NFL Lockout In 2011?

The NFL Players Association is preparing it’s members. Via ESPN:

NFL officials insist they want a new labor deal.

The players association is convinced league owners are after something else: A lockout in 2011.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told reporters at the Colts’ training camp Monday morning that he expects owners to impose a lockout in two years and has begun advising players on how to prepare for it.

“They want to lock us out in 2011, so our drop dead date is when our players say ‘What do I do when my family needs health care?’ ” Smith said while making the latest stop on his league-wide tour. “All of us are sitting back waiting to hear why they walked away from a deal that generated $8 billion.”

And there is more:

The original collective bargaining agreement was to run through 2013. Owners opted out of the deal in May 2008, citing economic problems that send nearly 60 percent of revenues to the players — a number owners call excessive. Many teams as well as the league office have laid off employees over the past year.

If no agreement is reached by March, the 2010 season will be the first without a salary cap since 1993 and could lead to more uncapped years.

Still, Smith said he’s willing to discuss any issues the owners want — as long as he gets answers about why the 32 league owners opted out of the original CBA.

“I’m happy to talk about a change in the disciplinary policy, 18 games or whatever,” Smith said. “But if your employer decides it wants to close the doors in two years, you know, you can talk about a lunch break or anything else. But the first question you’d ask them is why do you want to lock me out?”

Watch the Lions show some significant progress then have a lock out….

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