NFL Lockout: 5 Reasons the 2011 NFL Season Will Not Start on Time

The NFL lockout is now entering its 76th day and things don't seem to be getting any better anytime soon.

The owners and the players don't appear to be even close to being on the same page at this point and attempts at mediation and court rulings have failed to help so far.

The 2011 NFL season is in some serious trouble, so much trouble in fact that it may start late, or it may not even take place at all.

Here are five reasons that the NFL season may not start on time.

1. The Owners Are Greedy

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 17: NFL owner John Mara (L) of the New York Giants and Art Rooney II, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers leaves court ordered mediation at the U.S. Courthouse on May 17, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the NFL lockout remains in

The owners are already making a ton of money off of the league, it's players and it's fans, but they still want more money coming their way.

Not only do the owners want more money in their pockets, but they also want to potentially increase the number of games in the regular season to 18. Many fans probably think that would be great at first glance, but when you consider the staggering amount of players who ended last season on IR (over 240 players), you have to understand that an increase in the number of games would also mean an increase in that number.

Rosters would likely be expanded but the quality of play would potentially be diluted to an extent as well and obviously, "if it ain't broke, why fix it?"

The owners need to quit being greedy and end this lockout.

2. The Players Aren't Going to Budge

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 17: Linebacker Mike Vrabel of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to members of the media after leaving court ordered mediation at the U.S. Courthouse on May 17, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the NFL lockout remains in place mediation

The players don't appear to be budging anytime soon and, really, why should they?

They are the ones who put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of millions and for the profit of their owners.

Yes, the players do make a lot of money as well, but not all of them make a boatload of money and if anyone has the right to be greedy, it's the players.

3. The Courts Have Failed to Help Thus Far

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 17: NFL lawyer Jeff Pash speaks to memebers of the media after leaving court ordered mediation at the U.S. Courthouse on May 17, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the NFL lockout remains in place mediation was ordered after a hearin

After U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson made her decision to lift the lockout on April 25, there was some hope that things would be returning to normal. However, the appeals court instead poured gasoline on the lockout's fire by issuing a stay on the judge's ruling.

The decision by the appeals court was effectively a win for the owners as it put the lockout back in place; had the court upheld Nelson's decision then things would have been pretty much back to normal.

This battle should not be fought in the courts, but the courts had the power to end the lockout and they failed to do so.

4. Little Progress Has Been Made

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 17: Former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith jokes with media as he arrives for court ordered mediation at the U.S. Courthouse on May 17, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the NFL lockout remains in place m

There have been some points during this lockout where people have reported that progress was made, but as things stand now, that does not appear to be the case.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently said that fan support for the league has already taken a hit due to the lockout and while that is a concern, it clearly didn't do a whole lot when it comes to the two sides striking a deal.

A deal will clearly not be made overnight and the two sides need to come together face-to-face, but so far that has not been happening.

5. There Is No End in Sight

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 16: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell leaves court-ordered mediation at the U.S. Courthouse on May 16, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mediation was ordered after a hearing on an antitrust lawsuit filed by NFL players against the NFL ow

As I previously stated, we are entering the 76th day of the lockout and while fans can hope for a resolution soon, it does not appear to be in the works.

The next court-ordered mediation will be June 7 and the next court appeal will be heard on June 3.

That is the date that will be the next chance for a potential victory by the players and hopefully an end to this lockout.

Given how things have played out so far, that is probably unlikely and this lockout is likely to drag on throughout the summer with the possibility of disrupting the 2011 NFL season.