Well, where did this come from? You got me. Every report before today pretty much said that things were not going well, so it’s amazing to me that all of a sudden the two sides are on the same page. It’s hard not to believe what all of these insiders are saying, but as I said in a previous post, I’m back in cynical mode so I’m not buying in just yet. My hopes have been raised too many times during this thing, so I’m not going to feel better until a deal is actually in place. I would advise the less pessimistic of you to be very excited about today’s developments, but I just can’t handle another heartbreak.

Now, I don’t want to be all gloom-and-doom about this, because Smith also said that he is optimistic because the two sides are in discussions, but this is a major blow to all the puppy dogs and rainbows we have been hearing over the last few weeks. Several other insiders, including Mike Freeman, Pete Prisco, and Albert Breen just to name a few, aren’t convinced that things are worse than everyone thinks, but in my experience, Glazer is almost always spot-on with his reports. He is one of the most informed “insiders” in the business, so if he says something happened, I believe him. The real question is: Is Smith using this to gain leverage in negotiations?

With all of the stories out there about the two sides being close, there is a certain amount of pressure to get this thing done soon. If the players turn down the offer, they are the bad guys for keeping the season from getting started. I think Smith is using this “leaked” story to show the public that the owners are still trying to get one over on the players. We are really getting into crunch time now, so this is the last thing any of us wanted to hear, but I wouldn’t give up all hope just yet. Let’s just all pray that the next report is

Taking under advisement just means she is going to think about it for a couple of weeks, I guess. Hopefully the two sides will continue negotiations during that time, but if nothing happens then I guess we won’t know anything until the judge makes her ruling.

Obviously, we all want this thing resolved as quickly as possible. I’m not a huge fan of getting these issues tied up in court, but if it helps us get to a deal faster, then so be it. It’s getting to a point where I’m just starting to get sick of the whole thing, but the importance of the issue makes it impossible to ignore. When something finally happens, I will be sure to let you know, but until then, all we can do is wait.