CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — One of the more powerful NFL owners feels little progress is being made on a new labor deal.
Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers had a pessimistic tone Tuesday. The co-chairman of the owners’ negotiating committee says the two sides are spending time on things that are “counterproductive” and stressed the owners need to reel in the amount of money that goes to players.
The collective bargaining agreement expires after the season and owners have threatened a lockout. A day after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a letter saying if both sides give in a little a new deal can be reached, Richardson said that he’s “not as optimistic as some are that we’re making much progress.”
Richardson helped broker the last labor deal in 2006, which the owners opted out of in 2008.
