Amidst concerns of a possible work stoppage in the nation’s favorite sport, the NFL and its players’ union were reported to have reached an agreement on Thursday for a 24-hour extension of contract discussions.
Among US media channels, NFL Network posted an item on NFL.com stating that both parties consented to continue negotiations past the planned end of the current collective bargaining agreement, which was set to expire at one minute to midnight on Thursday night.
The looming threat of the first work stoppage in the league since 1987 raised concerns about the potential impact on the 2011 season, prompting a call from US President Barack Obama for both sides to reach a resolution.
“For an industry generating nine billion dollars in revenue, they should be able to figure out how to equitably distribute it,” Obama remarked on Thursday.
Before mediator George Cohen, the two parties were meeting for the tenth consecutive day.
The focal point of the discussions is the allocation of $9 billion in yearly revenue.
Team owners, who traditionally have taken $1 billion off the top, are seeking to double that amount in the upcoming agreement.
Additional points of contention include the owners’ push for a rookie wage scale, their interest in lengthening the regular season from 
16 to 18 games, and ensuring post-retirement benefits for players from the physically demanding sport.
Expanding the season, which would result in the elimination of two pre-season games, could boost revenues; however, players are concerned about the heightened risk of injuries and physical strain.
In the absence of the extension or a new agreement, it was widely anticipated that owners would initiate a lockout of players following the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
Conversely, the NFL Players Association had kept open the option to decertify before the deadline, a strategy that could terminate the union’s representation of the players and lead to a court conflict involving US antitrust legislation.
“We’re working hard,” stated NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday morning as he and the league’s negotiating team arrived for discussions with an NFLPA team led by union executive director DeMaurice Smith.
by Buford Balony
