Fans who feared an NFL lockout for 2011 have every reason to. The DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL's Playery's Association was quoted in saying, "On a scale of 1to10, it's a 14," when asked about the possibility of a work stoppage.

 

Smith added, "I keep coming back to an economic model in America that is unparalleled." Smith pulled no punches as he said, "And that makes it incredibly difficult to then come to players and say, on average, each of you needs to take a $340,000 pay cut to save the National Football League. Tough sell. Tough sell."

 

In the department of "Getting Something for nothing, Smith said the NFL would still receive $5 billion for its television deal whether games are played or not. Smith asked, "Has any one of the prior deals included $5 billion to not play football?" He immediately replied,  "The answer's no."

 

"I really and truly in my heart believe we'll get a deal done," NFLPA president Kevin Mawae said. "But there's going to have to be some give and some take and not just taking from one side all the way."

 

Looks like fans should savour the flavor of the 2010 NFL season. It may be awhile before they see pro football after next year's Super Bowl.

 

Rob Long