The NFL Players Association has asked NFL owners for 10 years of financial data as a condition for an extension of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith said at 4:45 ET in an address broadcasted on NFL Network. If the owners do not respond affirmatively by 5 p.m. Friday, the NFL Players Association is expected to decertify itself to try to prevent an NFL lockout.
Smith said there remain "significant differences" between the two sides.
"We informed the owners that significant differences remained, that if here was going to be a request for an extension that we asked for 10 years of audited financial records to accompany any extension. We told them please let us know by 5 pm today. We're gonna head back to the office. I'm sure we'll have further comment later on."
The Players Association is asking the owners to open up the books because they believe the owners have taken money from the players and used it on other things. The two sides are still figuring out how to divide $9 billion of revenues.