NFL owners voted unanimously Tuesday to end their labor agreement with the players' union in 2011. The league and union, however, insisted the next three seasons won't be interrupted by a contract dispute and both sides are working toward a new deal. "We have guaranteed three more years of NFL football," commissioner Roger Goodell said after the owners used the opt-out clause built into the agreement signed more than two years ago. "We are not in dire straits. We've never said that. But the agreement isn't working, and we're looking to get a more fair an equitable deal." The decision by the owners was anticipated, although not this early. The 2006 agreement allowed either side to negate the contract by Nov. 8.
See "NFL opts out of labor agreement with players' union as part of plan to renegotiate", Dave Goldberg, Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 19, 2008