NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell lines up March 4 as a “very critical date,” says both sides have urgency

We’re live from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s news conference, which just wrapped up from the Sheraton in Dallas. And with the upcoming labor issues, Goodell hit on a ton of different topics.

On the Patriots front, I asked Goodell about the franchise tag that NFL teams expect to use on Feb. 10. The union has said it would fight it, and Goodell essentially said he expects a court challenge if the NFLPA doesn’t agree with it. So, yeah, get ready for that when the Pats franchise Logan Mankins.

On other issues… Goodell’s main point here, it seems, is that there is a unique opportunity to reach a deal before March 4. After that, not so much.

“I think March 4 is a very critical date,” Goodell said. “We need to have intensive, round-the-clock negotiations. … There are enough incentive for both sides to get to the table and get this done right.”


On several items, Goodell declined to offer specifics. Not a surprise. Among the 687 seated reporters and 200 standing, we got little. There was no news.

Goodell did insinuate that the 2010 rules would still apply if there was no CBA with “500″ potential free agents who would be restricted. Yikes.

On the 18-game season, he said nothing is a deal-breaker, but added, “We want to grow the pie.” On the subject of the union’s desire to open the books, Goodell said, “We have to get beyond this negotiating ploy of opening the books.”

He called for sacrifice for both sides and said he can “assure” us that both sides understand the urgency of it all. But probably the worst news is that if there is no deal by March 4, he believes the urgency disappears.

“If we’re unsuccessful in getting an agreement by March 4, I expect the uncertainty to continue,” Goodell said. “That will be bad for players, clubs, (and fans). That uncertainty will lead to a reduction in revenue. When that decreases, there is less for us to share. We have to remove the uncertainty. There are a number of things that, (if there is no deal), will move us away from the negotiating table, not toward it.”