can and are committed to working as hard as we can to get that agreement as soon as possible.”

The sides met separately with mediator Boylan, the players' plaintiffs on Tuesday and league officials on Wednesday.  Then both sides met with Boylan for 10 hours on Thursday and again on Friday last week.  They will meet with him again on Tuesday.  

Judge Nelson could rule as early as Wednesday, so time is a big factor.

The owners wanted double the money off the top from revenues at about $1 billion to $2 billion, but they’ve lowered their numbers.

At stake is $9 billion in annual revenue.

The players want full financial disclosure from all 32 teams and higher benefits for retired players. The NFL wants to stretch the regular season from 16 to 18 games and cut by almost 60 percent the pay for first-round draft picks. 

Judge Nelson holds the trump cards and the owners and players can avoid her choice by reaching an agreement.

Tuesday is a huge day for the 2011 NFL season.  Both sides have to say, “We agree.”  That way all sides can hear, “Hike!” soon. 

Photo credit: Dwight drum at Racetace.com