NFL Lockout: NFLPA Tells Players Deal Isn’t Close, According To Report

I don’t think this is as big of a deal as it may sound but Mike Florio of PFT reports that in a conference call with player reps, the NFLPA’s DeMaurice Smith said that a deal with the league on a new CBA isn’t close.

It sounds sort of doom and gloom but it’s hard to truly believe that’s the case when there’s been a complete wave of optimism in the last few weeks. Many people, including NFL executives I have personally spoken with, believe a deal could be done by the first week in July.

Florio wondered whether this was an effort by Smith to slow down the chorus of those suggesting a deal will be done within weeks.

Now, it’s possible that this is part of an effort to reduce the perception that an agreement soon will be reached. If enough players come to that conclusion, the NFL could choose to take a hard line on one or more of the remaining issues, forcing the NFLPA* to have to choose between conceding the point or killing a deal that the players think is done.

I agree with this theory. There are simply too many credible people saying publicly and privately that they believe a deal between the two sides can be done within weeks.