ESPN’s Adam Schefter is predicting that free agency will not begin in the NFL until at least after the July 4 holiday writes Rotoworld.com.
The next leverage point is the 8th Circuit’s June 3 hearing on the appeal of Judge Susan Nelson’s decision to lift the lockout. The 8th Circuit’s language this week suggests the Players will lose that appeal, at which point they will have to take a good, hard look in the mirror. ESPN’s NFL business analyst, Andrew Brandt, believes there is now a chance of a new CBA through mediation, “hopefully made by mid-to-late July, setting up the start of football.”
The owners and players wrapped up another round of court-ordered mediation on Tuesday evening without coming to a new agreement. There was supposedly some progress made, but neither side is sharing details so once again, the media and fans are left in the dark. (I’m not complaining about being left in the dark – dark me up all you want. Just give me some f**king football next season.)
As Rotoworld points out, it appears as though the players want to stick with litigation until the bitter end, even though it’s apparent they’re going to lose on June 3 when the owners win their appeal. At that point, here’s hoping both sides wise up and realize that negotiation is, and always has been, the only way that a new deal will get done.
