NFL Talks Moving In Wrong Direction

Talks between the NFL and NFL Players Association in Minneapolis have regressed this week, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.

According to Mortensen, owners this week have requested between $400 million to $500 million in expense credits that would alter the revenue sharing formula, an issue the players had thought they had reached an understanding on.

The players believed that they and the owners had agreed that players would receive between 46.5 and 48 percent of "all" revenue. ($9.3 billion) The addition of expense credits off the top would decrease the players' share to 45 percent, which players believe takes the two sides back to square one on the biggest issue in the labor talks.

Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com writes that owners "are back to their old tricks" with these negotiations, a tactic that could derail the entire process.

"It's a negotiation, which is always subject to change", a management source told ESPN.

Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday led a conference call with players on Thursday to provide an update on the talks, but both sides have resumed negotiations tonight. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports that some members of both negotiating teams will remain in Minnesota through Friday afternoon, and it's possible that talks may drag into the weekend.

Friday will be the 112th day of the lockout.