National Football League
Wednesday's NFL labor developments
National Football League

Wednesday's NFL labor developments

Published Mar. 16, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

Players turn to money-making alternatives Wednesday as FOXSports.com keeps you up to date on the NFL's labor situation. (All times are Eastern.) | Tuesday's updates | Monday's updates | March 13 updates | March 12 updates | March 11 updates | March 10 updates | March 9 updates | March 8 updates | March 7 updates | March 4 updates | March 3 updates

 

 

Chargers linebacker calls Goodell 'a liar' — 7:23 p.m.

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NFL players have been pretty outspoken about their issues with the lack of progress in getting a new collective bargaining agreement signed. And players such as San Diego Chargers linebacker Kevin Burnett are passionate about their views about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s part in the equation. Goodell sent out an e-mail to season ticket holders imploring the players to get back to the bargaining table.

“Goodell’s full of it. He’s a liar. You’re a blatant liar,” Burnett told Sports Radio 1090 in San Diego via SportsRadioInterviews.com. "It’s our league, it’s we, we love the players, we want the league, but what have you done for the players? What have you done, in all honesty, to improve the game, besides fine guys, besides take money away from guys, besides change a game that you’ve never played? ... He’s done nothing to improve the game.”

Burnett doesn’t like the way drug suspensions are handled.

“If a guy has a drug problem, give him an alternative, don’t just say, ‘Hey, stop doing drugs. Stamp. Six games.’ ... You put them in a drug program. OK, anybody can stick somebody in a nuthouse, but what else are you doing? What programs are you putting in place?” — Adam Caplan
 

Colts' Clark to be on 'Criminal Minds' — 3:31 p.m.


Dallas Clark has a new act during the NFL lockout.

The Colts' Pro Bowl tight end will take a brief break from rehabilitating his injured left wrist next week to make a cameo appearance on the CBS show ''Criminal Minds.'' The show is scheduled to air April 13. Full story

 

Ochocinco trying out for soccer — 1:22 p.m.

 

With a lockout on the horizon, NFL players are looking for ways to pass the time during their extended offseason. Some will continue to work out, some will spend time with families. Chad Ochocinco, however, is giving soccer a shot.

Sporting Kansas City announced today they have offered a four-day tryout to the NFL media darling. If the four-day trial period works out, the team will consider extending the deal. Full story

 

Work stoppage could cost DirecTV $600M — 12:53 p.m.

 

DirecTV could lose more than $600 million in revenue in 2011 if the NFL cancels the upcoming season, according to Bloomberg News.

DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket, which allows viewers to watch every NFL game, generated between $600 million and $750 million in subscription revenue last season, according to Craig Moffett of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.

The NFL package for DirecTV is a huge draw for the company. In fact, it’s a big reason, and sometimes the sole reason, why television viewers use the service.

"Usually Sunday Ticket brings them a number of new subscribers," Moffett said. "They are losing one of their biggest marketing draws."

The NFL has $421 million in "lockout insurance" from the DirecTV deal, but US District Judge David Doty of Minneapolis ruled the league violated terms of the CBA. Doty has not decided whether the league will have access to the money or if they would have to pay a percentage of it to the players. — Adam Caplan

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