In case you missed it over the weekend, a bout of optimism has suddenly pervaded NFL lockout discussion. With NFL owners and players meeting "in secret," Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith dining with one another, and various reports popping up that negotiations are moving in a positive direction, the end of the lockout is being discussed. That's an exciting and scary proposition.
Peter King (Sports Illustrated) is the latest to add to the mounting optimism, going so far as to suggest that he's set July 10 as an over/under date for a new labor agreement. That, folks, is four weeks from yesterday. Most training camps would open over two weeks later.
King also reports that the league could lose roughly $700 million in revenue by missing pre-season games, serving as motivation for both sides to preserve the exhibition season by getting a deal done in time. The league, per King, also fears losing out on television revenue from disenchanted advertisers that would be put off by a lack of pre-season football.
Be sure to give King's article a read if you're interested in the nitty-gritty of the ongoing labor battle. If you're not, just note that there is more reason today to be guardedly optimistic.