NFL owners could opt out of labor contract

By BEE NEWS SERVICES

last updated: May 20, 2008 05:10:03 AM

ATLANTA -- The NFL's labor situation could get more complicated this week.

The league's owners meet today and could vote to opt out of the labor contract. Such a move could signal a protracted period of labor tension and lead to a 2010 season without a salary cap and potential work stoppage the following year.

The owners have until Nov. 8 to terminate the contract. Some would prefer to do so now and hasten the way for talks toward a new agreement to replace the 2-year old contract most owners feel has tilted too far toward the players, who get 60 percent of total revenues. That the owners will opt out is basically a foregone conclusion.

Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, has been predicting a lockout. League and union officials note that is standard rhetoric in labor disputes.

"I expect them to opt out Tuesday or, if not, in the near future," Upshaw said last week.

The NFL often takes its time on such matters, and league officials believe a decision to opt out could be tabled.

The official business of the meeting is to award the 2012 Super Bowl, with Indianapolis, Houston and Arizona vying for the game. The next three have been awarded -- Tampa in 2009, South Florida in 2010 and Dallas in 2011 in the new stadium to be opened by the Cowboys in 2009.

The Dallas Super Bowl, and the others, is one reason why those involved in the game believe a new deal will be in place before the league reaches an uncapped year. Jerry Jones, one of the league's most influential owners, has too much tied up in that game to have it lost in a work stoppage. ...

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Tennis

An independent panel concluded that 45 professional tennis matches over the past five years require further review because of suspicious betting patterns. The International Tennis Federation, ATP, WTA Tour and four Grand Slams published the findings in a 66-page report. ... The United States beat the Czech Republic 2-1 at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, despite having to use another doubles team because of an undisclosed injury to top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan. James Blake and Wayne Odesnik rallied past Tomas Berdych and Pavel Vizner 0-6, 7-5, 10-8. ... Andy Roddick, the highest-ranked American man, withdrew from the French Open because of a right shoulder injury.

Olympics

Jason Parker and Keith Sanderson qualified for the Beijing Olympics in three-position rifle and rapid-fire pistol by winning their events at the U.S. shooting trials in Fort Benning, Ga. ... Canadian wheelchair racer Jeff Adams, a six-time world champion, was cleared by the highest tribunal of sports after testing positive for cocaine, his lawyer said. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland ruled unanimously, according to lawyer Tim Danson. ... Olympic 10,000-meter champion Xing Huina of China has a thigh injury that will prevent her from defending her title at the Beijing Games.

Cycling

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador said he'll continue racing in the Giro d'Italia despite a fractured left elbow. X-rays showed Contador suffered a fracture without dislocation in a crash during Saturday's eighth stage from Rivisondoli to Tivoli. Contador trails overall leader Giovanni Visconti of Italy by 7 minutes, 56 seconds through nine of 21 stages. ... Thor Hushovd of Norway won the opening time trial in the Volta of Catalunya in Lloret de Mar, Spain, and American George Hincapie was 6 seconds behind in second place. Hushovd, who rides for Credit Agricole, finished in 4:37 to lead the 71-man field over the 2.3-mile first stage of the week-long race.

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