Chad Ochocinco says Extension Won’t Lead to New CBA Deal
"It's not going to happen..."
Talking just hours before the midnight expiration of the current NFL collective bargaining agreement, Chad Ochocinco predicted the extension (which soon after came to pass) but doubts it will lead to a new labor deal.
Telling Buck and Kincade on 680 AM in Atlanta:
"Before midnight we'll have an extension, guaranteed. I guarantee there's an extension but with that extension, I still don't think a deal gets done. It's not going to happen. I mean let's be realistic. Let's take an owner. Let's take a team. Let's take any team, an owner, a player, his agent, and a contract is up and it's time to redo a contract or discuss getting something done. How long does that take?
It takes 32 owners. It takes the NFLPA respresenting us as players trying to get one deal done.
You have 32 different owners. 32 different egos. You have five who might feel this way about something. You have five who might feel this way...
It's going to be a lot of tug and pull. That's the way it's going to be."
Some questions that I have yet to hear solid answers regarding:
What does either side believe is the realistic deadline in order to conduct a full season? (with a proper amount of practices/preparation leading up to kickoff)
How legitimate is the NFL Players Association ploy to de-certify the union and what negative ramifications could/will come after doing so?
If those questions have been asked at any point in time in the public forum, they haven't been dealt with thoroughly enough.
As for the legitimacy of Carson Palmer's repeated claims he will retire rather than play for the Bengals, Ochocinco thinks the usually reserved quarterback is not backing down:
"When someone like Carson, someone quiet that grows a random beard every now and then. When he speaks, you listen. Especially when it's out of character. It's one of those situations where you know he's not playing and he's frustrated. We call it where I'm from, he's pulling a power move... He doesn't see it getting any better and he just wants out."