With the CBA deadline a mere five minutes away, NFLPA lawyer DeMaurice Smith left the negotiations with the owners and issued the following statement.
“At this time significant differences remain. We informed the owners that if there 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 5pm today. We’re going to head back to the office and I’m sure we’ll have a statement later.”
While Smith didn’t say it specifically, the implication here is that either the NFL gives up 10 years worth of full financial data or the players will de-certify right now. At least according to Smith, it doesn’t appear there will be any more extensions or talks unless that ultimatum is met.
Now there’s always the chance the owners counter-offer to some other time frame of financial statements, or even different financial statements… But as it stands now, the players have laid down an ultimatum to force the owners to do the one thing they’ve steadfastly refused to do.