Tue May 20 10:48:22 2008

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NFL owners vote to opt out of labor deal early

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Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - NFL owners have voted unanimously to opt out of the current labor contract after the 2010 season.

The collective bargaining deal with the players association was originally set to run through the 2012 campaign, although a provision in the extension negotiated in 2006 gave the owners or players the option to shorten the deal by one or two years.

"We are resolved to do our best to achieve a fair agreement that will allow labor peace to continue through and beyond the 2011 season," the NFL said in a statement released Tuesday.

The 2008 and 2009 seasons will be played with a salary cap, but if a new deal isn't completed by March of 2009, the 2010 campaign will be an uncapped year that also limits free agency.

NFL owners said they will continue negotiations for a new deal that will work better for both the clubs and players.

The league has not had a work stoppage since 1987. The current labor deal was initially negotiated in 1993 and has been extended on several occasions.

"The NFL earns very substantial revenues," the league statement continued. "But the clubs are obligated by the CBA to spend substantially more than half their revenues -- almost $4.5 billion this year alone -- on player costs. In addition, as we have explained to the union, the clubs must spend significant and growing amounts on stadium construction, operations and improvements to respond to the interests and demands of our fans. The current labor agreement does not adequately recognize the costs of generating the revenues of which the players receive the largest share; nor does the agreement recognize that those costs have increased substantially -- and at an ever increasing rate -- in recent years during a difficult economic climate in our country. As a result, under the terms of the current agreement, the clubs' incentive to invest in the game is threatened.

"There are substantial other elements of the deal that simply are not working. For example, as interpreted by the courts, the current CBA effectively prohibits the clubs from recouping bonuses paid to players who subsequently breach their player contacts or refuse to perform. That is simply irrational and unfair to both fans and players who honor their contracts. Also irrational is that in the current system some rookies are able to secure contracts that pay them more than top proven veterans.

"Our objective is to fix these problems in a new CBA, one that will provide adequate incentives to grow the game, ensure the unparalleled competitive balance that has sustained our fans' interest, and afford the players fair and increasing compensation and benefits."

A number of other topics are on Tuesday's agenda, including a vote on the awarding of Super Bowl XLVI after the 2011 season. The candidates for the February 5, 2012 game are Arizona, Houston and Indianapolis.