Vonnie Holliday On CBA Extension

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WASHINGTON -- America's favorite sport is still in business -- for another day. The NFL and the players' union agreed Thursday to a 24-hour extension of the current collective bargaining agreement so that negotiations can continue.Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, a member of the NFL Players Association's executive committee,Chicago Cubs hat, told The Associated Press about the extension after the sides met for about eight hours before federal mediator George Cohen. Indianapolis Colts Jerseys The CBA was set to expire at midnight, which would likely have prompted the first work stoppage since 1987 for a league that rakes in $9 billion a year."We just know right now that we granted a 24-hour extension," Saturday said as he and Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch left the session.According to sources familiar with Thursday's agreement to extend the CBA deadline, there are no face-to-face negotiations scheduled Friday between the owners and NFL Players Association, but Cohen will meet independently with each side to discuss their differences in labor talks.
As it stands, the 24-hour extension, according to sources, gives the union a chance to review the league's latest proposal and for both sides to decide on the next step -- be that another extension, more negotiations, a lockout or decertification.In addition to the owners' proposal today, the union has also made concessions in the latest negotiations, sources on both sides told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. The details of those concessions are unknown.The deadline extension does not mean any transactions can occur, according to a league source. Part of Thursday's agreement was that, even though an extension was granted, the league year has ended with player transactions. Teams no longer can cut, re-sign players or make any player moves after 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, until there's a new CBA.League spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the transaction freeze via text, saying teams are free to negotiate with players and agents, but signings are prohibited.
Failing to make a deal could put the two sides on the road to a year without football, even though opening kickoff of the 2011 season is still six months away. The labor unrest comes as the NFL is at the height of its popularity, breaking records for TV ratings: NFL Jerseys This year's Super Bowl was the most-watched program in U.S. history.Without a new CBA, the owners could lock out the players, and the union could decertify to try to prevent it through the courts -- something the NFLPA did in 1989. It formed again in 1993.Sources told ESPN the union was prepared to decertify Thursday. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Logan Mankins have agreed to be name plaintiffs on the antitrust suit the players will file against the NFL if no labor agreement is reached and the union files for decertification, according to sources. There would be nine name plaintiffs on the lawsuit.Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL's negotiating team arrived at a federal mediator's headquarters about 45 minutes ahead of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and his group.