Various reports are circulating the that the NFL owners who are currently meeting in Chicago will end their meetings today as previously scheduled. The league had circulated a notice last week asking the teams to prepared to stay an additional night if needed.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke briefly to the media before the start of the meetings and was asked if a deal could get done without the preseason being shortened.
“I think that’s the hope,” Irsay said. “I think the logic that you’re pushing on both sides is saying why get a deal Oct. 1 or whenever when you could have had July 7 or whatever. It just makes sense to continue to have a feeling of urgency and to work to try to get something done.
“That’s my hope. But these things are tough. They’re fragile. And that’s the reason I think you just have to keep working at it.”
This is the first time the owners have gathered together since a flood of apparent progress in discussion between the league and the players over the past few weeks sparked legitimate hope of the lockout being ended in time to salvage the 2011 season.
A new collective bargaining agreement must receive support of 24 of the 32 owners to be ratified.
