In a statement posted on the NFL Players Association’s web site, NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw talks about Tuesday’s vote to pull the plug prematurely on the CBA.

“Today, the NFL Owners voted to terminate the Collective Bargaining Agreement two years early,” Upshaw said.  “This comes as no surprise to the players.  The next two seasons will be played as usual, with a salary cap that was established in our recent 2006 extension.  The deal gives the players 60 percent of the revenue.  It was the owner’s choice to opt out of the agreement because they feel the current labor agreement does not recognize the cost of building stadiums, a rookie wage scale and players who breech [sic] their contract.  All of these issues have been addressed and continue to be addressed.”

Fortunately, Upshaw’s statement contains no rhetoric.  With less than ten months to work out an extension before the start of the last capped year, no one benefits from talk that creates a bigger wedge between the parties. 

As we see it, the challenge that everyone is ignoring (so far) is the issue of revenue sharing.  The supplemental revenue system that was created in conjunction with the 2006 CBA extension felt like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, and we think that the owners need to some up with a comprehensive solution to the problem, in a manner aimed at ensuring that the NFL doesn’t experience the competitive imbalance that has plagued major league baseball for longer than we care to remember.