NFL, Players Association extend talks another 7 days

[Auggie]

espn.com / 3-4-11

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have mutually agreed to a seven-day extension of their talks toward a new collective bargaining agreement, and the two sides will resume labor negotiations on Monday under the continued supervision of federal mediator George Cohen, sources said Friday.

An announcement is expected shortly. The new CBA expiration date is next Friday, sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Under the terms of a "tolling agreement," the league's 32 teams still will be prohibited from conducting or executing player transactions. It is the same agreement that was reached via a 24-hour extension of talks Thursday.

The CBA was set to expire at midnight Thursday, which would likely have prompted the first work stoppage since 1987 for a league that rakes in $9 billion a year.

LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6181794

A good sign, I think. Both sides are serious about finding a solution.

[TZ]

1. Sounds like it. Or at least they want to appear like it

This was a suggestion of the mediator, and I can easily see this as a PR move by the owners in particular.

[Auggie]

2. PR move... good point

and one I hadn't thought of. I prefer to avoid cynicism but it's the world we live in now.

[Mudoria]

3. Sounds like they think a deal may be possible

I'm sure there are still mountains to climb on cetain issues but it appears they have found some things they can agree too. That's the only reason I can imagine they would extend another week.