NFL union chief fears 2011 lockout

MIAMI, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, says team owners are getting ready for a lockout in the 2011 season.

Smith and the Tennessee Titans' Kevin Mawae, the union' president, said the owners had asked the players to take an 18 percent cut in the revenue sharing between the sides, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires in March 2011, and Smith says if it is not renewed, the 2010 season could be played without a salary cap, followed by a 2011 lockout.

Smith delivered the message to players of Indianapolis and New Orleans Thursday following their practice sessions for Super Bowl XLIV Sunday at Miami's Sun Life Stadium.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday the league wants an agreement.

"I don't think anybody wants to see a work stoppage," Goodell said at a news conference. "It's a negative for our fans (and) frankly if it comes to anything like that, we would all have failed.