Friday, Sep. 11, 2009
Labor Pains
The next few months could well be dominated by negotiations off the field between the league and the NFL Players Association, led by its executive director, DeMaurice Smith. The owners have opted out of the current collective-bargaining agreement, which will end after the 2010 season. If no new deal is reached by March, the NFL faces its first season since 1993 without a salary cap in place for owners. Two major ramifications: no limit on teams' spending big bucks to attract élite players, and tough going for smaller-market teams such as Jacksonville, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and the community-owned Packers.