Robbie Gould thinks NFL will play

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07-03-2011, 06:42 AM
The Benjamin

Robbie Gould thinks NFL will play

ESPNChicago.com
CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould, the team's player representative, said Saturday that he is optimistic that the NFL lockout will be resolved in time to play this season.

"I think that we'll be playing football at some point, it's just a matter of when," Gould said on ESPN 1000's Chicago's GameDay. "Once they get a settlement finished, it's going to take some time to get all the free agents signed, all the rookies signed, all the rookie free agents and get those plans put in place to either get into training camp and/or revise the schedule enough so that you can get ready for the regular season in time."
The negotiations between the players and the league are on hold until after the holiday weekend, but Gould is hoping to have good news for his teammates soon.
"Things are going well. As well as can be expected at this point," Gould said. "Anytime both sides are talking to one another, that's obviously a good thing. We hope that we can get a settlement done so we can play football this year and hopefully both sides can get to that agreement sooner than later."
Later Saturday, Gould was on hand at Wrigley Field to sing during the seventh-inning stretch of the Cubs-White Sox game. He sounded optimistic about his chances with that, too.
"The good news is that the worse you sing, the better the people like it," Gould joked.
07-03-2011, 12:31 PM
Henry Burris

I don't think anyone is worried about IF it's gonna be resolved at this point, but WHEN, so we have something to talk about, that isn't speculation....
07-03-2011, 05:08 PM
soulman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

I don't think anyone is worried about IF it's gonna be resolved at this point, but WHEN, so we have something to talk about, that isn't speculation....

Exactly! There's way too much at stake not to resolve it but how and when are the big questions right now. The owners are still pushing a position that the players have already rejected. My guess is that the'll soften once they start missing the $$$. They may be a little too optimistic in that regard though. I think the players have been willing (not determined) to take this to court all along if that's what it took.

The owners really don't want to take a chance of that but they pretty much know that if this isn't resolved before Sept. 12th they will lose the right to continue the lockout, the union decertification will be acknowledged by the courts, and the anti-trust suits may proceed. Both sides have some strong motivation to get this done now but I'm still not holding my breath that it will be done in time to save the entire preseason.