NFLPA Advises Players About Potential 2011 Lockout

http://sports.excite.com/news/08172009/v7283.html

Aug 17, 5:46 PM (ET)

By MICHAEL MAROT

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) -NFL officials insist they want a new labor deal.

The players association is convinced league owners are after something else: A lockout in 2011.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told reporters at the Colts' training camp Monday morning that he expects owners to impose a lockout in two years and has begun advising players on how to prepare for it.

"They want to lock us out in 2011, so our drop dead date is when our players say 'What do I do when my family needs health care?' " Smith said while making the latest stop on his league-wide tour. "All of us are sitting back waiting to hear why they walked away from a deal that generated $8 billion."

Apparently, players are listening.

Three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, the Colts' player representative, acknowledged he has spoken with teammates about the need to save more money now.

Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch said earlier this month that he also has spoken with teammates about the possibility of losing benefits such as health insurance and 401(k) retirement plans if there is a work stoppage.

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