NFL News: NFLPA Leader DeMaurice Smith Feels Lockout Still Likely

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Gotta be a buzz kill the day before the season starts.

The NFL and the union will have several issues to negotiate before a new CBA can be reached. A couple of the key issues include the amount of the league’s revenue going to players, an 18-game schedule, expanded drug testing and a rookie wage scale.

With all the potential issues, Smith thinks a lockout is likely. “I still feel that a lockout is coming in March,” said Smith.

In the deal the NFL opted out of after last season, players received approximately 60 percent of revenue after $1 billion was kept by the owners. The NFL wants to increase that amount to $2 billion to help with the increasing costs of stadium construction and operations.