By Michael Buteau
Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Eli Manning, among the National Football League’s highest-paid players, is banking on the sport being able to settle its labor differences and avoid its first work stoppage since 1987.
“We all hope that’s not the case,” the New York Giants’ quarterback said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. “We all love playing football and are proud that we’re able to do that. We hope for the best and that there will be no stoppage of play.”
The NFL is preparing to play the 2010 season without a salary cap because of the slow pace of talks with the players union about a new labor agreement.
A work stoppage may happen in 2011 following a unanimous decision in May 2008 by team owners to opt out of their labor deal with players. Unless a new deal is reached, the 2010 season will be played without the salary cap, which stops wealthy clubs from hoarding the best talent.
“Everybody is aware of the situation that 2010 could be an uncapped year,” Manning said. “It just all depends on whether you’re going to be a free agent that year or not. I think everybody’s focus is just on playing well, doing their part and seeing what happens.”
Manning, 28, and the Giants agreed on a six-year contract extension last month worth almost $100 million that would keep him with the franchise through 2015 and make him the highest- paid player in league history.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he told NFL Players AssociationExecutive Director DeMaurice Smith over lunch this week that owners want to start negotiating. There is no timetable for talks.
Owners want a deal that recognizes the league’s changing economics and provides for the cost of investment in expanding the sport, said Anthony Noto, the NFL’s chief financial officer.
The existing deal gives players about 60 percent of the league’s $8 billion annual revenue. That’s unsustainable because of the rising costs of running stadiums and other operations, owners said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlantambuteau@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: September 4, 2009 17:54 EDT
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