How can I say all of that with certainty? I've done the research and connected the dots that no one is talking about. Rather than harp over what the Union and Owners say every day, I've gone back and looked at the current expiring CBA to understand why the Owners opted out to begin with.
People believe the NFL and the Union are fighting over stuff they really aren't as concerned with. The eighteen game season is something the players aren't happy about, but it will add in the end add cash to their pockets. It's not the line in the sand people would have you believe it is. Also unimportant is the debate over the proposed rookie salary scale, as the players and owners alike agree that the rookie salaries are out of control.
So what is the arguing really about? Cash, obviously. The owners did a bad job negotiating the last agreement and haven't been making enough money. The players, I'm sure, know that the last CBA doesn't work but aren't going to just freely give the money back to the owners.