FanShot

Longest Series of Sustained Meetings Scheduled

5

This kind of push for 4 day-long negotiations before the 4th of July weekend seems very promising to me. This is the longest series of scheduled talks since the lockout began. While it could simply be an effort to make up the days that will be lost during the holiday weekend, the optimist could also interpret it as a sign that both sides believe that a final push could end this mess and help the two sides strike a deal before the long weekend, perhaps even announcing the agreement on the joyous holiday, in an attempt to avoid missing any training camp days and preseason games...something both sides should recognize as a detriment that could dilute the quality of football in 2011. It may be Independence Day, but perhaps it will also be the day the owners and players recognized their dependence on each other.