It is unclear whether DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFLPA and his organization will accept the new CBA. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)Susan Walsh/The Associated Press
National Football League (NFL) players took a cautious stance on a collective bargaining agreement approved Thursday by team owners, holding off a vote to sign off until they had more time to read the fine print.
Team owners thought they had found the right formula to end the four-month lockout with their proposal for a 10-year deal, but representatives of the players said they would have to wait at least another day, because the players had not seen the full document yet.
"As you know the owners have ratified their proposal to settle our differences," NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith wrote to the players in an e-mail.
"As you may have heard, they apparently approved a supplemental revenue-sharing proposal.
"Obviously, we have not been a part of those discussions ... issues that need to be collectively bargained remain open, other issues such as workers compensation, economic issues and end-of-deal terms remain unresolved."
Smith and 32 player representatives took part in a two-hour conference call Thursday night, but they broke up without taking a vote. They planned to resume meeting on Friday.
Other players expressed their disappointment with NFL owners.
"We feel like we've been backed into a corner. We haven't had time to read it thoroughly," Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Donte' Stallworth told ESPN.
"We just want to make sure that it's done right. We all want to start the season on time and make sure it's right."
Some players expressed objections to the timetable laid out by the league, others believed there were items in the document that had not been negotiated with the players.
"Please don't get excited about that press conference," Redskins tackle Vonnie Holliday wrote on Twitter about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell delivering news of the owners' approval of a new CBA.
"The owners have agreed on a deal we the players have not seen! This is not consistent."
Buffalo Bills player representative George Wilson said the players did not have a copy of the proposal when they held their conference call.
"This is a prime example of the NFL PR machine pushed to full throttle," Wilson told ESPN. "This is nothing more than an attempt to turn the fans on the players and force us to make a deal."
But linebacker Kirk Morrison, of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was more upbeat, telling the sports network: "We're going to be playing football. We're (just) talking about little things."
Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen wrote on Twitter: "Personally, I think deal will be approved by players. But don't forget owners approved (their) own proposal. Haha."